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1. Read the instruction manual of your
camera.
Keep it handy for reference, it will give
you valuable information specific to
your equipment.
Practice using your camera's controls with a trial film, before
taking
important pictures.
2. Keep your lens clean.
Use a proprietary lens cleaning tissue or
cleaner,
(not your handkerchief or the end of your Tie).
Esure your lens cap is off, and that nothing (camera strap, finger,
etc.)
is obstructing the lens.
3. Hold the camera steady.
When holding the camera, lean against a
wall, tree or doorway to steady
yourself. Before shooting, exhale slowly, gently squeeze the
shutter button.
Pushing it abruptly will jerk the camera and blur your
picture.
Practice this gentle squeeze until it becomes automatic.
A tripod can be useful, but it takes time to set up and may not be
ideal in
crowded locations,(a monopod is better in crowded
areas).
4 . Learn to see what the camera
sees.
The Human eye focuses selectively.
You may only see your subject in the viewfinder, but your camera
will see that
old tin can or rusty car etc. in the background, which will spoil
your photo.
Practice looking through your viewfinder, making sure that you see
exactly
what you want in your picture, especially look in the corners of
the viewfinder
for intrusive objects.
Changing your viewpoint by a couple of feet can often improve the
picture.
Don't include more than necessary in your photograph unless there's
a good reason.
4 . Watch the direction of the
light.
Bright, direct sunlight causes harsh,
unflattering shadows and dark patches.
People and animals with sunlight in their eyes tend to
squint.
Whenever possible, take advantage of indirect or diffused
lighting, or
backlighting (light coming from behind a subject),
When shooting outdoors, opt for, early morning, late afternoon,
and shady or overcast days.
For bright days or low light, use fill-in flash.
6. Get close.
Don't be afraid to get close to your subject.
Small parts of a subject can often be more interesting than the
whole.
For instance part of the architectural detail of a building can
provide more
impact than a shot of the whole building.
When taking a portrait move in close to reduce a distracting
background.
Also getting in close will often throw the background out of
focus,
putting emphasis on the main subject, particularly useful when
taking portraits or
photographing plants in close-up.
7 Improve your compositional
skills
Avoid placing your subject in the centre of
the frame.
Use the "rule of thirds", imagine your viewfinder as a grid and
locate your
subject along these lines or points to add visual interest.
Try to include converging or diagonal lines in the image, or look
for curves,
texture or patterns (especially with Black & White
film).
Try framing the subject in a doorway or arch.
Overhanging trees can often make an attractive frame.
With landscapes try to have something in the foreground to create
an
impression of distance.
Objects such as a large rock, old tree stump, derelict wall or
gateway can be
quite effective in this respect.
8. Vary your viewpoint.
The majority of subjects are photographed
from shoulder height, which is not usually the ideal camera
angle.
Experiment with high/low camera
viewpoints.
Tilt the camera through 45 degrees.
Take horizontal and vertical shots, portraits and candids.
Vary the composition, lighting, and distance.
Try to visualise the subject in a different way before pressing
the shutter button.
9 "Sneak shot" technique.
After taking a posed photo, take another
one quickly, catching your subject
unaware, and with more relaxed facial expressions and body postures
than the posed portrait.
With children wait until they are engrossed in their play and have
forgotten
your presence, pre-focus your camera and then take a quick
shot.
When taking action shots, try to anticipate where the action is
going to be,
then aim your camera at that point, catching the action when it
crosses your lens.
This will give you better results than trying to move with the
action.
10. Practice, practice, practice and MORE
practice.
Experience is the best teacher.
Don't be afraid to experiment with weird camera angles.
Try taking shots that you don't think will work,
(you may be surprised at the result).
It's better to take many shots that don't come off than to miss
out on the
one great photo.
Take pictures in difficult lighting conditions, they may not come
out,
but you will know what to do next time.
One final point, do not make the mistake of trying every film on
the market.
Get to know the attributes of one or two films, until you can get
consistent
results, before experimenting with other films.
You will then find it easier to overcome any problems.
GOOD LUCK & HAPPY SNAPPING!
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