Digital Photography Tips For Beginning Photo Takers

This article will give you some easy to follow digital photography tips that work and yield some pretty nice results. In order for these tips to work, however, you are going to need to get out there, practice, and make mistakes as fast as possible so you can learn from them.

Taking pictures is not hard. A lot of people think it is but it actually isn't. One of the biggest problems with taking pictures is the way people frame shots.

Framing Shots

When people take pictures, for the most part, most average photographers haven't a clue how to frame the shot right. They may put the subject dead center, have their face cut right of at the border, and a number of other issues. Now, there are lots more mistake such as blur, etc, however, getting good framing and composition for photos will make your photos look much nicer.

Composition 101:

As stated above, one of the biggest mistakes is framing subjects dead center. A simple solution to this problem is to simply move the subject of center. This is considered the rule of thirds rule. Divide your picture into three equal sections. The middle section is the one you want to avoid.

Another simple compositional technique you can use to take better shots is to use the lines in the picture. Lines are literally all over the place. Using them to your advantage will yield much better shots. For example, a picture of a building with lines leading to it will all much more impact.

Those are two very simple compositional techniques you can use. Now, in some situations it will be great to use these and in others you may want to use other techniques.

Al Sanez has a Free Photo course that teaches beginners digital photography tips. He also has a Digital Photography Guide.

Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums - Icy Streams & Rain, Icicles & Snowflakes

More Of Water's Cold Season Photo Ops

In this article we'll cover photography tips for overcoming the photo doldrums with water as icy streams, freezing rain, icicles and snowflakes:

# 1 - Icy Streams: A quietly running stream won't make "tenacious grace" but after it thinly freezes over, it may sculpt the underside of the ice with the gently running water and any air bubbles that get trapped there. The resulting patterns can be very photogenic.

# 2 - Freezing Rain: A special instance of ice is freezing rain. Look for interesting things - grasses, leaves, branches and twigs, etc encased in it. Exposure can be tricky with the reflected light, so bracket your exposures!

# 3 - Icicles: Spikes of ice formed when ice or snow is melted by sunlight or some other heat source, and the resulting melted water runs or drips into an area where the temperature is below the freezing point, causing the water to refreeze. Over time continued water runoff/dripping causes the icicle to grow. Icicles can be found under roof edges of buildings and on branches and twigs, etc. Whether solitary or in groups, they can be very photogenic when back or side lit or hanging against a dark background.

# 4 - Snowflakes: You take these pictures outside by catching the flakes on a towel, then transferring the flakes with a short plastic stick to a microscope slide, then placing the slide on a somewhat larger piece of glass which is suspended about 6" above a sheet of colored poster board, then shoot straight down with a macro-focusing lens. For more sophisticated tools and techniques, just do an online search using "snowflake photos."

Self-Assignments For Above Photography Tips

Choose the projects that interest you most. Follow the photography tips conscientiously. Re-shoot when you aren't satisfied. Do it til you are satisfied. It'll take all your patience and passion. Your skills and eye will improve with the practice. Shoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly. Pin small samples on the wall for a few days to study before making final prints for wall art.

Photography Tip # 1 - Icy Streams: Locate a quietly running stream in freezing weather and it will probably form smooth ice on top. The underside of the ice will be etched by the running water and any air bubbles in it, creating lines and patterns. Shoot straight down on it for an overall sharp picture.

Photography Tip # 2 - Freezing Rain: When a heavy freezing rain falls, the problem becomes one of too many interesting things to shoot! Take your time and look around to find something really outstanding, more or less by itself, with a dark or strongly colored background and shoot it.

Photography Tip # 3 - Icicles: In freezing weather check out the eaves troughs around rooftops of houses and heated garages, looking for icicles. Try, if possible, to find them around eye level or slightly lower so you can keep the entire icicle(s) sharp top to bottom when you take your pictures.

Photography Tip # 4 - Snowflakes: Set up your snowflake "studio" and proceed to get a couple of flakes together on your microscope slide. Place the slide above a piece of medium-dark blue poster board, and then shoot straight down on the flakes.

In the final article of this set we'll consider photography tips for overcoming the photo doldrums with two more of water's cold season photo op's: snow scenes and snow storms.

John Maxymuik authored this article which is 1 of a set of 6 on "Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums" providing tips to break the grip of the photo doldrums using the "ideal photo subject". To see examples of photography that made use of the "ideal photo subject" go to his fine art photography website at: http://ambienceimages.net

Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums - Frost, Ice, Re-freeze & 'Tenacious Grace'

Some Of Water's Cold Season Photo Ops

In (3) previous articles we have considered photography tips using water as an ideal photo subject during warm seasons when it involves waves, waterscapes, waterfalls, reflections, abstracts, spray 'n splash, bubbles 'n foam, puddles, condensation, hail, mist and fog to help us out of the photo doldrums. Now, let's consider some of it's cold season photo op's for doing that.

