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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
Copyright © 2015 Fine Art Photography Pty Ltd
All rights reserved worldwide.
No part of this publication may be replicated, redistributed, or given away in any form without the
prior written consent of the author/publisher or the terms relayed to you herein.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Copyright information
Introduction
The History and Today’s Opportunities
10 Secrets Tips to taking Awesome Photos
Tip#1: Decide upon your Main Subject
Tip#2: Look for the Light
Tip#3: Composition – The Rule of Thirds
Tip#4: Composition – Leading Lines Tip#5: Composition – Less is More
Tip#6: Take control of your camera
Tip#7: Move in Closer
Tip#8: Working with People
Tip#9: Use a Tripod Tip#10: Avoid using Flash
Ideas and Inspiration
Resources and further learning
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Introduction
We live in a very exciting digital information era. In particular, the opportunities
that exist to record life’s precious moments through digital photography are
unprecedented.
With the immense popularity of incredibly smart picture taking devices, there is a world of ever increasing photo opportunities just waiting for you. Most of us now carry a camera with us 24 hours a day. It fits in our pocket and is packed full of amazing technology that provides you with capabilities of capturing amazing vision and valuable memories of the world we live in, our families and our experiences. You are to be congratulated for making the smart decision to learn how to embrace this technology and improve your understanding of basic photography. By simply taking a little time to learn a few easy tips and tricks now, you will be rewarded with so many future benefits. Grasping a few easy techniques will give you the power to maximise the use of our technology and improve the way you record your life’s moments forever. Reading articles like the one that follows, will be a means for you to quickly grow to understand how easy it is to take your image taking skills to a level of total awesomeness. Who would like to know how to take better pictures…. no matter what camera you are using? Of course you would! The information that I am about to share with you could indeed form the foundation for your creativity, and lead the way to acquiring skills and concepts that will improve the way you think about, and take photos for the rest of your life. And that is my intent! I am so genuinely thrilled to have you here and to know that you are interested in improving your photography. Photography is such a rewarding multi-faceted medium and, in particular, when you learn a little more about how easy it is to shoot amazing pictures, a whole new world of creativity, satisfaction and the ultimate hobby of enjoyment unveils before your very eyes.
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
The History and Today’s Opportunities Never, in the history of man, has there ever been a time when imagery and the practise of recording photos been so abundant. Man has never before had the ease of access to the wealth of quality information on the art of using cameras and photography, nor the ever increasing marvel of amazingly, mind-blowing technology. Our forefathers could never have possibly imagined such miracles.
The first photographic technologies were produced during the 1830s and 40s. The invention of
photography would revolutionise culture and communication forever. For the first time, images of
‘real’ life were captured for posterity and sent around the world. Portraits of royalty and other
celebrities (far more accurate than paintings) allowed members of the public to feel they were
viewing these people ‘in the flesh’. The dead could be remembered, the fleeting could be fixed.
It is, however, most unfortunate that with todays advances in knowledge and technology, comes
complacency and a lack of discipline preventing most from mastering the art of photography.
When I was learning the art and enthused at the prospect of opening my first photography studio,
there was certainly an air of excitement along with concerns and the necessary commitment to
succeed.
Learning how to take successful pictures was indeed mandatory. I clearly recall the expenses
associated with pressing the shutter button. The investment was approximately $14.50 with each
and every “click”. The film was a considerable expense and provided for only 15 shots per roll
using a medium format (6 x 4.5) camera.
The film, after being exposed in the camera, then required another expense to send it to a
commercial laboratory for developing and processing. Some four or so days later, proofs
(miniature photos) were printed by the lab and delivered back to my studio. Upon receipt of the
proofs, often the reality of my photography skills (or lack thereof) brought frustration and
disappointment. Of course, every photo I took back then was accompanied with great observation
and the precise recording of notes relating to each exposure made.
Where was the light coming? What camera settings did I use? How did I pose my subjects? etc etc
This recording of this information was a necessary process in order to constantly learn and correct
any mistakes for future sittings.
