Photography tips: Point and shoot checklist
If you’re a point and shoot user, you’re probably not a schooled photographer. However with today’s advanced cameras making intelligent technical decisions automatically, you too can produce interesting and professional looking pictures.
Not matter what type of camera you use there are fundamental principles that you can apply to enrich the visual impact of your images. Some of these rules relate to choices of composition, while others have to do with selecting the correct camera mode for each shooting situation.
By keeping these few guidelines in mind, you will be able to nurture your creative spirit, while at the same time having fun with your camera.
Composition
Contributes to the overall effectiveness of your pictures by making them visually appealing and easier for others to understand your reason for shooting the image in the first place.
Identify your subject
When we are drawn to a scene, take a few minutes to think through the reasons we like it. This will give us breathing space to compose a better picture, often less cluttered and with more punch. By first identifying your point of interest, you can better decide what belongs in the frame and what should be excluded.
Try and imagine that your viewfinder is a picture frame. Most of us treat it like a rifle scope, merely aiming at a target. When you envision the concept of seeing it as a picture frame and your eye travels around the edges, unnoticed intrusions are quickly seen and are easily corrected. Get to know the viewfinder of your particular camera intimately, as borders vary from each manufacturer. Consult your camera’s instruction manual for additional information. An understanding of just how the marks within your camera’s frame work and where the exact margins are will avert inadvertent decapitation of subjects!
Decide on subject placement
A common error with many budding photographers is the ‘bull’s eye syndrome’, which is the tendency to place subjects smack bang in the middle of the picture. This often happens because that’s where the focusing aid is usually located. The results are often static and boring. What we need to do instead is imagine that our viewfinder is divided into sections with lines running through the frame in thirds both vertically and horizontally. These imaginary lines are often ideal for the most effective placement of your subject on your horizon line. These proportions are the most satisfying visually to the human eye, so your final image will be more dynamic and will have more balance.
Consider your viewpoint
Think about where you stand and at what level you compose your picture. Most photos are taken from a viewpoint of five to six feet from the subject and usually at eye level. They appear ordinary because that’s how we view the world even when we don’t have a camera stuck to our face. Change your position. Bend down for children and flowers and pets. Walk around a subject to choose the best angle. Don’t be scared of getting in close if the subject requires a tighter composition. Back up a bit to improve the scene, and remember to consider both the horizontal and vertical positions for optimum results. Don’t be afraid to tidy up a scene. Moving a few rocks or sticks and even litter will vastly improve you final image. Take a few moments every time you compose a picture and the results will indeed be worth that proverbial ‘thousand words’.
For further information or photographic advice, Ian Rolfe can be contacted via his website at http://www.ianrolfephotography.com.au/
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