INTERSECTIONS

>	Sandton \| Illovo \| Rivonia \| Rosebank \| Sandton

How to take great photos

Use the Rule of Thirds
When taking a picture, it's not surprising that your first instinct may be to place the subject smack dab in the center of the frame. These are the classic ma and pa travel shots that cut people off at the center and generally don’t cut the mustard. Great for the family albums but with a little more care, thought and oversight, you can turn the most humdrum of scenes into something far more worthy.

Photographers and videographers generally use something that is called the Rule of Thirds. There is some science involved about how the eye behaves and so on but let's forget about that now. For a more compelling composition, imagine the scene that you're going to photograph with lines dissecting the frame into three sections, horizontally and vertically. Rather than always placing the subject in the center of the frame, put it in one-third of the frame --just a bit off-center. This placement gives the subject room to "move" in or out of the frame; it also adds pizzazz to the overall photograph, showing the viewer the environment the subject is in.

Super size me
When using a digital camera, the higher the resolution, often the better, particularly if you are going to re-crop your framing later on. Higher resolution also means better quality for reproductions on CNNGo and other media.

Know how to use your flash
In low-light situations, use a tripod and a flash that is balanced with the available light. You can also try using your flash with a slower shutter speed. Take the flash off your camera (if you can) and avoid pointing it directly at the subject. You can bounce the flash off the ceiling or wall if your camera has the ability. And keep this in mind: The best flash photographs are those in which you can't tell if the photographer used a flash.

While you should avoid shooting directly into the sun, a flash can help compensate for strong daytime backlight. Lastly, increasing exposure time and switching the flash off can bring nightscapes and scenes to life.

Take as many photos as you can
Or to put it another way, too much ain't enough. It's always better to have more material than you think you need. And who knows, the photographs you take on a whim may turn out better than your planned shots.

Check the background
Try to avoid distracting backgrounds. The background is worth as much thought, and sometimes more, than your subject. Plain backgrounds often work best. And don't forget to make sure your subject doesn't have anything in the background sticking out of his or her head, like a tree or a utility pole. Unless of course, that is your actual plan.

Hold steady
Stating the obvious, you've got to hold your camera steady to get a quality shot. A tripod comes in handy, but you can also try to use something to prop your elbows on to help steady the camera. A great trick is the timer most cameras offer. The actually pressure of a finger on the button can affect the steadiness of the shot. A 2-second timer can work wonders.

Frame your elements
Try using elements from the foreground of a scene, like tree branches, to create a frame within the edges of your photograph. The use of framing draws the viewer to the main subject and helps to add depth and interest. Just make sure you focus on the right thing.

Map out your images
Think ahead about what shots you'll need and how they are going to complement the rest of your material. You can even write out a script if you are shooting a narrative. And remember to vary your shots. It takes different angles to tell a complete story. If images are going to complement some text, what extra value or insight can they offer that the text can't? Images are powerful and can add some much more than just mirroring what the text says.

Light it up
Be sure to consider the quality of the natural light around you when you're taking your pictures. Morning sun and the great, golden light available in the late afternoons and early evenings are much more illuminating and flattering than the harsh daylight in the middle of the day. Always remember to keep the sun at your back (consider shadows though -- you don’t want your shadow in the shot).

Get close
The best shots are often the most simple. Get in close to your subject to capture emotion and intimacy. So, no matter what story you are telling, always be sure to get enough close-ups and a variety of shots. Just remember to ensure the right focus or use of macro functions on your camera.

Article taken from - CNNGo. Check out the rest of the article here.

\| How to take great photos	\| Inspiring Photography	\| Cut Aways	\| MASH Photos