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Today, it is of course, a very different story. No more waiting for results. Instant gratification! How
lucky are we? It’s so easy for today’s generation of “up and coming photographers” to view the
results and learn the skills to be an awesome photographer!
With today’s incredible advances, one would certainly expect photographers to be embracing the
“golden platter” of opportunities of this instant digital age. We have the technology that paves the
way for anyone who so desires to become an incredibly talented photographer. Surprisingly,
however, and disappointingly, this is far from the reality. Despite easy access to all of this valuable
information and technology, we have a generation of photographers who clearly lack any
understanding of discipline when it comes to pressing the shutter button.
Are we just lazy?
No longer does it cost $14.50 per shot and thus there is no penalty or real encouragement to
understand precisely what the camera functions are when the shutter is depressed. Photography
by the majority these days is not too dis-similar to the process of investing in a lotto ticket…. The
more tickets we buy, the more chances we have of “jagging” a good shot! So sadly, more and
more photographers are of the belief that good photography is all about taking as many shots as
you possibly can, with the knowledge that the ever faithful delete button is at the ready to discard
the errors of their ways.
Do you know that even a “professional” wedding photographer, today, feels compelled to take
thousands of photos to insure their ability to produce saleable images for the happy couple? In
fact, the average wedding photographer indulges in the excessive habit of taking approximate
5,000 shots at each wedding. This beckons the question, “does a Bride and Groom want or require
5,000 images to use as a keepsake of their special day”?
Of course not! So, if the photographer possessed confidence, learnt camera skills and exercised
some modicum of sensibility, they would set out to create a series of incredibly unique and
powerfully captivating photographs. How would it be if each occasion of shutter press resulted in
an amazingly sensational image that was well executed, well composed and encapsulated the
essence of the special day? If the photographs faithfully recorded feelings and all the emotions of
this most important day, the happy couple would surely only require 40 to 50 amazing images for
an album that would be truly cherished for a lifetime…..NOT 5,000!
I cannot imagine the purpose of an album with 5,000 mediocre shots and feel quite sure that such
an album would find itself hidden under the bed or on top of the wardrobe in no time at all.
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
So, my intent with this guide is to provide you with an “easy to understand” introduction to the
excitingly easy, yet essential secrets and purpose to taking amazing photographs. I hope the tips
and tricks that follow will have you photographing with a new found confidence and style where
your friends and family can’t but help flatter your ego with many saying “WOW what a great
photo”!
I am hoping that you gain valuable lessons here…but most important of all is the knowledge and
appreciation that good photography is not about your equipment, the size of it, or how expensive
it is!
It is first and foremost an intimate understanding that “light” is the most essential ingredient of a
good photo.
Yet, the most important consideration when taking any photograph is that its level of greatness
relies not upon the camera, but what lies 30 centimetres behind it.
Please enjoy learning my secret tips and embracing how to take your photography to the next
exciting level.
Ready? Let’s Get started ….
Anthony Cottrell
Senior Lecturer
Photography Masterclass
http://photographymasterclass.com.au
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Secret Tip #1
Decide upon your Main Subject
Have you ever been on holiday or just driving along the road and been so overwhelmed with the view or the scene that you simply could not help but yell out: “STOP THE CAR …STOP THE CAR”! You then leapt out of the car, camera in hand and simply wanted to capture that amazing view to preserve forever. Does that sound familiar? How did you feel when you first saw that awesome view? Maybe the scene sent shivers tingling up your spine?
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
However you felt, you just wanted to capture that feeling for all time. You wanted to stick it in a jar and slap the lid on tight to save it so as you could re-live and share this energy and feeling with family and friends again and again. Didn’t you? Had you noticed though, when you got home and reviewed your photos that the results disappointingly lacked the ability to “WOW” you like you were anticipating… like the real scene. You did not receive that same buzz! The secret here is to decide upon the exact subject you are photographing! What was the number ONE most important subject in that scene that caught your attention? The subjects in the scene may have included a number of elements like this:
Beautiful snow-capped majestic mountains.
