While understanding aperture, shutter speed, ASA and the manual workings of your camera can help, anyone can take a great photo if you cultivate a great eye, and learn a little about aesthetics! Here are 10 tips to help you take amazing photographs.
1) Focal Point
Your first step is deciding what to photograph! This is a photo’s focal point or main point of interest. Ask yourself, “will my viewers find this interesting?”. If the answer is no, but you still want to take a photo of the subject, the next few tips will help change your response to a yes.
Photography tip, rule of thirds
2) The Rule of Thirds
When taking any photograph, try to imagine two horizontal and two vertical invisible lines dividing the image into 9 equal squares. Some cameras can assist you by providing these lines in either the view finder or on the display screen. When it comes to deciding the overall composition of your image, the focal point should take up either 3 or 6 of those squares, hence the name Rule of Thirds. The focal point should also be positioned at any of the 4 intersecting imaginary lines. This way your photo has an amazing composition, and your focal point is not in the center of your image.
3) Use a Tripod
Even if you think you have the steadiest of hands, as a human being, you have a heartbeat/pulse. This means you will always have “camera shake” resulting in unintentional blur in your image. A tripod can mean the difference between a blurry image and a crisp one, especially if your focal point is something that can move.
Photography tip, Framing
4) Framing
When deciding on your focal point of your image, finding a natural frame can help with your overall composition. Whether it’s a window, a cave entrance, a natural opening in a forest, a door frame, etc. Shooting your focal point within that frame might add just that extra artist flare you are looking for.
5) Leading Lines
Sometimes, your focal point might not be as bold and noticeable as you’d wish. So, a great tip is to use the natural or architectural lines in your background to direct your viewer towards your point of interest. Leading lines can also change the mood of your composition from powerful and imposing to calm and tranquil depending on whether you use vertical or horizontal lines.
Photography tip, Patterns and Symmetry
6) Patterns and Symmetry
Like leading lines, we tend to be drawn towards patterns and symmetry. This are often found when photographing architecture and fabrics. Make sure these patterns are appealing, and draw the eye to your focal point.
Photography tip, Depth of Field
7) Depth of Field
Another tip to make your photos more aesthetically appealing is to think about creating depth. It can make a tremendous difference to include a crisp, clear distant background behind your focal point. However, you might be in a setting where there is no huge landscape at your disposal, so changing your depth of field to focus only on your subject and have a blurred background can give the illusion of depth in a smaller space.
8) Perspective
From birds-eye to worms-eye, profile to headshot, a small change in the photographer’s perspective can completely change the mood, aesthetic and composition of your photo. So, a great tip is to try them all! Experiment with each, and see which has the desired effect.
Photography tip, Lighting
9) Lighting
Changing the lighting of your photo can drastically impact the aesthetic. As a photographer, a key component to understand here is that a camera works just like the human eye. Controlling what your camera can see immediately changes the mood of your photo, whether your light source is natural, or artificial.
10) Using the ‘Golden Hour’
Taking photos during the ‘golden hour’ is a great tip. This is either the hour right after sunrise or right before sunset. The sun blankets your environment in a golden light and provides an opportunity to take some of the best lit photographs.
Aaron Alviano is a professional artist who has been an arts instructor for Centauri Arts for 20 years, specializing in Digital Art, Animation, Video Game Art, Drawing, Painting and Photography. Be sure to check out his programs in Digital and Fine Art this semester at Centauri Arts!
https://www.centauriarts.com/academy/toronto/fine-art-photography-classes-for-teens/
