Media NEA Blog Entry: 6

  How to take a 'good' picture:

1) Choose a strong focal point- The main subject of a photograph is its focal point. Anything from a tree to a structure to a person could be it. One of the fundamental steps in learning how to capture great images is identifying a strong focal point. 

Using the rule of thirds would result in a composition that is more engaging. This rule indicates that you should position the focal points of your photographs off-centre, to the left or right.

2) Use leading lines- Leading lines are line forms in a shot that can assist in drawing attention to the main subject. They could be any object that draws a line in a photograph, such as a road, a fence, a building, a long hallway, a tree, or a shadow. 

The challenge is utilizing them to direct the viewer's attention in the desired direction. This can involve directing their attention directly at your subject or taking them on a visual tour of the entire picture.

3) Use Perspective properly- Any photograph's composition is greatly influenced by perspective. The tone and meaning of a photograph can be completely altered by merely shifting the angle or distance at which it was taken. 

By taking pictures of the same topic from above and below, you can quickly observe that. A person in the photo may appear little from a bird's-eye perspective, but if the shot is taken from below, the same individual may appear to be towering over the audience. Photographing someone up close and having them fill the frame might give them a sense of authority while shooting them from a distance can make them appear tiny.

Create Depth- Another critical step in learning how to capture excellent images is figuring out how to communicate depth. Photos risk feeling quite flat and monotonous if they are disregarded. Including some components in the foreground, middle ground, and backdrop is the greatest approach to express depth.

Framing- Another method that can benefit in taking expert images is framing. Finding a potential natural frame for a composition and then positioning a subject inside it are required. A gateway, an archway, some vegetation, or a hole in a wall are a few examples. This kind of framing can assist in focusing the viewer's attention on the main subject.

4) Having Good Lighting- A crucial aspect of how to make your photos look professional is making sure that the shots are correctly lit, yet this is something that is sometimes overlooked. Making sure there is enough light for your subject to be visible is the first step. The camera can have trouble capturing the scene's fine details if there isn't enough light. Using photoshop to fix flaws could lead to significant, unintended adjustments that would lower the image's quality. 

Make sure there is enough light in the scene by carefully selecting the location and the shooting angle. Utilising lighting equipment is another solution to this issue.

5) Learn professional photo editing- Photos involve more than just knowing how to capture great pictures. Additionally, you need to get great photo editing skills. 

Any image might use some editing, whether it's cropping, adjusting the brightness, correcting the colours, or doing anything else. 

So it’s worth spending some time learning what the programme is capable of. 

There is one principle that applies regardless of the photo editing programme used: edits should only be made lightly. Inexperienced photographers frequently overedit their photos. To create a body of work that is consistently styled, start with a preset appearance and make little tweaks. Making too many significant changes could make the finished product unrealistic and your touch-ups noticeable.

6) Learn your camera's settings- Another factor that will prevent someone from learning how to take quality images is depending on the camera's default settings. It might occasionally work well, but it won't be nearly as flexible as using photographs in a creative way. 

The camera could attempt to catch the incorrect details when you are trying to photograph a silhouette, for example, and the subject might appear dimly lit against a washed-out background. It could offer you an extra-long exposure when you don't want it if you're trying to photograph at night, which will result in a fuzzy mess. To learn how to take images that seem professional, spend some time getting comfortable with the camera's settings.

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