An amazing lake with crystal clear reflections of the mountains along with the interesting texture that the ripples on the water created.
To top of the scene, the sky possessed incredible dynamic cloud formations.
A common mistake is that you probably wanted to capture all those elements without paying any particular attention to the element that you wanted to make the primary focus.
TIP: You should only have ONE main subject.
When photographing a number of elements, you must decide upon which element is to be the main focus of attention in your photo. Once you have made this decision, concentrate upon how you can emphasise that particular element. Let’s suggest that you have decided upon the snow-capped mountains as your main subject. A good idea then would be to focus or zoom in on just the mountains and compose your photo so that the mountains take up the majority of the space in your photo.
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
So, what you have achieved now is you have simplified your photo. Your photo will become easier for the viewer’s brain to comprehend, as the viewer’s attentions will be drawn to the mountains FIRST! Viewers will see the reflection in the lake and the clouds in the sky as secondary elements.
Does that make sense? See how, in the above photo, I have made the clouds the main subject? It’s about keeping it simple and understanding that you, as the photographer and the artist, must always be in control of where the viewer looks first within your photo. A good photographer leads the viewer’s eye through the photo and is always in control of where the viewer’s looks first. The simpler and easier you can make this for the viewer, the more powerful the photograph becomes.
Photography is about “Painting with Light”
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Secret Tip #2 Look for the Light
The word “Photography” means “Painting with Light”. As a photographer you need to appreciate that the
number one ingredient when it comes to creating an
awesome photograph is light.
So, every time you take a photo, you will be asking questions
of yourself such as:
“How much light is there?”
“Where is the light coming from?”
“What colour temperature is the light?”
“What effects or mood do I wish to create?”
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Almost as important as composition is the use of light.
Here are some secrets for using light.
The best outdoors light to be found is at dawn and dusk. Here the light is not as bright as midday,
and the sun produces some wonderful reds. Both early morning and early evening help to make a
normally ordinary shot look magical by creating a warm glow.
Different lighting can change the mood and feel of a shot, and can be the difference between a
mediocre and stunning shot.
The light from the setting sun can produce wonderful lighting for a subject, as does sunlight
through leaves. Maybe you see a shaft of light between two large objects such as buildings or
through the canopy in trees that can be a perfect backdrop for your subject.
Other options for different light sources at night include Neon lights. These make great night time
subjects. You can silhouette your subjects in front of them, or use them as a subject themselves.
Using a long exposure on a tripod is a great way to capture streaks of car lights on a road, or other
moving lights to create amazing effects.
Another thing to watch out for is that your subject doesn’t squint. We all love to see bright wide
eyes, so ensure the sun isn’t too bright. This is another reason to shoot at dawn or dusk - you can
have the subject facing the sun but not squinting… and you get much better colours in your image
at the same time!
If shooting in sunlight, watch for shadows. Look at the shadow cast by your subject and ensure it
doesn’t block anything, or look unsightly. Additionally, ensure your own shadow doesn’t fall into
the picture!
The best night shots are taken just after sunset. This is where scenes are lit up as if it were night,
but there is still a tiny bit of sunlight around to help light the scene and bring out the detail.
TIP: When photographing people, the most important part of a person is their eyes. I’m sure you
have all heard the expression “The Eyes are The Window to the Soul”. So, when photographing
people my rule is “always have the subject’s eyes facing towards the light source”. This way, their
eyes will literally fill up with light and give your subjects a sparkle that will look awesome.
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Secret Tip #3
Composition – The Rule of Thirds
Good composition in your photos is critical.
When a photo is well composed, it will have the power to mesmerise the viewer, captivate them
and hold their attention for an extended period of time.
Essentially, as you have already discovered in Tip #1, a well-composed photo will draw the viewer’s
eye to the main subject of the photo first.
One of the most popular ways to do this is to follow the "Rule of Thirds".
This is a simple rule that can add balance and dynamics to your photos.
You simply divide the image into three equal horizontal sections and three equal vertical sections.
When composing your shot, place important elements or subject matter either along these lines,
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or importantly where the lines intersect (these are
known as Impact Zones) - NOT at the centre of the
frame.
