take better pictures

i'm going to tell you a secret, you don't need a fancy DSLR camera to take a bomb photo... creating a beautiful image is so much more than just the quality of a lens; to create art, specifically relating to photography, the photographer must take into effect: the lighting, shadows, colors, textures, background, subject placement. when you've taught your mind and eye to factor in these areas of your image, that's when a picture becomes art. that's when an image goes from a snapshot to a photograph. i've conjured up some very basic tips and tricks for taking better photos whether its for your family vacation or instagram... or because you want to pursue a career in photography, these will help you take better pictures.

lighting

there's no need to have special lights, soft boxes, anything like that. all you need is a window. a window will not only offer the natural light one needs in order to create the image, but it's also a natural diffuser. this means it softens the object or subject in your frame. when taking pictures of people, we prefer soft, even skin tones, as most of us seek balanced lighting in order to minimize any harsh lines, or dark circles etc. and a window will help do this. place the subject next to the window, fully or partially facing the light depending on the effect you want the image to have. maybe try both and see which you prefer.

another natural diffuser is a cloudy day. again, you can place the subject next to the window and use that light to make the image. clouds create gradual transitions between highlights and shadows which create soft contrasts. this is also a perfect time to shoot color as it will stand out more on an overcast day.

try not to take photos outside at midday when the sun is overhead. this will result in harsh lines and a lot of contrast. if you have to take a photo at this time, then find some shade. a shaded spot offers more even light coverage and no harsh shadows or overexposure.

soft lines and soft contrasts can be interesting. such as the shadows of flowers along a stairway, you may want to place your subject with the shadow softly layered over them.

artificial lighting is more complicated and not recommended for a beginner. however, if you are willing to experiment inside with artificial lighting you can use any type of light available. it doesn't matter what it is, just place the light source near your subject. i've used an ikea light, a workman's light, LED lights, speed lights, diffused light sources (think a sheer white sheet in front / blocking the light). i've used light sources that cost $1 to ones that cost $1,000. use what you have and experiment with the placement of the light source. where do you see shadows? where do you need more light? should you bring in another light source?

you have to play with lighting on your own or you'll never learn it. that's another tip for taking better pictures, try and try and do it over and over again, because as frustrating as it may be to not get exactly what you want on the first try, you're learning more this way. move around your subject, take the same photo from different angles.

which brings me to my next tip...

angles

people like to take the same pictures as everyone else, no idea why. maybe it's a learned behavior? but anyway, a photographer thinks outside the box and finds another way to capture the exact same subject. this can mean any number of things.

for instance, in Barcelona there is a gorgeous place called Montjuïc, where the magic fountain is in front of the beautiful Palau Nacional. everyone takes their photo head on with the pillars (Josep Puig i Cadafalch's Four Columns) and the dramatic stairs leading up to the building. stunning yes, innovative? not at all. so i walked around the premises, and over across the street to a field, and took my photograph there. this angle isn't seen online much, if at all.

shoot through things

in terms of your subject? try shooting through something. for example, leaves, a window, the handle on a mug, anything. leaves dangling from a branch, peaking in from the side of your image can add a little flare and interest to an otherwise dull portrait. shooting through something will add some punch to your image. one should still see the subject through whatever is blocking the lens, and what is blocking will help guide the eye straight to the subject.

add ins

to piggyback on the last tip: add in objects to help tell the story. these will creep into the corners of your image. if you look at various food photography, you’ll see what i'm referring to. for instance, it's never just the dish or just the ingredients, there's part of a spatula, some extra walnuts sprinkled around, a dish towel... or it could be a knife sticking out of a burger. whatever the photographer thought to include to help create the scene, draw the eye in and elevate the subject. many times even the bowl color or texture of the surface is pre meditated. adding an element of texture could create the extra contrast necessary to add life to the photo.

lines

we call these lead ins. do you ever look at a picture and your eye goes straight to the subject? or maybe it goes away from the 'focal' of the image? there's a reason... if you can, create a lead in, something that will automatically take the viewers eye exactly where you want it. it's typically subtle such as a road, fence, bridge, bricks, a doorway...

the fence, the dirt road and the telephone poles all act as lead ins in the below image.

or here, i framed my brother using the natural elements around him. this is also an example of shooting at midday where i needed to find more shade. you can evaluate the time of day due to the overexposed background, it happens to work here, but sometimes it doesn't.

shadows

leaning on a wall? or standing against a white background? make sure the subject isn't too close to the wall or background; you likely don't want a shadow of the outline of their head there. sometimes shadows are done purposefully but as a beginner, i'd pull the subject away from the wall at least a foot. if the subject is walking down the street, where do you want the shadow to fall? be mindful of this as it will effect the angle at which you are shooting. is the shadow to the side? in front? or behind the subject?

background

make sure nothing is coming out of your subjects head. i can't tell you how many times i've seen a tree trunk jetting out of the someone's head. or a shoe peeking out from behind because someone was walking past. i cringe because other than that, it's a wonderful photo!

if there is something in your shot that you don't want in it, move it out. or if you want something in your shot, let's say a yellow cab, then wait for the moment, or hail a cab - manipulate the photo by taking control. i'v had a friend on the next corner hail a cab just so i can get it blurred in the background.... not kidding. not all backgrounds are created equal, take time to figure out what works best with what you are shooting. take into account, colors, textures, lines, etc.

do not center your subject

another one i see all the time. it's not wrong, but typically an off centered subject is more appealing to the eye. have you ever heard of the rule of thirds? images are divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. you'll want to place your subject at the intersection of those lines or on the line itself.

posing

find some inspiration through magazines, social media, photographers' portfolios and create a folder of images you like. study where the subjects' hands are placed, is their gaze at the camera or away? the best option is to look at how others have positioned themselves in photos first.

using props is always great idea whether it's a coffee cup or magazine, cell phone, food, anything to keep one hand busy and create a scene, maybe even a story line.

post processing

once one can see the image before he or she takes the photo, then there's an entire world of post editing... but chances are you already have some form of that on an app on your phone with 'filters' or what lightroom calls 'presets.' remember, the filters don't work well if the photo isn't already lit properly and the composition isn't right. they can only mimic what is already present in your image.

the one i'd recommend is snapseed because you can control so much of the image from the brightness, to the contrast, ambience, sharpening, straightening and distortion of the image and more. a vignette can be nice or it can be overkill, again this is based on your personal preference. the app also offers it's own filters if you prefer to use them. the below is a before and after of an image taken and then edited in snapseed by Peter McKinnon.

these tips and tricks are just the bare bones. when you get an image you didn't mean to take, sometimes it's a good thing and it happens to all of us, even Steven Meisel. do not delete any photos right away, that's a huge mistake i've made and seen so many others make. have fun experimenting with the subject and all of the variables listed above. if you're not feeling it, if you're not in the mood or can't get excited about the photo, that will appear in the result. i wouldn't recommend shooting just to shoot as so many say. you should be excited about the photo and it's contents. understand that it may not be perfect the first time, heck it make not be perfect the 100th time. it's fine!!

take ten seconds before snapping a photo to think about the lighting, the angle, what is available to use in your shot. honestly, sometimes i look at what everyone else is doing and just do the exact opposite. and it may look like shit, or it could be the best photo taken to date; but again part of photography is the experimentation of it. innovation, thinking outside of the box, looking at what you have to work with before just pressing a button...

now that you have some extra knowledge and materials to create your own art, i will pass on an exciting and thought provoking challenge i partook in while learning about photography:

i challenge you to take one item or person and photograph it 25 different ways...