Five Steps to Becoming a Better Photographer

1. P is not for professional. So you pick up your camera, switch the mode dial to P, or if you are really getting fancy perhaps even shutter speed or aperture priority. But how do you go shooting in manual mode? Are you on top of all the decisions you are faced with? Leaving your camera on manual for a while may feel awkward at first but after a short period you will gain a much better understanding of aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how the three correlate to determine exposure. After you are comfortable shooting in manual there will be situations in which you still shoot aperture or shutter priority however you will be better informed to select the right mode for the situation and to evaluate the decisions you are putting into your cameras hands.

2. The lower your ISO the cleaner your images. Digital photographs contain artifacts known as "Noise". The higher you set your ISO the more noise your images will exhibit. Thus always use the lowest ISO you can, just don't forget to be mindful of your aperture and shutter speed and make sure they are correct for the situation at hand.

3. Understand shutter speeds and how to use them to your benefit. The general rule for hand held photography in order to maintain sharp images free of camera shake is that you should use a shutter speed no slower that 1/focal length. Fop example lets say you are shooting with a 50mm lens, the slowest shutter speed recommended for sharp hand help photos would be 1/50th sec, if you were to use a 250mm lens the slowest recommended hand held shutter speed would be 1/250th sec. There are of course exceptions to this rule, you may be able to get away with slower shutter speeds if using a flash. Another option is to use a tripod which is a great idea in general as it leads to more purposeful and thought out images.

4. Make the most of depth of field. If you don't already understand aperture and it's effect on depth of field do some research and learn it. Used creatively and with purpose DOF can transform average photos into great photos. Try shooting some portraits with a shallow DOF in order to render the focus on the subject and remove the distraction of messy backgrounds. An easy way to remember it is that the smaller the f stop (e.g. f 1.8) the smaller the DOF, the larger the f stop (e.g. f16) the larger the DOF.

5. Understand fill flash and when and how to use it. On camera flash can look flat and unflattering however used as fill with the flash power set to approx 1 stop under ambient you will be able to open up the shadows and obtain portraits under full harsh sunlight whilst avoiding the heavy shadows in the eyes. This will lead to more professional looking portraits with greater detail and more flattering light.

By understanding a few simple principles and techniques you can push your photography forward in leaps and bounds. Now get shooting!

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How to Take Vacation Photos for Better Memories.

Is something missing when you begin thumbing through your vacation photos from years ago? Do the memories seem a little disconnected and dim? Does that magical time become a puzzle that can't be finished? Well read on road-trippers and memory makers. I will show you how to fill in the blanks with a little photo note taking or lets say...some memory 'glue'.

Do you remember how proud you were capturing all the right moments and scenes while on your last vacation? Do you recall the anticipation of waiting to see your photos once home? Its all so fresh in your mind. You've made reprints or your digital doubles for everyone, updated the photo album or iPhoto library and now the whole thing begins to settle and fade.

As months and years pass, you begin to sift through past photos you dust off to relive. Faded memories start to come to life like a dry sponge in a water, yet something is strangely missing now. The photos start to bring alive that time of your life, yet the memories aren't as well connected as they once were. You continue perusing the photos that chronicle the time you so well documented. You did document it well didn't you? The realization begins to settle in that there are pages missing in the chapters of your mind. Has this happened to you?

We depart on that well planned trip or vacation and reach for the camera at all the obvious moments, a landmark, a sunset, a family shot or anything similar that deserves grand notation and then we forget everything else. Consider for a moment, its the everything else that could be your holy grail in making your recall of that time more connected and complete years down the road when you stroll memory lane. That "everything else" can become a veritable 'glue' keeping our memories more completely intact.

For example, years ago we took a flight in to a remote Alaskan cabin. I photographed all the obvious hi-lights. Years later, looking through these photos, I began to relive memories but there seemed to be gaps preventing me from reliving the complete picture. After looking at all the photos I asked myself questions whose answers couldn't be rendered from the photos made. What did we eat? What did the weather feel like? How did we prep for a trip like this? What rations were made to comply with the weight restrictions of the small Cessna. How did we do it? What were were our thoughts? Was I even there? Intangible clues left out from a typical picturesque moment.

More recently, trip photography has become much different. I bring back photos, upon first inspection, that look like I was handed a camera for the first time. Stuff that would definitely NOT make it into the pages of Sunset Magazine. There are now pictures of a messy picnic table or eating area, rain on windows, wet things, odd things, shot of duffle contents before stuffing it, shot of the messy cabin upon arrival, shots of a packed car, a messy driver compartment, a loaded canoe, hotel exterior, parking lots, you get the idea. These all carry secret messages for later decoding.

Believe it or not all these photos become your 'glue' for allowing you to completely relive memories long after they have begun to fade. Adhering the masterpiece scenes into a whole memory. Photos that get to the heart of how you really felt and what you were thinking. A snapshot of your mindset if you will.

What is the ultimate 'glue' photo? Something you may not normally photograph or include in your greatest hits, perhaps. Think of it this way, I can make a portrait of you, but if I photograph your CD collection as well as your bookcase I will know so much more about you.

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Pro Tips for Taking Better Portraits

The art of taking a portrait is one that needs to be worked on as it will take practice and dedication in order to perfect. A portrait is a photo, or a representation, of a living person. Most portraits tend to focus on the face, but taking better portraits means being able to capture the person's mood and expression as well.

While there is no true road map to taking better portraits, there are some simple techniques that many photographers use in order to get the most out of their portraits and you can easily institute these techniques into your portrait taking if you so desire.

Select the Proper Background

The perfect background is the gateway to great portraits. You should select a background that will help guide the viewer of the portrait to the exact point where you want them to go, such as the face. Choose colors that are not too loud and gaudy as too much going on in a background can easily take the viewer's attention away from where you want it. If you find that your background is too busy, you can always blur it and keep the focus on the person in your portrait.

Make Use of the Eyes

They say you can see into the soul of a person by looking into their eyes. Use your subjects eyes to your advantage by having them look in various directions and with various expressions on their face. This will more than likely have you taking several shots unlit you get what you are after, but when the perfect shot is taken, you will know it. Using the eyes is one of the easiest and best ways to take better portraits.

Experiment with Lighting

The many number of ways in which you can manipulate the light to affect your portrait are simply endless. You can adjust the light any way you see fit and simply experiment until you get the desired look you are after. If you are taking a portrait in the direct sunlight, you will need to take care that the sunlight doesn't overpower the shot, but other than that it is free reign. Use the light to your advantage and see how much better your portraits start to come out.

Use Angles

If you want to break away from the monotony of portrait taking, try messing with the angle of the shot. Why stick to the traditional horizontal and vertical position? Get a little creative and angle your camera while taking the shot. Don't be shy here as too little of an angle can leave the viewer wondering if you meant to angle the camera or you just made a simple mistake. Go big with your angles and let your next portrait really stand out.

Have Fun

Most importantly, if you want to take better portraits, you have to have fun with the process. Experimentation is the key to great success and with a little practice and patience, your portraits will surely come out better and better.

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