For example, place your subject on the place in the
image where two of these lines intersect. It's a very
simple rule to follow and will result in a nicely
balanced picture that is easy on the eye.
Please note, however, that the Rule of Thirds is also
one of the rules you'll want to break often!
In fact, I call it “Guideline of Thirds”. As you will see in the following tip about “Leading Lines”,
lines created within your photograph can prove so powerful that they overpower any application
of the rule of third placement.
Remember - the Rule of Thirds is more of a guideline and sometimes you will find the image
works better when you break the rules. This can be really fun playing with this… so much so that I
always go into much detail on this subject with my students whenever I am conducting “live”
Masterclass workshops.
HINT: Placing your subject “off centre” will result in a more balanced and pleasing result.
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Secret Tip #4 Composition – Leading Lines
Lead the viewer’s eye through your photo
Another very powerful tip when composing your
photo is to look for leading lines.
These lines can be any lines at all… zig-zag, straight
lines, curved lines. It doesn’t matter. As with the
photograph here, the leading line can be made up of
a number of other elements such as these posts.
The leading line can be made from any other
element, a road, a fence, someone’s arm, ripples in
water, even clouds in the sky can often have line like
formations that can “point” to the main subject thus
having the effect of giving the subject more energy.
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The purpose of a leading line is to
take control in guiding your
viewer’s attention to the primary
or main subject in your photo.
Hint: Avoid leading lines that take
your viewer’s eye out the edge of
your photo. Remember the idea is
to hold their attention.
The power of leading lines can make a very small subject appear
dominant.
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Secret Tip #5
Composition – Minimalism
Remember in tip #1 we learnt that we need to decide upon the
MAIN subject of our photo. One of the magical ways to achieve
this power is to be aware of not how much you can cram into
your photo, but how much you can leave out.
When there is less to look at, there is less likelihood of the
viewer’s eyes being confused or distracted by other elements.
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TIP: Fewer elements make for a stronger picture.
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Secret Tip #6 Take Control of Your Camera
Avoid the “Auto” Mode
When you first took delivery of your camera, there is no doubt that the salesperson went to great
lengths to ensure that all the settings were locked down into
“AUTO” mode prior to you taking possession of your shiny new
toy. Do you know why this is?
The answer is quite simple…. Does the salesperson really want
the customer bothering them with a phone call (or worse still a
visit to the store) as a result of frustration and anger brought
about from repeatedly pressing the shutter button on their
new purchase to only result in a totally black photo?
The customer may well have thought they’d have been sold a
“dud” and would be back at that store, with their fist on the counter demanding an immediate
refund. Duh!
It’s so much easier for the sales consultant to ensure your
new camera is firmly set on “dumb mode”! No hassles…
No annoying phone calls… No refund requests.
It’s a pretty clever option on the part of the salesperson,
wouldn’t you agree?
Yes, the computers on all cameras these days are
amazingly sophisticated and, in particular, the technology
is extremely good at being able to read the scene you are
about to photograph. Your camera knows exactly what average camera settings are needed in
order for you to achieve an average result, automatically. It even sets these average settings for
you without you even having to think.
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Auto mode is fantastic, if you do not care too much about getting the best possible
results….. and you are delighted at the prospect of your memories and photos
looking decidedly average.
However, if you wish to ensure that you are getting
stunning photos with beautiful bright colours and
nice crisp results, then a little time spent in gaining
the knowledge required to get the very most out of
your camera is an excellent investment.
Please do whatever it takes to learn. It’s really
simple when you know how to master your
camera’s settings, and this knowledge will serve
you time and time again for the rest of your photo
taking days. In other words, the rest of your life!
Learn how to run your camera in “M” Manual
mode and your pictures will be awesome. (I call it
“Magic” mode!)
Believe me, this is not as difficult as it sounds.
I run classes throughout the World, and over the
last three years have successfully taught thousands
of people just like you, both young and old alike, to
get the maximum enjoyment from their camera
and the best possible results simply by understanding how to correctly use camera settings.