Water is unique because it can be found in all three basic states: vapor, liquid and solid. In the cold seasons, when it can turn crystalline or solid, is when it can produce truly fascinating and amazing pictures. Here are some photography tips for that season:

# 1 - Frost: Transforms things into artwork. On leaves and vegetation, subtle edge and vein patterns stand out boldly as intriguing designs. On window panes frost patterns can be fascinating. Again, it's mainly a matter of checking out your local weather forecast, knowing your surroundings, what to expect, and getting there with your camera before it melts!

# 2 - Ice: If there are puddles, or a pond or lake nearby check out the edges when the water freezes. There will be ice captives; leaves and twigs just below the surface encased in the ice, sometimes with air bubbles and patterns in the ice itself. Just be careful about thin ice and how far out on the ice you venture when taking such pictures!

# 3 - Re-Freeze: Here is a special ice-situation to look out for; It snows, then turns mild and rainy, then suddenly cold snaps. Check out the depressions and roadside ditches. The snow has been 'sculptured' by the melt and run-off, then encased (along with leaves, etc) in the clear ice from the rain and cold snap, producing some very unusual subjects.

# 4 - Tenacious Grace: Is there a lively stream or brook nearby, one which tumbles and bubbles over stones, rocks or fallen trees and branches, generating splash and spray? When the temperatures drops well below freezing you'll find a delicate embroidery-like ice (hence the name) forms on the edges of things from the spray.

Self-Assignments For Above Photography Tips

Choose the projects that interest you most. Follow the photography tips conscientiously. Re-shoot when you aren't satisfied. Do it til you are satisfied. It'll take all your patience and passion. Your skills and eye will improve with the practice. Shoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly. Pin small samples on the wall for a few days to study before making final prints for wall art.

Photography Tip # 1 - Frost: (1)During winter cold-spells choose a window that faces the rising sun and place a humidifier in front of it. Open the inner window about ?" to let warm moist room air enter and contact the outer window to form jack frost on it. Take pictures as the sun rises and shines through the frost. (2) In late fall and early spring when the forecast predicts frost, get outside early and look for fallen leaves and grasses with frost on them. Take pictures.

Photography Tip # 2 - Ice: When it's cold enough for ice to form, locate some large puddles or a pond and look for "ice captives" (leaves) just under the ice surface, and take pictures of them through the ice.

Photography Tip # 3 - Re-freeze: When the weather does a snowfall, then a thaw with rain, then a re-freeze, get outside and check the depressions and roadside ditches for snow swirls under clear ice with leaves, etc caught in it and take pictures.

Photography Tip # 4 - Tenacious Grace: When the weather turns really cold locate a nearby stream that briskly tumbles over rock piles and branch jams and you'll find 'Grace'. Find a pleasing section of it with water running by it and shoot with a slow shutter speed to blurr the water in contrast to the sharply detailed ice.

In the next of this set of articles we'll consider still 4 more photography tips on cold season photo op's that water can provide for overcoming the photo doldrums: icy streams, freezing rain, icicles and snowflakes.

John Maxymuik authored a 6-article set on "Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums" to help you break the grip of the photo doldrums by using the "ideal photo subject". To see examples of photography that made use of the "ideal photo subject" go to his fine art photography website at: http://ambienceimages.net

Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums - Reflections, Abstracts, Splash, Spray, Etc

If you believe that waves, waterscapes and waterfalls pretty well use up all the opportunities that water provides for picture-taking, think again. Here are 7 more photography tips with water as remedies for the photo doldrums!

#1 - Reflections: For a mirror reflection on water the surface must be still and can't have sunlight shining directly on it. When the light hits just above the shoreline (early morning or evening) leaving the water in shadow, or where something casts it's shadow across the water, you'll find such reflections.

#2 - Abstracts: Intriguing opportunities for abstract reflections occur when the water is gently swelling or rippling. Watch the water's surface carefully for a while and you'll begin to see the possibilities. Remember to vary your pictures by making several exposures at different shutter speeds. The unpredictability of this type of picture-making will provide unexpected surprises, and new directions for future shootings.

#3 - Spray: activities carried out with water present opportunities for picture-making (Just make sure your camera is well protected and doesn't get wet!) like watering a garden, sprinking a lawn, or washing a vehicle.

#4 - Splash: Like when things are dropped or poured into water, or waves as they crash onto the beach present water in these aspects.

