AboutTim Hrabia Expertise Picture quality problems and ideas for shooting great pictures.
Experience I have had my own darkroom since i was 14 and have developed color, black and white and Cibachrome prints from slides. I currently manage a department store photo lab and was a professional photographer for 8 years. I have shot weddings, boudoir, drag racing, rodeos and photojounalism. I have worked for 15 years with Fuji and Noritsu processors.
Organizations Northern Images photographers
Education/Credentials Several wedding photography seminars and photofinishing training seminars with Fuji and Noritsu.
Question what are some tips for taking photographs - i really enjoy it and want to get better. i have learnt never shoot a picture while facing the sun.
your suggestions for improved photography taking would be most appreciated.
Answer Good morning Don. Sorry for the delay, it has been hectic around here. Wow, you are asking for quite a lot, as there are so many tips on how to take better pictures. I am going to give you three tips.
First, you have been taught the old way when you say you have learnt never to shoot into the sun. The biggest tip that pro photographers do NOT share is that, when shooting people, you set your camera so that the flash will shoot on every shot (forced flash). Then you you position your subject so that the sun is behind them and you are shooting into the sun. This creates a nice backlight in their hair (especially long blonde hair) and on their shoulders. The flash then gets rid of any shadow ares in front and on their face and this is called fill light. Find someone with long, billowing hair, wait for the sun to be low and bright and give it a try, I think you will like it.
Second, use the "Rule of Thirds"! This means that when you compose your picture you always want to break the image into thirds. Look at the screen or through the viewfinder and imagine two thin lines dividing the image into equal thirds. For example, when shooting a sunset on the ocean, never place the horizon halfway in the shot(top sky, bottom water). Instead make the bottom third the ocean and the top two thirds the sunset. This is more visually pleasing to the eyes. Generally this rule applies to EVERY picture you take, people, scenics, indoors, outdoors, EVERY shot!
Third, keep your horizon level. Imagine shooting that same ocean shot and you are all setup looking straight at the sun, then from the corner of your eye you notice that far off cliff with the birds flying. You twist to your right and click away at the great shot. However what has probably happened is the horizon started to slope after you turned and to your eyes the picture will look as if everything should be sliding down that slope. Instead of twisting, stand up, turn your whole body or tripod, recompose the shot and shoot away with a nice, level horizon.
My last and most important tip! Find a good, friendly photography club and start attending. This people love photography and love talking about it. Nothing would make some of them happier then if you asked for their advice.
Have fun shooting, take lots and maybe contact me again with some of your new shots.
P.S. I hope I haven't talked to simple and maybe you already know this and more.
take care
Tim (the husband)
