This Is Photography
WORDS & PICS: Ed Townend (Sprout Editorial Group)
If you've seen some great photos and have a camera you'd like to start using, there's a whole world of photography out there you can get involved in.
I'm predominantly a Cardiff music photographer, but I also dabble in a wide range of photography. I was handed a camera in 2007 and haven't stopped snapping since.
Once you know the basics, it's up to your eyes and creativity to create great photos. Here are a few tips to get you started.
Get familiar with your camera
Before you start, read the manual. Even if you've been using your camera for a while, there's a lot you can learn?by finding out?about the features your camera possesses. After a while you can change settings without even thinking about it ? which is especially important when you want to be spontaneous.
Get in close
Don't rely on zoom. Some images are better taken close-up rather than further away. Try experimenting with the macro feature on your camera (normally shown as the flower symbol) when getting really close. Portraits are the only type of image you shouldn't get in too close for as the lens can distort a face.
Know your angle
When taking photos, try and hold your camera at either a horizontal (landscape) or vertical (portrait) angle. Any other angle can cut things out of a shot and look weird when shown at a normal angle. Portraits of one or two people should be taken in portrait, while more than?two would be easier in landscape. However, don't stick to landscape or portrait for specific photos; experimenting makes your photos eye-catching.
Keep it simple
When taking a photo it's best to have one subject, but this doesn't mean only one object. Simple photographs create great images whilst complex photos are difficult to find appealing. Try not to distract the viewer with unnecessary additions ? keep portraits simple and landscapes uncluttered.
Flash or no flash?
A big problem with concert photography in particular is using flash. Used well, flash can produce great results ? but used poorly it can wash out a photo and/or blind the subject. Use common sense when considering flash ? you don't need it in broad daylight. If you have the time, try taking a photo without flash. If the photo is blurry and dark, use flash ? if not, don't. Modern compact cameras are fantastic at balancing light and so your camera can do most of the work for you.
Editing your best
Some photos may look bad on your camera, but once you start editing them they can become great images. Blurry, washed-out and badly positioned photos are almost always deleted, but other photos can be lit, cropped and improved with a good eye whilst editing. The best and easiest free photo editing software you can get is Google's Picasa. A great array of photographer's tools help you get the images you want, not just the images you have.
Join Flickr
Flickr is a fantastic website which displays both amateur and professional talent from all over the world. A simple search can help you discover incredible photos. The Flickr community is a?great resource for budding photographers. Two groups which have been a great use and inspiration for me are the Cardiff group and the Concert Photography group (theSprout also has its own group for photographers to feature their work on). Looking at other's work can greatly affect your own and can help you with new ideas and techniques.
Practise makes perfect
Even those gifted with a great eye for photographs can't just pick up a camera on their first go and take incredible photos; a lot of practice goes into getting the results you want. Whenever you can, take a camera with you and if you see something interesting, take a photo. This will greatly improve your eye as a photographer and help your camera technique become instinctual.
All photos ? Ed Townend and Stellar Spontaneous Photography
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