Photography Tips and Tricks

Your camera’s viewfinder is your best tool for creating the best photo composition. Your viewfinder should look like a frame around your subject, creating the best composition possible before you click the shutter button. Here is how to use your viewfinder to compose a great picture.

Viewfinders and Surprises

First, you need to understand the difference between what you see in a viewfinder and what you get in the finished photo.

Point and shoot cameras crops the image in strange ways, so what you see in your viewfinder isn’t exactly what you get. SLR cameras (Single Lens Reflex), unlike point and shoots, have one lens to view the scene and capture the image, so the picture is going to look exactly like what you saw in the viewfinder. Digital cameras also give you a perfect view of what your picture will look like.

Cropping

Cropping should always be the first thing you do to when planning a picture with your viewfinder.

Use your viewfinder to crop your subject. Look through the viewfinder and use it to eliminate elements that distract from the main subject by visually cutting them off.

An easy way to do this is to use your camera’s zoom. Look through the viewfinder. Zoom in to cut out extra objects from the viewfinder. Zoom out to add more to the subject.

Rule of Thirds

Using the Rule of Thirds can take the mystery out of advanced composition. This technique is used by photographers everywhere.

Find your angle by using the Rule of Thirds by looking into your viewfinder and dividing the area in the viewfinder into thirds horizontally and vertically. Think of the square of your viewfinder as a tic-tac-toe board. Your focal point should lie on at least one of the four line intersections.

So, basically, your subject should be in one of the upper left area, lower left area, upper right area, or lower right area. Generally, this lends to a stronger composition than just centering your subject in your viewfinder, which tends to be quite boring.

Using your viewfinder properly will give you great photos time after time, without the need to edit them later.

Taking pictures outside can be fun. It can also be a hassle if you aren’t prepared. Here are ten things to make sure you have with you before taking photos in the great outdoors.

1. Combating Rain

You never know when you may get caught in rain when working al fresco. Make sure to keep a plastic baggy handy to use as a raincoat for your camera. Not only will your camera stay dry, but you can also keep taking pictures through the clear plastic.

2. Fighting Shadows

Take a piece of white cardboard with you. You can use it as a makeshift reflector when trying to rid of shadows on small objects. This is very handy when you are taking macro pictures. Simply take the cardboard and angle it so that the natural sunlight is bouncing off of the cardboard and onto your subject.

3. Blocking Sunlight

The piece of white cardboard can also be used as a shade to rid yourself of glare. Tilt the cardboard between your lens and the light.

4. Tripod

Always carry along a tripod when doing outdoor photography. You will need it to take shots in low light to avoid camera shake. You can buy tripods that fold down to a very manageable size that will fit in most backpacks.

5. Cooling Down

If you are using a film camera, you will want to be careful on warm days. Heat can ruin film. To keep your film perfect, even on the hottest days, pack your camera bag with an ice pack. Choose an ice pack that can be frozen a refrigerator freezer to use for your ice pack. Regular ice will melt and create water, which can damage your equipment. Put the ice pack in a waterproof baggie and tuck it into one of the pockets of your camera bag.

6. Hang On

Your camera’s strap isn’t just for draping over your shoulder. It also acts as a security measure. Make sure that your camera’s strap is around your neck when you are photographing around water. If you drop your camera, the strap will save it from a watery grave.