Take better photos in 5 easy steps

by Jatin Valabjee

Next time you’re about to take a photo, pause a moment and ask yourself these questions. If you just think before you shoot, these digital photography tips will become second nature. In photography there are no hard and fast rules, but from my experience I have found these sure fire ways to take better photos. These are not new concepts - all of these guidelines have been followed since the beginning of photography.

1. Where is the subject in the frame?

   This is often called the “rule of thirds”. In art, video and photography, this rulehas been followed forever, because it works! Look at the figure below - pretend you can see it on your camera’s viewfinder or screen:

   

   The rule of thirds - a good way to work out where to place your subject

   In your viewfinder, try and place your subject on one of the areas marked by any of the red dots above. By placing your subject off-centre, you lead the viewer’s eye into the picture and encourange them to explore the scene. This can work for horizons, people, any subject. Look at the photo below, and notice how putting the girl off centre draws your eye into the scene. Putting her in the centre would not have yielded nearly as good a photo.

   

   This photo of Fiona at a rock pool in Wollongong south of Sydney shows how using the rule of thirds helps to draw the viewer into the scene.

2. What direction is the light coming from?

   This one is really important! If you have looked at any of your digital photos that looked good enough to print, and then looked at the bad ones, notice the lighting conditions under which each was taken. Changing the lighting can have dramatic results. Here are some useful tips about lighting:

   • If you are taking photos in direct midday sunshine, move your subject into the shade or indoors near a window. Direct sunlight creates unflattering deep shadows. Many professional photographers will never shoot in direct midday sunlight; instead they wait till late afternoon where the light is golden and the sun is lower.

     

     Direct midday sunshine can ruin a photo

   • Side window lighting is always flattering. Position your subject next to a window and watch the soft light fall on them. Side lighting is a wonderful thing because it adds a “3D” feel to your photos. It adds depth.

     

     This photo of my dad by the window is given depth and definition by having window light shine on him.

   • The best time to take outdoor photos is when it’s cloudy. Have you ever looked down as you were walking on an overcast day? Did you notice that you do not cast a shadow at all? On an overcast day, sunlight hits the clouds and diffuses, lighting everything evenly. This is the best time to take photos of people because they are lit evenly and your camera is able to record more detail because there are no very bright or dark areas.

     

     The overcast outdoor lighting in this self-portait helps to evenly light the subject.

3. What is my viewpoint?

   As you walk around, you see everything at eye-level. You are of course used to this viewpoint. When you look at a photo that seems a bit uninteresting, it is often taken at eye level. Challenge your viewer to see life from a different angle! Simply crouching down or standing on a chair or a higher/lower step than the subject to take a photo can really add drama and interest to your shot.

   

   Standing on a chair and pointing my camera down lent an unusual angle to this casting shot of Steve that may make you look twice!

4. Should I use flash or not?

   Camera flash is one of the least understood and most misused features on a camera. Your first instinct may be to think “use the flash when it is dark, turn it off during the day”. This is not always the case. If it’s a bright day and you are finding your subject is coming out dark against the sky or background (i.e. it is under-exposed), try turning your camera’s flash on. It will expose the background properly and light your subject (provided they are not too far away), resulting in a properly exposed photo.

   

   Try turning the flash on during the day if your subject is too dark. Svjetlana would have been completely under-exposed if I took this without the flash on.

   By the same token, turning your flash OFF at night can yield some fantastic results. You can capture the warm yellow glow of a street lamp, or the inviting haze around a candle. You can set your camera to night mode, or switch to manual mode and turn the ISO right up (try setting it at ISO400).

5. Am I leading the viewer’s eye into the scene?

   One photographic concept I initially found it hard to grasp was the concept of leading the viewer’s eye into the scene. You can do this by looking for lines in the scene that lead the eye into and through your photo. These are often called “leading lines”. Looking at the below examples will help clarify this very important photo tip.

   

   Notice how this shot I took of Sydney’s Opera Bar has very strong lines that lead your eye to the subject - i.e. the Sydney Opera House. Always be on the lookout for leading lines.

   

   Notice how the lines of the Sydney Harbour Bridge capture your eye and take you through the photo.

Check out part 2 of this article.