Sep 04, 2007 10:05 PM
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Why would I care if you cannot take a good photograph? World is so small that we may bump into each other in some tourist spot. We might exchange cameras to take snaps for the other. I would bring out a wonderful snap and you might ruin mine. You will have an Orkut profile with "album updated" and mine would be album outdated. I would never let that happen... NEVER!!
"Half my photos are anyways ruined because I am there in it. My camera has an auto-focus, auto-exposure, auto-flash and its a digital camera where you can take and retake and keep taking till you get it right. Still, my wife makes a mess of my snaps". Ever faced that situation? I have never faced that situation. Not because my wife is an excellent photographer, but because I never had a wife!
The Basics
... in every sense ...
First things first: switch the camera on! and remove the lens cover ... dont make a fool of yourself. Dont just hold the camera and click; define what you want to capture in that frame. I am sure you would not want some Biffa trash bins along with some beautiful scenery. When you have clearly identified what you want to capture, then comes the important aspect of holding the camera steady. Then all that you have to do is, click.
Sounded silly? But that is just you have to do to become 80% photographer.
"There was this Eiffel tower. There was me. But there was no Eiffel tower and me". Of course, if you havent been to Paris you cannot have you and Eiffel tower in one snap. Otherwise no reason why it should not be possible
*Working on Angles
*... of camera and camera only ...
Consider you want to take a snap of a person in front of a tall building. Let us call the person and the tall building as objects (The term help if the person is your Boss or someone you hate; calling him the same way you would call a stapler pin!). So when both the objects (one short and other long) are at a distance, it should be fairly straightforward that you would see both in the frame. But if you are close to the objects, try sitting down and focus up to see both the short and the tall object. Ok, get up now ;) Similarly, standing on an elevated place and focusing down helps in few good snaps which you cannot accomplish by standing on the same plane as the object
"I saw a pretty girl one day and was running after her to capture her in my camera. All I got was a slap instead of a snap" Fair enough, you have a problem!
Zoom
.... in and out ...
Object too far that you cannot reach? (Ok, no object here; its a pretty lady) Zoom is the concept. When you zoom, it is as good as going near the pretty lady (now, I know it feels good). So stand and deliver, the snap. But just be aware, in most cams, too much of zoom will take you into digital zoom (Imagining the lady to be near rather than being near) and this can distort the image (and hopes). Have a 10x zoom camera, you can even peep into your neighbour's window
"It was pitch dark; I wanted to take a snap" No problem you can use flash "yeah, I know that. I could not get hold of my camera in the dark" grrrr ....
Flash
... throw more light ...
Sunlight easily helps taking good photograph. Sunlight in front of the object is good; but on the back would give a darker image. No, no … flash does not help this situation. I havent gone on to flash as yet.
When there is no light around, what can save you is a flash. Most cameras would have an auto-flash on. Use flash diligently. In the dark, when there are colorful lights for you to capture, flash would ruin it. You would not be able to capture the glow. You will have to use your camera in night-mode. Also when taking snaps through transparent objects like glass, turn the flash off to avoid reflection.
So, just remember the rule of four: Basics, Angle, zoom and flash. With this, you should be able to take perfect snaps. Other things you might want to know:
Know thy camera (how to zoom, turn on and off the flash)
When using camera in night mode, place the camera on a wall or table or any fixed object (preferably tripod)
Every digital camera has its own ways to focus objects. Your click should follow only after focussing. In my cam, I press the button half way down for focus and then completely for a click. Without this the image would be blurred.
Finally, do not post your snap on Orkut (girls esp.)!!
Smiles,
Envyram