#5 - Bubbles: What about dishwashing bubbles and bubbles from children's bubble-blowing toys, which yield interfering light effects with their crazy colors and patterns?

#6 - Foam: The froth that swirls and creeps up the beach after a wave has broken.

#7 - Puddles: Are just about everywhere after a period of rain, in a wide variety of sizes and shapes. During rainfall they present ring-patterns. Afterward they display upside down reflections during both daylight and after dark wherever there are lights nearby.

Self-Assignments For Above Photography Tips: Choose the projects that interest you most. Follow the photography tips conscientiously. Re-shoot when you aren't satisfied. Do it til you are satisfied. It'll take all your patience and passion. Your skills and eye will improve with the practice. Shoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly. Pin small samples on the wall for a few days to study before making final prints for wall art.

Photography Tip #1 - Reflections: Go to a pond or lake in either early morning or early evening when the water is in shadow, locate an interesting reflection and line up a shot with just a minimum of shoreline and a maximum of reflection. Then a shot of equal parts shore and reflection using a graduated neutral density filter to balance the lighting.

Photography Tip #2 - Abstracts: find a stream or creek with running, swirling water, etc, and study the colors and tones being reflected in the running water from onshore and overhead things. Try to include something just in or on the water that you can clearly focus on as a center of interest. When you spot such an interesting abstract, shoot it, first with a faster shutter speed, and then with a much slower speed.

Photography Tip #3 - Spray: The next time you get out the lawn sprinkler to do

the lawn, look for an angle that puts sparkle in the water and provides a dark background to shoot toward. Use both high and low shutter speeds, and compare the results.

Photography Tip #4 - Splash: Make a close-up of water as it's poured into a glass filled with ice-cubes.

Photography Tip #5 - Bubbles: Take a shot of some dishsoap bubbles against a sheet of black paper while shining a beam of light at the bubbles.

Photography Tip #6 - Foam: Look for a depression on the beach where the foam from spent waves swirls and do a shot with the swirl pattern in the foreground, using a slow shutter speed.

Photography Tip #7 - Puddles: Take a picture during the rain trying for an interesting pattern of raindrop circles. Make a nighttime shot of a puddle having either lit-up signs or office buildings nearby which are reflected in the puddle.

In the next article of this set we'll cover still more photography tips about water's other warm season photo ops for overcoming the photo doldrums: condensation, hail, mist and fog.

John Maxymuik is the author of "Photography Tips for the Photo Doldrums", a set of 6-articles providing tips to break the grip of the photo doldrums by use of the "ideal photo subject"- water. To see examples of fine art photography that made use of this "ideal photo subject" go to my website at: http://ambienceimages.net

Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums - Condensation, Hail, Mist & Fog

Thus far we've considered photography tips on waves, waterscapes, waterfalls, reflections, abstracts, splash 'n spray, foam 'n bubbles, and puddles as remedies for the photo doldrums. But, water can provide even more photo op's! Here are 4 more.

#1 - Condensation: Perhaps more often associated with man-made things - cold objects amid warm, moist air - condensation is an often overlooked source of interesting pictures. So, watch out for cold water pipes and surfaces in warm places. Or, open your fridge sometime and check out the food containers with clear plastic lids. Are there any condensed water droplets on the underside of the lids? Remove the lid without disturbing the droplets, (Tip: leave the lids just sitting on top instead of clicked down tight) and gently place it down on a flat surface suitable for a background. Set up your camera to shoot straight down on the lid for over-all sharpness.

Regularly check your local weather forecasts and keep a notebook of the special places you find in your neighbourhood that provide good locations for shots that include the following:

# 2 - Hail: Hail is possible with most thunderstorms as it is usually produced at the leading edge of a severe storm system and usually falls within 2 miles of its parent storm, during the summer months, in the afternoon and evening hours. Hail-producing clouds are often identifiable by their green coloration and hailstorms normally last about 3-15 minutes. Hailstones can vary from less than pea-size to larger than 4". Place a hailstone over a slightly smaller hole in black cardboard and shine a light up through the hole and the hailstone, and photograph the hailstone's interior structure. Or picture assorted stones along with coins, etc for size comparison on a dark background. Or photograph it after a heavy fall where ever it lays, amid the damage it may cause.

# 3 - Mist: In the early morning or late evening, mist or groundfog can generate "artist's light" as masses of water vapor in an area condense from coolness near ponds, rivers, etc or down in ravines and valleys. It burns off quickly though, so you have to anticipate it and get there early. Look for things extending above the mist, or visible through openings in it, as it swirls about.

# 4 - Fog: Can make all the difference between ordinary and exceptional images. In foggy scenes include foreground objects for silhouettes and interesting contrasts. Just remember that you generally have to increase your exposure by 1/2 to 3/4 of a stop to avoid a picture that's too dark.