There are so many benefits of running your camera in Magic mode!
Unfortunately, it is not possible for me to go into all the details here, but suffice to say I show
people about camera settings in a way that is so incredibly easy to understand and all achieved
without and confusing techno jargon.
My rewards are that I continuously receive emails from past students telling me how much they
now enjoy their photography. They go on to say, “Their camera has never been back on Auto”.
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Please, do as these other students have done….
Do whatever it takes to learn how to use your camera in
Manual mode and the results, enjoyment and pride in
your photography will increase dramatically. I promise
you!
Learning the basics will truly be worth every second you
spend, and again you’ll be surprised at how easy it is
when everything is explained correctly and in a way that
any confusion is removed.
HINT: There are a number of ‘live” photography classes (about 4 hours in length) that are held
throughout Australia that specialise in teaching the basics and many benefits of using your camera
on manual mode. It will be worth seeing what you can do to attend one of an Introductory
Masterclass.
Alternatively, there are also some good online photography course options available, but please
choose the courses that are written and conducted by Australian photographers as these tend not
to be bogged down with high tech jargon. Some of the terminology others use, even I have a
problem understanding.
Macro Photography – Seeing the World from a different perspective.
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-2015 Fine Art Photography P/L PhotographyMasterclasss.com.au - All Rights Reserved -
Secret Tip #7
Move in Closer Almost any shot will look better
if you take two or three steps closer to your subject
Filling the frame entirely with your subject
will make a terrific difference to your
photos.
Alternatively, instead of moving closer, use
the Optical Zoom of your camera to get a
close up shot. (Please avoid digital zoom)
When photographing family and friends,
most people place the subject's full body in
the frame, or place head and arms in the
shot. Instead, try filling the frame with just
your subject's FACE. This is especially good if they are smiling or are in a moment of reflection.
Why does this work?
Again remember my previous hints about
less clutter in the image. There will be less to
draw the eye away from the main subject of
your photo.
Also, human faces (particularly children's
faces) are something we all feel pleasure
looking at. If you can't get close enough, use
a zoom lens. Alternatively, using editing
software, you can crop out unwanted parts
of the photo leaving everything except the
subject's face.
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Secret Tip #8
Working with People
Do not allow people to stand with their feet together.
Standing people in a line like statues is a sure fire way of creating a photograph that looks posed
and unnatural. The best picture and family and friends are those that look spontaneous.
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There are a couple of posing rules here:
1/ Never have people standing with their feet together…
Always ask them to place one foot towards the camera. This automatically has the effect of leaning
people slightly towards your camera making them look more relaxed and natural. Ask your
subject/s to place their balance on their front foot.
I often pretend that I have a piece of string attached to my subject’s nose and go through the
motions of pulling the string , hand over hand, to bring my subjects noses closer to my camera.
This can be fun, but importantly has the resultant effect of a more dynamic, relaxed and
spontaneous photo. In fact the more I have people leaning towards my camera another fantastic
benefit occurs….. The more people lean towards me, the more I eliminate any double chins that
may have otherwise occurred. Believe me, your subjects will love you for it!
2/ Use a tripod.
When photographing people, using a tripod allows you to come out from behind the camera and
interact with your subject/s. This will definitely result in achieving far more natural expressions.
3/ Use a remote shutter trigger device. I always recommend
the use of a remote trigger device that allows you to fire the
camera from wherever you are standing. These handy
accessories are not expensive. You can get them for most
makes of camera.
4/ Be spontaneous.
At all costs, engage in natural, fun conversation and NEVER you the word “smile” or resort to
counting “1, .2, 3,…’ etc !!!
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The fun and spontaneity is enhanced by leaning your subjects towards your camera
Don’t be afraid to have some real fun.
Good people photography is about bringing out the
emotions.
HINT: Remember people don’t necessarily cherish the
photo.
The photograph will simply be a “souvenir” of
hopefully the fun experience they have enjoyed whilst
being photographed by you.
