| "I would love to be a better photographer...if only I | | | | timing and patience can be the difference between a |
| had a better camera." This is a comment I hear | | | | snapshot and a great photo. |
| every day in my gallery. What many people don't | | | | Developing an eye for composition is an essential skill |
| understand is that the type of camera you use is not | | | | that actually has nothing to do with the price tag on |
| the key to improving your photography. | | | | your camera. You can go a long way towards better |
| Pride makes it hard to admit that we are just not | | | | photography by learning to think like an artist, not like |
| very good at something. Photography is no | | | | a tourist. A good guide to photography should teach |
| exception: of course it is much easier to blame the | | | | you this important element of photography as well. |
| camera. The trouble is, if we want to take better | | | | Here are a few simple examples. If you are |
| photos, will buying a better camera make that | | | | photographing a waterfall, try looking at the scene |
| happen? | | | | creatively. Perhaps you can stand back and take a |
| Of course not. | | | | photo that follows the flow of water upstream, with |
| The truth is, you can take better photos no matter | | | | the waterfall in the background. Or you could try |
| what sort of camera you have. Digital cameras have | | | | looking through the branches of a tree, to frame the |
| become so advanced that almost all cameras now | | | | subject, rather than just snapping the first and most |
| have aperture and shutter speed settings, not to | | | | obvious angle. |
| mention amazingly powerful optical zoom lenses. | | | | When photographing people and animals, think about |
| These are features that, until very recently, were | | | | the best way to position them to make a stronger |
| only available on SLR cameras. So if you want to | | | | composition. Instead of putting them in the middle of |
| take better photos, the features are right there in | | | | the photo looking straight at the camera, try |
| front of you. All you have to do is take the time to | | | | positioning them to one side, looking in towards the |
| learn how to use them. | | | | centre of the picture. |
| To take better photos, start with the manual that | | | | These are just a couple of simple ideas to get you |
| came with your camera. It will tell you how to | | | | thinking. The point is this: you can take great strides |
| operate the major settings, although it may not be | | | | to becoming a better photographer by concentrating |
| so good at explaining what they are for. Then find | | | | on the artistic aspects of the craft, rather than just |
| the information you need to understand how those | | | | the technical. |
| settings will help you take better photos. There are | | | | Of course, many things you can do with a compact |
| courses, workshops, books and ebooks that will tell | | | | camera, you can do even better if you have an SLR |
| you what you need to know. | | | | camera. However, buying a better camera is not |
| If you do pay good money for a course or ebook, | | | | going to help you take better photos if you just |
| make sure it is about taking better photos. These | | | | switch it to automatic and keep taking snapshots. So |
| days, a lot of the information out there is about | | | | here's my tip. Don't overspend; just buy the camera |
| fixing your photos on a computer, and not about | | | | you can afford, then really learn how to use it. It's as |
| taking better photos. | | | | simple as that. No matter which camera you have, |
| A lot of what you can learn has nothing to do with | | | | you can take better photos with a bit of knowledge, |
| the camera. That's right; you can improve your | | | | and a bit of practice. If you decide to upgrade later, |
| photography without changing one thing about your | | | | so be it, but learning the basics of good photography |
| camera. My experience in nature photography has | | | | will get you a lot further than succumbing to the "If |
| taught me that the way you use the light to capture | | | | only I had a better camera" mindset. |
| your subject makes a huge difference. The weather | | | | Now, if only I had better golf clubs... |
| and the time of day can affect the light, so your | | | | |