Self-Assignments For Above Photography Tips: Choose the projects that interest you most. Follow the photography tips conscientiously. Re-shoot when you aren't satisfied. Do it til you are satisfied. It'll take all your patience and passion. Your skills and eye will improve with the practice. Shoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly. Pin small samples on the wall for a few days to study before making final prints for wall art.

Photography Tip # 1 - Condensation: If you have a container of yogurt with a clear plastic lid in your fridge, just sit the lid on top of the container and don't click it down tight. When water drops from condensation form a pattern of circles on the underside of the lid, gently take the lid and place it down on a table or counter top, without disturbing the drops. Shoot straight down on it and make a close-up of a part of the pattern.

Photography Tip # 2 - Hail: When a thunderstorm is forecasted keep an eye out for hail. Find a safe place to shoot from and shoot it as it falls and bounces off things, using both fast and slow shutter speeds.

Photography Tip # 3 - Mist: When the weather forecast predicts ground fog, have a rural scenic spot in mind to go to that has higher and lower sections within it and shoot it just as the sun comes up.

Photography Tip # 4 - Fog: When the weather forecast predicts fog, have a scenic spot in mind to go to and shoot a portion of it that has things that recede from you into the fog, with some leaves hanging down into the top of the frame as silhouettes.

In the next article of this set we'll consider photography tips about water's cold season photo op's for remedying the photo doldrums, when it can turn crystalline or even solid!

John Maxymuik is the author of "Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums" a set of 6-articles providing tips to break the grip of the photo doldrums. To see examples of fine art photography that made use of the "ideal photo subject"- water, go to my website at: http://ambienceimages.net

Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums - Snow Scenes & Storms

Two More Of Water's Cold Season Photo Ops

In this sixth and final article on photography tips for solving the photo doldrums we'll cover two more of water's cold season photo op's: snow scenes and snow storms.

# 1 - Snow scenes: After the snow has just fallen they can be beautiful, before they get marred with footprints and tire tracks. Especially are they beautiful to see at sunrise and sunset when the snow takes on the colors from the sky. Just remember to compensate your meter reading + 1 to 1-1/2 stops.

# 2 - Snow storms: Check the forecast for details, then you'll know what your possibilities are. For example, if a large wet flake snow fall is predicted and wind will accompany it, forecasted to drop off to calm before the snow stops, you might have the makings of an unusual snow scene. The wind will paste the wet falling snow to the exposed vertical surfaces facing it and then, when it drops off to calm, allow the snow to come straight down onto every exposed horizontal surface. Walking through the scenery in the direction the wind was moving yields a snow-scape that looks much like a black and white negative.

Self-Assignments For Above Photography Tips

Choose the projects that interest you most. Follow the photography tips conscientiously. Re-shoot when you aren't satisfied. Do it til you are satisfied. It'll take all your patience and passion. Your skills and eye will improve with the practice. Shoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly. Pin small samples on the wall for a few days to study before making final prints for wall art.

Photography Tip # 1 - Snow scenes: Get outside immediately after a fresh snowfall and locate a scene without tire tracks or footprints just at sunrise and shoot it. Do it with both a moderate wide angle and a moderate tele focal length.

Photography Tip # 2 - Snow storms: If you can get outside during a storm to a location in a park with evergreen trees or a large number of deciduous trees along the shore of a pond or lake, shoot with a slow shutter speed, or else make a double exposure of the scene: one exposure in focus, the other out of focus, for an unusual picture.

Conclusions

The photography tips listed in this 6-article set serve to underline a vital point: water is, indeed, an ideal photo subject! It's almost everywhere and, in line with the seasons, it readily provides a nearly endless number of ways at almost any time to take fresh and interesting images for overcoming the photo doldrums,.

Let's quickly recap the ways covered in this 6 - article set in which we covered photography tips for shooting water as the ideal photo subject for overcoming the photo doldrums:

* waves, waterscapes & waterfalls

* reflections, abstracts, splash, spray, foam, bubbles & puddles

* condensation, hail, mist & Fog

* frost, ice, re-freeze & 'tenacious grace'

* icy streams, freezing rain, icicles & snowflakes

* snow scenes & snow storms

Remember, to tap it's visual possibilities you just need to get past the barrier of familiarity. To do that, you just need to take another look, and a bit more closely the second time.

John Maxymuik authored this article as 1 of a 6-article set on "Photography Tips For The Photo Doldrums" to provide ways to break the grip of the photo doldrums with the use of the "ideal photo subject".
To see examples of photography that made use of the "ideal photo subject" go to his fine art photography website at: http://ambienceimages.net