Carry A Camera and Other Simple Tips to Improve Your Photographs

As photographer, Chase Jarvis, said, “The best camera is the one that’s with you.”  You can’t make pictures with a camera that is at home in your camera bag, or locked safely in the trunk of your car. Thinking that you wish you had your camera with you to snap a shot, isn’t quite the same as actually making that shot. The first tip for getting great creative images is to carry a camera with you as constantly as possible.  This is where point & shoot cameras excel- they are light and compact- perfect for carrying around in a pocket or bag.  Camera phones are also a terrific resource, since most of use take our phones with us everywhere.  Many camera phones now have cameras with 2 megapixel or greater resolution, making them useful for creating images to incorporate into art journal pages and mixed media pieces. 

 Read the manual that came with your camera.  Unlike the manual that came with your microwave, your camera manual is full of useful and important information. You will learn how close you can get to an object and have it remain in focus, and what settings and features are available to you and how to change them.  The first setting you should change is the setting that determines your image quality - set it to as high quality as possible. Sometimes this setting is also called image size or resolution.   You’ll want to have as large a memory card or memory stick (whatever your camera requires) as is reasonable and be sure to have a spare.  Speaking of spares, have a spare set of batteries, or for a camera phone, carry your charger.

Be aware of the available light.  Shoot in natural light as much as possible, trying not to use your flash.  Camera phones and other lower megapixel cameras  need a good bit of light to do their job.  Low light shooting without a flash, means a longer exposure time. You can avoid blurry images when the light is low by using a tripod.  Invest in a small or ultra-lightweight tripod; they are pretty inexpensive.  Another trick for shooting in low light is to use the self-timer setting (check your camera manual- the symbol will be a clock) to avoid causing camera shake when the shutter button is pressed. A good use for your flash is as “fill” light for specific situations such as when photographing people outdoors in harsh midday sun which leaves strong shadows on faces, or when they are being backlit by a window. The flash will render the lighting more even.  Your camera manual will tell you how to turn off your flash.  The setting button on your camera is often marked with a lightning bolt symbol.

Pay attention to the background in your photos.  Watch for power lines crossing your landscapes, tree branches growing out of your subject’s head, and unsightly clutter.  Especially in landscape scenes, look for the horizon line and be sure it is level.  Check your photos right after you shoot.  The beauty of digital is that you can have a look, and if necessary, try again.