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Secret Tip # 9
Use a Tripod
Yes, tripods can be a hassle to carry around with you but they help you take great
shots in a number of ways.
A steady camera is a necessity for all types of
photography.
Using a tripod does take more time, but this can
be to your advantage as it forces you to take more
time to think about your potential image. It often
means you'll become more aware of other
elements like composition of the image, and
lighting. The more focussed you are on the
conditions, the more likely you will be to take a
great shot.
The added advantage is your camera will be steady, allowing you to take the sharpest possible
image - particularly in low light situations.
An alternative to the tripod is a 'mono pod'. These only have one leg and don't have the stability of
a tripod, but they are great for travelling and will still allow you to have a greater stability than just
your hands - particularly if you lean them against a small wall or similar.
Tripod Tip :
If you have a lightweight camera, you might consider purchasing an
ultra-lightweight tripod. These are small, don't weigh much and
easily fit in a special pouch on your backpack or camera bag.
Extra Tip :
You don't need to purchase a tripod either! Any horizontal surface
around can make a tripod - arms of chairs, railings, rocks, anything.
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There are lots of other ways to keep your camera steady without purchasing a
tripod.
In the "Photography Masterclass” 4 Hour, live workshop events,
I cover an additional 5 techniques for taking rock steady images.
One that I love is simply using a piece of string. The string is
about 3 metres long and easily coils up into my camera bag.
When I need stability, I simply attach each end of the string to
the eyelet on either side of my camera. (The eyelets used for the
camera carry strap).
Allow the length of the string to be such that you can place your
foot through the hoop and clamp the middle of the length of
string with your foot on the ground. Now, as you push your
camera up vertically, the string tightens and acts as a brace -
thus eliminating any vertical movement. Cool idea right?
Obviously, your camera will still be subject to horizontal
movement but at least much easier to control.
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Secret Tip # 10
Avoid using Flash
Don't Rely On Flash
There are many occasions where using a
flash will ruin the mood of the event you
are photographing.
Why?
A flash tends to create harsh subjects and
will ruin any natural mood. So, rather than
using the flash whenever your camera tells
you to, use available light whenever
possible. In a dark situation, it's often
better to open the shutter for longer to let
in more light, or turn on existing lights to
illuminate the room rather than to use the
flash.
In daytime and when your subject is inside
and near a window, have them face the light
and position the camera between the
window and your subject. This will allow the
sunlight to light your image fully.
The use of materials to reflect the natural
light is also a much better option than
artificial light.
Notice in the picture here, how even a small piece of white card can be used to effectively reflect
the natural light to give an added sparkle to the subject’s eyes.
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Two rules of Artificial Light (flash).
1/ Make sure you create a light from a source
that is as large as possible.
The use of attachments like diffusers and soft
boxes are a great way to gain beautiful soft
light. If you are taking a photo with just a bare
flash from the camera, the effect is likened to
shining a bare flashlight directly into someone’s
face. Trust me, even if your subject has the
smallest of smile lines on their face, these lines
will turn into massive craters and you are
assured that your subject will hate you for a
very long time.
There are some great attachments available that just
Velcro to your speed-light to soften and enlarge the light source
2/ Always try to have the light source coming from an angle of about 45 degrees to your subject.
This angle creates nice highlights and shadows, both of which are essential if we wish to create a
lifelike three-dimensional feeling within the photo.
Red Eye Problems
The red eye is a very common issue and whilst
camera manufacturers would have you believe
that this is caused by the lack of the
photographer’s skill… this is just NOT true!
The problem lies directly with the design (or
lack of good design) of the camera. Quite
simply, this happens as a result of the flash
reflecting directly from the retina of your
subject’s eyes.
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The Red Eye issue is caused by the flash
being positioned too close to the camera’s lens.
Do you remember at school we were taught that the angle of incidence equals the angle of
reflection? Well think about that.
When the flash comes from a position close to your camera’s lens, the reflection comes right back
at the lens thus causing the red eye reflection. It’s the light travelling through the blood cells of
the eye that cause the red colour! The solution is simple. You just need to ensure that the flash is
positioned sufficiently away from the lens in order for the angle at which the light reflects from the
retina is such that it misses the lens. Not rocket science, hey?
