A few Photography Tips, Things I try to remember

Just thought I would post a couple of tips that I try to remember when taking and processing photos.

When you are composing a photo shot remember, foreground blurring is not a good thing . I found that out when I used a macro lens to photo something and part of a bush was in the foreground and was blurry. It stopped my eye from going to the main subject. This doesn't make a good composition.

When doing your editing and you want to add a frame, remember, if something in the frame doesn't add to the strength of the image, it subtracts from it. This is something I try to remember now when post processing a photo and adding a frame.

When photographing something that faces to the left, it shouldn't be located in the left half of the image area because it will unbalance the photo to the left. The same thing applies if things are facing right they shouldn't be located in the right half of the image area.

For Photoshop Users....To make a photoshop client presentation, hide all your palettes and menus to display your current image centered on your monitor with a cool black frame around the image do the following.....press the letter "f" twice, then press the Tab key(f, f, Tab). To return to your regular Photoshop work area, press "f,"then Tab (f, Tab). I do this in Photoshop 7. In photoshop cs3 I had to press the letter f three times then the tab key....(f, f, f,Tab), then f, Tab to return to the regular screen. Your photo displays in full screen surrounded by a black frame. Mary

Hi Mary,

Thank you for posting tips on photography. I don't have Photo Shop but I can
use/keep in mind some of these tips in the future. Greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, Ann

One of the best tips I can give is to use a tripod. Regardless of what type of camera you use, DSLR or simple point and shoot compact, using a tripod not only gives you a sharper image, but it forces you to slow down. The minute you are on a tripod, you are no longer taking a snapshot, you are taking a photograph. Using the tripod helps you unbelievably in proper composition. Try it on your next shoot. Make sure everything you take is "on the sticks". I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
Hope this helps.
photohelp08
www.photography-help.com
Photography-help

I thought this was a great topic that needs some more tips. Here's a couple of mine.

1. Get out and take lots of photos everyday. It's called practicing. If your a football player, musician, or photographer, you need to practice. 10 photos a day doesn't cut it..

2. Take your camera with you no matter where you go. This helps with number 1.. I did not do this the other day and I'm still bummed at myself. I walked out of my house heading for the mail box, well I took two steps and a Roadrunner showed up five feet in front of me, we looked at each other for a good minute. I have been wanting to get a photo of a Roadrunner for years and missed my chance.

~Alan~

Make window screens or chain-link fences invisible.

To make say a chain-link fence invisible just get about four to eight feet from the fence, around three feet from a window screen, make your DOF smaller by using a wider aperture like around F/5. Use your zoom about half and then focus or make sure your camera focuses on your subject and not the fence.
This idea is you have a narrower DOF and are focusing out past the fence or screen. The fence/screen being fairly close to you will become invisible. The farther away from the fence your subject is the wider DOF you can use.

Here is a photo I took of a Harbor Seal that was in a fenced in area. I stepped back around six feet but had to use a very small DOF because the seal was only about four feet inside the fence. You can see the fence behind him but the one in front of him is gone.
http://www.thelensflare.com/gallery/p_sealocean_27580.php

~Alan~

These tips that you have been giving us here at TLF are wonderful, Keep them
coming, Alan.

Thanks, Ann

Hi Ann, Thanks very much

I enjoy reading short tips and tricks, my problem is remembering them all.. Here is my tip for today, maybe some others out there will add some more.

Turn Your Camera Sideways.

Is your camera vertically challenged? It is if you never turn it sideways to take a vertical photo. All sorts of things look better in a vertical picture. From a lighthouse near a cliff to tall subjects or say some children jumping in a puddle. So next time out, make a effort to turn your camera sideways now and then and take some vertical pictures.

A good way to remember this is to think of either,landscape or portrait.

The minimal Photoshop "fiddling around" tip: Try to get as much right when taking the photo -- composition, lighting, etc. I try taking at least 3 pictures of the same subject using different exposures, angles, or composition. Save the Photoshopping for times when you only have time for one shot or for creative effects.

That's a good one Doug I love it when I open a photo and realize nothing needs fixed, just wish it would happen more often... I try to slow down and look at all of the angles.

Here's a short tip that helps now and then. Before you take a photo look all around the edges of your shot. Small parts of things sticking into the photo is distracting.

I like this area on the message board. I'm really enjoying and hopefully remember each and every tip. Thanks again.

Ann

Your Lenses Sweet Spots..

Lenses have spots in their aperture ranges that are sharper than others. It's like the power-band in your cars motor where it runs the best. In many cases this ’sweet spot’ is one or two stops from the maximum aperture. So instead of shooting with your lens wide open, pull it back a stop or two and you might find you get a little more clarity. Using F/5 or F/5.6 seems to work the best with most of my Canon lenses.

~Alan~

Hi All,

My tip for today is about your cameras strap. It's a good idea to inspect your
strap now and then to make sure it's not getting worn where it is connected to
the camera, especially if you use your camera everyday like me
I usually have a medium size lens on so the camera tilts down-wards
putting all of the stress on the edge of the strap. I think they make
the camera connection that direction on purpose. Hmmmm

So along with inspecting the strap now and then it's a good idea to make it a
little longer or shorter so it's not wearing in the same place all the time.
And if your strap is showing wear it's a lot cheaper to get a new strap
than a new camera and lens.

That's my little tip, I hope this saves someones camera from crashing to the ground.

Thanks for these wonderful tips. I'm still learning the way around my camera and have a question. I would love to take pictures of the moon, but I don't know how to cut down on the glare from the moon. Any suggestions would be muchly appreciated. Thanks!

Dani