- Move in closer.
- Center the main subject.
- Try to get the eyes in focus.
- Use a helper if possible.
- Shade is better than sun.
- Having a cute subject helps. [P.J. asked me to put that one in.]
- Polaroids have a unique look. [And you can still get the film for old Polaroid cameras and there are new Polaroid cameras too. Check at polaroid.com for latest details.]
- Preserve your old photos. Make prints. Copy and store digital images in more than one place.
Profiles make interesting portraits…even if the subject doesn’t have a nose!
The people in your household are a good captive audience now. And…so are your pets.
This portrait was taken with my little buddy sitting on my lap. I was able to click the shutter fast enough to take a few frames. Here’s the one I like the best.
Backyard photo tip…
As the weather gets warmer the backyard is showing its true colors. Plants and flowers are coming up all over. While out with the dog I noticed some flowers. They were about ten feet away. So, of course, I started taking pictures. This was the first photo…
I moved a little closer and took this one.
And then I moved a couple of steps closer.
And finally I moved very close, bent down, and took this photo.
I guess this tip all boils down to MOVE IN CLOSER! 🙂
Picture Taking Tips…when you gotta stay inside.
- Take a walk…around your apartment or house.
- Look for nifty spots to take pictures.
- Move in closer. Look up. Look down.
- Get your camera…or take it out of your pocket. Smartphones are great cameras.
- Take pictures.
- Look at the pictures. See which ones you like.
- Go back and move in closer. Your smartphone can take really good close-ups.
- Here’s the hard part. Look at your camera/smartphone instruction manual. You will probably find things that will help you take even better pictures.
- If you are using a smartphone, it has built in apps that can help you enhance your photos.
- If you’ve never used it, try increasing the saturation of your images. It will make the colors look better.
- There are zillions (maybe just hundreds) of photo apps that can turn your photos into works of art.
- Staying in doesn’t mean you can’t take nifty photos. Go ahead…take some photos!
What’s wrong with Lincoln’s photo?
When Lincoln came to deliver a speech in New York City, before he was elected President, he stopped at the studio of Mathew Brady for a portrait. This is it.
Notice anything wrong with it. Look at his right sleeve. Look at the creases in his coat. Notice the shirt collar?
Who would take a picture looking like that?
Well, it didn’t matter very much. Lincoln’s portrait was used in newspapers around the country, along with the speech he made. Lincoln thought that the picture was one of the reasons he became President of the United States.
So, what was wrong with it? I’d say absolutely nothing!
The best camera ever!
There have been many really good cameras. Some shooters like a Leica. Others like a Nikon. Many like an iPhone.
The best camera ever made, in my opinion, was the Polaroid SX-70!
Why?
When Polaroid came out with it it was very exciting. You were able to take a photo and it would pop out of the camera…like magic. It was an original. You could hold it in your hand. It started a photographic revolution. And…you couldn’t alter it with Photoshop!
People like me still have photos made with it.
Selective focus…the easy way!
If you are using a DSLR it’s relatively easy to achieve a selective focus by adjusting your f/stop. Using a smartphone makes it a bit more difficult. However, there is an easy way to do this using an app (for Macs and iPhones) called Fotor Photo Editor. Here’s what you can achieve in a few clicks.
Notice how the center is sharp and the rest is slightly soft. Using Fotor you can move the area you want sharp and adjust how much blur you want. Nifty.
While looking in the reject pile…
While looking for a photo, I came across some pictures I considered to be rejects. And then I came across this one. I didn’t know that a Pug could wink! I wish I could take credit for a portrait like this. But, a wink is a wink.
Which ones?
Years from now, which of your photographs will be the ones you want to remember most? Will it be the selfies with funny faces? I don’t think so. Take some photos you really want to remember…before it’s too late. Preserving memories are worth the time and effort.
Need an editor for your iPhone or Android photos?
There are many photo apps available for your iPhone or Android smartphones. Some are made for both. One is considered to be the best … Snapseed. It has an array of controls that you can use to edit your photos. Here’s a taste of what’s available.
Within this screen, there are even more controls.
And, it’s free! Nifty.