How to take better photographs

    You may be one of many people who have taken hundreds if not thousands of photographs on holidays, at parties and other special occasions - but then quickly forgot all about them.

    It’s likely because today’s ever-evolving digital technology allows us to snap thousands of shots without worrying about the cost of developing them. But have we forgotten that, like with many other things in life, quality is more important than quantity?

    We all use digital cameras these days - whether at home or while travelling - and perhaps right now is a good time to remind ourselves how to take fewer shots, but make them more memorable. 

    You can train yourself to see more and to ‘see better’. And if you have some spare time right now, why not try some of our tips below to improve your photography.  

    1. The best camera is the one you have on you.

    Let’s get this one out of the way. The quality of the camera is usually one of our greatest concerns. But the key is not how many megapixeles you have, the key is what you do with them. So learning where to look and how to see things is key.

    2. Stop, look and think

    We constantly rush and act like robots. We rarely stop and look. With the world being a bit different, a bit slower right now, perhaps you could teach yourself how to stop and spend a few minutes just observing. That is the key. Observe and see what is worth capturing on camera. Don’t rush it.

    3. Allow time for a photograph to present itself.

    Getting good pictures also often means waiting, camera in hand, for the right moment or the right opportunity. Wait, be patient, and be ready when the right moment presents itself.

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    4. When to photograph?

     The golden hours - just after sunrise or before sunset - are usually the best times for those golden portraits or stunning landscapes. Too much light (think harsh midday sun), or too little of it can make good photography tricky. But cloudy days or early mornings will usually give you the best light.

    5. People, places and things.

     These are the most important elements you want to photograph. Whether at home or (eventually) on holiday, do not hesitate to include these three elements in your images.

    6. Be original

     It’s fine to take portraits or landscape shots. But sometimes it pays to look at things differently. That’s when you find the interesting angles. Play with your environment and see whether a building corner might look better than the entire street. What about the colours? Can you bring several elements with the same colour together in one photo? Be playful, experiment. 

    7. Create your personal style

    Now this requires a bit of practice, but with extra time on our hands, we can test various approaches. If you’re stuck at home, see what Adrian C. Murray does with his family images. He uses his kids, some natural light and quirky angles to create simple, but effective images. Dan Tom’s travel photography - with its rich colours and textures - can be easily replicated even when you’re stuck at home. Just wait for that golden sunset or find an interesting looking cloud - and practise!

    8. Selfies don’t need to be boring

    Not interested in landscapes or family shots? Fine. Stick to selfies. But make them original. Why not photograph only half of your face while filling the rest of the frame with an interesting view? Or try using a selfie stick for a wider angle view.

    9. Find the right balance

    Your album, and whoever you share it with, will thank you. Let us explain. Do not focus on one type of shot only. Portraits can be limiting, landscapes repetitive and food shots simply boring. Sometimes simple, unexpected one-off shots are better than multiple pre-planned ones of the same people or places. Don’t ignore them.

    10. Capture movement.

    Our lives right now might be a bit more static, but the world keeps on spinning. Why not add some movement to your photography. From flying birds to people jumping - your images will be more dynamic and more memorable.

    11. The closer, the better.

    As the great photographer Robert Capa said, “If your pictures aren't good enough, you aren't close enough”. Get closer to the subject you want to photograph. Show us what we should be looking at. The result will always be better.

    12. Ask for permission.

    If you want to get closer to people, fine, but make sure they are ok with it. Asking for permission saves you trouble further down the line.

    13. Play with perspectives, lights and shadows.

    As mentioned earlier, photographing often means playing with the elements of the scene. Pay attention to reflections, contrasts, different layers or levels. Even an over-photographed object or destination can be made look fresh and exciting when photographed from an unusual perspective.

    14. Select and delete!

    Remember what we said earlier? Quality over quantity. Look at all the pictures you’ve taken and select only the best ones. Delete the rest. Trust us, you’ll never go back to them. And your hard drive - and your friends who look at your pictures - will be grateful.

    15. Follow the right people and find inspiration.

    There are so many amazing well-known and emerging photographers, you just need to find them and learn from their style. From the famous Steve McCurry to the quirky Shin Noguchi. From the dream-like photographs of Elena Shumilova to the colour-infused minimalist images by Simone Bramante. You can learn to take amazing photographs even if you can’t - for now - visit amazing locations.

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