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PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
Wonder why your photos looked dull and unattractive? Wonder what could be done to improve the photographs?
In this session, I will periodically share with you tips and techniques on photography to enhance and improve your photos.
You can also contribute by writing to me and share your experiences and tips.
With your permission, I will upload your views for sharing and we shall make this a fun and learning site for all!
NEW! Tip #12: Tips For Night Photography
There are alot of nice scenes to capture especially if you are living in a city where there are many cars, street lamps, lightings on buildings, etc. In general rule of thumb, below are a few things to take note in order to capture a satisfied night photograph.
a) A firm tripod is a MUST!
b) Use the lowest available ISO setting to maintain superior image quality
c) Use small aperture (at least f/9)
With above settings, it is not surprising that you have garner a slow shutter speed for a proper exposure. Take this chance to include light trails to make your photographs more interesting.
Tip #11: Framing
Framing is a good technique (which myself is in favour of) to make your photographs more interesting. It is like adding a photo frame around your subject of interest. In this way, viewers can easily identify which part of the photograph you which to emphaize on. It is up to your creativity to locate the possible frames available around your subject of interest. Thus, do keep your eyes wide open during your next outdoor shooting trip! 
 
Tip #10: Restore Color Saturation During A Bright And Sunny Day.
During a bright sunny day, you may observed that the details, as well as color saturation and intensity of the subjects of interest will be greatly washed out due to glare.
This is when a polarizing filter will come in handy where polarised light would be block, restoring the subject's color intensity.
Do note that the use of polarizing filter will reduce light entering the lens by 1 to 2 stops. Thus, do take note of the resultant shutter speed to avoid blurring due to camera shake.
Tip #9: Applying Rule Of Thirds
When taking a picture, composition is the next important thing to bring out the picture and attracts viewers' eyes. Meaning how to place the subjects in the picture to make it looks more interesting and attractive. Believe you always heard Rule of Thirds, and what that means? Please see the picture below for illustration.
You will choose to place your subjects along the red lines in the picture. Try avoid placing the subject of interest in the center, as that will make the photo less attract and dull. Below are a few pictures showing you example of Rule of Thirds. Although is this a common and powerful tool used by many photographers, it does not mean you have to apply it 100%. It is all up to your creativity and needs.
Tip #8: Shoot With A Photography Buddy
It is recommendable to go outdoor shooting with a buddy. There are many advantage to it, example, your buddy could help to give feedbacks on your photographys, keep you accompany and motivates you along the way and many more.
Have you ever thought of asking your buddy to be the main subject in your photographs? Have you ever come across a nice scenery with beautiful sunset and when you take the picture, you felt something is amiss? This is where your buddy can help to enhance and make your photographs more eye-catching by becoming part of the composition! Try it!
 
Tip #7: Let Colors Work For You
To make a photo eye-catching, you can make use of colors to work for you! Contrasting colors compliments and works well if applied correctly. For exmaple, you can have red with green, yellow with blue, etc. So keep your eyes open to look out for contrasting and saturated colors!
Tip #6: How To Achieve A Silhouette
A silhouette simply means the subject of interest in dark, giving only the outline and shadow. Such technique could add a special touch to your photographs and make them more interesting, having a sense of mystery in it. :)
To achieve this, just ensure that the light source is behind the subject of interest and you are metering at the environment or light source behind the main subject. Avoid having the sun or metering at the sun behind the main subject, as you may not only end up over-exposing your photograph and more importantly, damage the sensor of your camera!
 
Tip #5: How To Achieve A Deep Blue Sky
Have you ever wonder how to some photos from postcard, travel images, etc produce very nice, deep blue sky? How do photographers cut down unwanted reflections from the subjects?
Well, this can be easily achieve by using a polarizing filter. With this filter, you are able to cut down reflections which in turn produce a more saturated image which adds a special touch to your photographs.
When attached to your lens, you can rotate the outer ring of the filter and observe different results depending on how much you rotate. Generally, the polarizing filter is most effective when the sun is 90° angle to your subject. The filter will have minimal or no effect when the sun is directly behind your main subject.
Tip #4: Taking Waterfall With "Silky" Effect
To achieve "silky" effect when taking waterfall is simple. The only additional accessories you need is a tripod and the most a ND (Neutral Density) filter.
Firstly, mount your camera to your tripod. A tripod is required as the shutter speed got to be long. Select the lowest possible ISO. Set your camera to Aperture Priority and adjust the aperture until you get a shutter speed of around 1 second. If your shutter speed is too short, you may not achieve the "silky" effect. If shutter speed is too long, very likely you will risk overexposure and blurring due to movement in surrounding.
ND filter is used when the light condition is too strong and unable to achieve shutter speed of about 1 second even with the smallest aperture. I will not recommend using Shutter Priority, select shutter speed of 1 seconds and let the camera decide on the aperture. This is because due to lens limitations, you may not be able to get the desire aperture to achieve the correct exposure.
Tip #3: Panning
Ensure that the shutter speed is less then the focal length to achieve "camera shake". I will recommend using Shutter Priority/Tv mode with shutter speed set to 1/15sec. Of course, you need the subject of interest to be moving from your left to right or vice versa, and not directly towards or away from you. Aim the camera at the subject of interest. Ensure the main subject is at the center of your view finder and follow its movement while pressing the "shoot" button. Ensure that your camera shooting mode is set to Continuous. You will get the subject of interest sharp and the surrounding blur. This technique needs alot of practice and luck!. Enjoy! 
Tip #2: Reflection
Using this technique can help to produce very nice and interesting pictures. Be on alert to look out for puddle of still water and calm river.
Tip #1: Differential Focusing
For this technique, the subject of interest is sharp, leaving others (usually another subject behind or in front of the subject of interest) blur. In this way, viewer's attention will be caught by the subject of interest with lesser distraction from the back and foreground.
You ought to have a large aperture to achieve this and focus only on the subject of interest. Normally this technique can be easily achieve with longer focal length.
Want to build up your photography fundamentals?
Please visit "Basic Fundamentals" and find out what I have for you!
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