Photography Tips and Tricks

Cropping a photo with photo editing software can give it more interest and better composition.  Here are some tips to turn a chop into a great crop.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds says that if you divide a photo into thirds horizontally and vertically, your focal point should lie on at least one of the four intersections of the lines.  This tip is good to remember when cropping.

Take a look at the sample photo. The focal point of the picture is the little girl in the yellow shirt. Notice how she is right at the lower right intersection point when the photo is divided according to the rule of thirds?

Now, look at the photo cropped. It has more of a focus now because the little girl’s body lies within the four intersect points.

Quick Tip: You can mentally divide a photo into thirds. There’s no need to have an exact measurement.

Resolution

Resolution has a lot to do with how much you can digitally crop an image. If the image has a low resolution, and you crop a it a lot, all you will end up with is a very blurry picture. The better the resolution, or the greater the number of pixels, the better the image will look when cropped and blown up.

Restraint

Remember, you can crop too much. Sure, you should consider the rule of thirds, but also remember context.  If you crop out certain things, will the story the photograph’s telling still make sense? For example, look back at the original sample picture.  If you are telling a story about a little girl at the park, then the first picture would be best. The cropped version would be best as a portrait, because you really can’t tell the little girl is at the park.

A great way to tell if you are cropping too much is to preview what the photo will look like before you crop it with your photo software. Or, go ahead and crop away, but don’t save the results until you’re sure the crop works best for your photo.

Whether it is a digital or an SLR, a tripod can be the single most important accessory you buy for your camera. You will come across more and more uses for a tripod the longer you take photos.

If you are new to photography, here are some typical things you will need a tripod for and the different types of tripods.

Camera Shake

Camera shake is like kryptonite to photographers. It happens when the camera is set to take pictures in low light, long exposure, zoom, or timer mode. It produces blurred, low quality pictures. The best way to avoid camera shake is to use a tripod. Tripods keep your camera perfectly still so that it can take a picture without movement.

 Tip: Make sure to use the timer when using a tripod because even your finger depressing the shutter button can create camera shake.

Portraits

If you are the photographer in the family there probably aren’t many pictures with you in them. Tripods solve this problem. Simply set up the tripod with your camera attached and preview the shot. Then, set the timer and depress the shutter button. Run to your spot in the picture, pose, and Presto! You finally have a photo with you in it!

It may take some practice to get your timing just right, but soon you will be able to take family portraits and self portraits with confidence.

Types of Tripods

There are three types of tripods: the basic tripod, the tabletop tripod and the monopod.

The basic tripod is what you see most photographers using. It has three legs that telescope to varied heights. They collapse very easily, but are hard to carry around if you have limited bag space.

The tabletop tripod is very small and portable. They are around four inches in size and collapse just like the bigger tripods. Photographers love the fact that you can stick a tabletop tripod in a camera bag. The downside is if you have nothing to set the pint-sized tripod on you’re pretty much out of luck for most shots.

The monopod is a mix of both worlds. Monopods have only one leg that telescopes to various sizes. It is very portable, but gives the photographer a full sized support. Fully collapsed, the monopod is about the size on a travel umbrella.

Try going to a camera shop and take a look at any floor models they may have. Then, think about where you will be using a tripod. Which tripod you choose depends on your needs.