But then, alas, the camera manufacturers would miss out on all that money that is derived from
selling you stuff like “Red Eye Reduction Software”. (Such a scam)
A good idea is to purchase a bracket similar to those pictured below. Whilst not ideal, they at least
will assist in taking your flash away from the lens position and totally eliminate any risk of red-
eyes.
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More Ideas and Subjects of Inspiration for you to take Great Photos
There are so many ideas and a wide variety of amazing subjects waiting
for you to photograph.
It’s unfortunate that I simply can’t fit all the photography tips and ideas in this guide that I would
dearly love to share with you. However, you are invited and I encourage you to look for other
courses and publications that I have written on how you can easily master the art of taking
breathtaking shots.
On the following pages, you will find a few of the most
popular photography subjects that I teach. Like many
others who are learning photography, I do hope that you
also will enjoy having your imagination stirred and I look
forward to the privilege of meeting you at one of my
future classes and providing you with the knowledge to
create stunning photos that you can truly be very proud
of.
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Here’s to getting your creative juices flowing:
How to Photograph Reflections
The reflection in water is a fantastic element to include in your photos.
The reflections generated can make your image stand out. Keep a look out for water around your
environment when you shoot. Reflections from lights, or splashes of colour can really help with the
ambience of an image.
Rainy days are particularly good as puddles abound! Photographing just the reflection and leaving
the subject out is also a great way to produce awesome abstract images.
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How to Photograph Silhouettes
Sunrise and Sunsets are a perfect opportunity for you to photograph against the light and create
spectacular silhouettes.
The human eye doesn’t see silhouettes, but the camera is a fabulous tool for seeing the world
differently. Anytime you create a photo that captures the subject differently from the way we
normally see it will be very popular.
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How to create Dynamic Night Photos
With you camera on a tripod there is no end to the effect you can create when you know how.
Experimenting with your shutter speed and a tripod opens the doors to spectacular photography….
Talk about WOW factor.
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The Art of Architecture
The forms of architecture are all around us. Look for repeating patterns, symmetry, unusual angles
and so much more.
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How to Bring Water to Life
Water moves and is full of life. Slowing your shutter speed is so much fun when you know how
and … well these photos are typical of the results you can expect to easily create once you
understand how easy it is to master your camera settings.
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How to Master your Travel Photography
Learning to get the very most from your camera is an essential part of planning a great holiday and
insuring you never miss capturing a special memory a spectacular photo opportunity ever again!
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A Special Note…
Here’s the thing:
Your camera – the instrument that allows you to capture and preserve forever your life’s
memories and that of your family – does not need to be complicated. There’s no need for you to
take thousands of shots in the hope that you may end up with a few good ones. There’s no need
for a lot of crazy technology or super confusing settings for your photography to be spectacular.
It can be simple and fun!
It doesn’t require expensive or fancy equipment.
My job as a photography trainer is to show you how to put the pieces together and give you the
confidence and understanding to use your camera to its fullest potential… no matter what brand,
style or size it is. Once you have the knowledge of how it works, you can take your photography as
far as you want!
Imagine how that would feel!
In the next few months, I will be hosting a series of “LIVE” photography training events throughout
Australia and New Zealand where I’ll be showing people, just like you, how to take full control of
their camera the easy way. This photography event will suit all beginners and amateurs alike and is
called: ”It’s Not About Your Equipment… but the Way You Use It”. It will show you everything
you need to know to take total control of your camera… What settings to use... And how you can
get the very most out of every photography situation.
So, no matter if you are into Travel, Landscapes, Nature Studies, Sports, or just the family, if you
would like to join me, look out for a class coming to your city very soon.
By attending, you will discover simple strategies you can implement immediately to boost the
quality and level of your photography and your lifetime memories… You just need to demystify the
settings to uncover the opportunities that you already have to take awesome photos right now.
I do look forward to meeting you.
Anthony Cottrell