Articles : Tutorials - Photography

Take Better Pictures

Tips to take your scrapbooking photography to the next level!

You know that feeling you get when you sort through your pictures, deciding which ones you are going to scrap, and there are so many that are good that you can't eliminate any of them? Or how about when just the opposite happens? "Oh, wow. I have 19 pictures of Thanksgiving, but only two are actually worth the effort to scrap. Nice work, Ansel!"

Looking through your pictures should reinforce why you do this at all, not make you question why you bother. Great pictures have a decidedly emotional effect, be it sentimental, amused, wistful, or joyful. So, let's see what we can do to capture more of those great shots that bring out the best in our scrapping—and journaling. And let's work with what we already have (unless you're asking for a spiffy new digital camera for Christmas!)

BASICS AND TERMINOLOGY
Let's go over a few basic terms so you have an idea what makes your camera tick…or click.

Shutter speed: This refers to how fast the camera's shutter opens and closes to capture the image. So, for something that is moving very fast, like a soccer player, you need a fast shutter speed so you don't get a big blur. For something like a stained glass window, Christmas lights, fireworks, or a lighted jack-o-lantern, you want a slower shutter speed so the camera has a chance to "record" more light and get the full effect. (Note: You should be aware that when you are using a slower shutter speed, putting your camera on a tripod, table, car, or something else will make the difference between a good picture and a bad picture. This is because you will move a little bit while the shutter is open, and your picture will blur.)

Aperture: This refers to how narrow or wide your range of focus is, or its depth of field. It sounds counterintuitive, but just remember that a smaller aperture allows more of the picture to be in focus, and a larger aperture narrows the focus. So if you want a picture of your child at a party, and want everything in the background to be out of focus so the picture emphasizes your child, you would want a larger aperture.

Flash: Everyone knows what the flash is, but some cameras offer different flash levels (auto, high, low, fill, no). This is pretty straightforward and is really just a matter of habit. There are times when you may want to turn your flash off, though, like if you are trying to capture nice natural light. Just bear in mind that many cameras slow the shutter speed when you turn off the flash; this allows more light in, but may result in blurry pictures if you're not careful.


CAMERA MODE PRESETS—YOUR BEST FRIENDS
Take a little time to get to know your camera better. I say this to you fully sympathizing with your ongoing battle with your To Do List. You may have bought a point-and-shoot because you don't have time to learn to use a complicated camera, let alone spend any kind of time setting up a shot and programming a lot of settings on your camera. Preach on, baby, I feel it! But the good news is that your camera probably has lots of cool presets that are really fast and really easy to use. But you can't use them if you don't know anything about them.

Even if you have had your camera for a good while, commit to learning one new thing about your camera every day for a week. Maybe you keep asking yourself, "Say, I wonder what that little running man on my dial is." Now's the time to find out. Believe me, I know that those manuals are about as riveting as weeding the lawn, so just use the index to get to what you want. You can put in two minutes a day that will pay major dividends in the memories you capture next year in your pictures.

The camera manufacturers have taken mercy on us and used some universal icons for these presets. Honestly, if you can learn your camera's preset modes, you can get most of the shots you want. Here's a quick rundown of some common icons:

• Mountain: This is for landscapes and scenery; focuses on distant objects.
• Moon: This is for nighttime shots; be aware that the shutter speed will be slow, so setting your camera on a tripod or other stationary object is a good idea. If you don’t have a candlelight setting, try using this one.
  
  
• Moon with person silhouette: This is for taking pictures of people at night.
• Snowman: This is for taking pictures in the snow or other settings that are very bright; it will enable you to get pictures that are not overly bright and overexposed-looking.
• Beach: This is for ocean and lake pictures. It helps capture the blues of the water and offset harsh reflections off of the water. Sometimes, the beach and the snow settings are combined.
• Running man: This is for action shots, like a sports event or backyard game of tag.
• Big tulip: This is called Macro mode, and is good for close-up pictures of items like flowers, butterflies, even items for online auctions.
• Black silhouette and white silhouette: This is called Soft Snap and is good for portraits of people. It helps capture true skin tones.
  
  
• Candle: This is for candlelit pictures like birthday cake shots.

TEN STRATEGIES FOR TAKING GOOD PICTURES
We all have a tendency to keep on taking pictures the same way we have always taken pictures. As we head into the holiday season and get ready for next year, let's see if we can bring up our A Game, shall we? Here are ten tips for getting great pictures.

1. Natural light rocks. Seriously, whether you are taking a picture of a baby, a fern, or a car, there's nothing like natural light. And if the lighting is even enough that you can turn off your flash, you get the added bonus of eliminating that pesky red-eye. If you are going to stage pictures, plan for when you can get the most natural light and use it. This is true for indoor pictures as well as outdoor ones. Just set up your indoor "studio" near windows, or in your open garage, and let all that light in. A lot of home photographers have large pieces of white cardboard or other soft reflectors to make sure the light hits the subjects from both sides. If you like black and white photography and you can set up some shots with good natural lighting; you will be thrilled with the results. (Bonus tip: If it's a somewhat overcast day, grab the kids and head outside to get some nice pictures in soft, natural light.) 
   
   
2. Look at the whole shot. Don’t just look at the faces of the people in your picture. Look at everything. Are you cutting off everyone's feet? Does it look like there's a tree coming out of someone's head? Is the dog's rear end "butting" in? Have you inadvertently cropped out a nice feature of your setting? This only takes a second, and it's worth it.
   
   
3. To zoom or not to zoom? When taking pictures with your digital camera in huge rooms (like a church, an auditorium, a dance studio, or a gymnasium), you're better off not zooming in on your subject. Say you are taking pictures of your little tumbler in gymnastics class. Don't zoom in on him or her because you narrow the picture so much, there's not enough light. Better to take the picture zoomed all the way out, let all the light in, then crop it on your computer. It will be grainy if you zoom too much, so don't. But at least you'll have enough light to see. 
   
   
4. Experiment with different perspectives. Rut be gone, I say! If you're at the park with the kids, wait until one of them is high atop the jungle gym, then crouch down and point your camera straight up. If you have a toddler, lie on the floor and wait to be attacked from above! (Figure 1 is a picture of the ferris wheel at the state fair—see how this perspective gives a better sense of the size than a picture taken from afar?) The opposite approach can be good for other shots. Try taking a picture from above your child or pet as he or she looks up at you. I did this with my daughter sitting on a pile of pumpkins, and it was a great shot. It's okay to hold the camera up and take the picture without looking through the viewfinder. And instead of always taking pictures of people head-on, see what happens when you get a profile while they are in the midst of an activity. Pictures from behind (of kids or of parents and kids holding hands) invoke a lot of emotion (Figure 2). Try taking some of your pictures at a slight diagonal instead of lining up your subject perfectly vertically. This can give your pictures playfulness, energy, and interest.
   
   
   Figure 1 (left) & Figure 2
   
   
5. With kids, it can be hard to get natural smiles. Sheesh, they all go through a phase where they develop this cheesy camera smile. Instead of telling them to smile, get your camera ready and remind them of something funny, have them tell you a joke, or have them say a silly word. A trick I do with my daughter is telling her that this is a really serious moment, and whatever she does, she can NOT smile! She knows I'm kidding, and it never fails to give me a genuine smile. See what works for your kids at their ages.
   
   
6. Be ready. Sometimes it pays to have your camera ready so that when a picture presents itself, all you have to do is snap. What a great way to get reactions and unposed expressions. This can be great, for example, on Christmas morning. Pick a subject, point your camera, and just wait for the perfect moment. This is also a pretty good approach for playful animals.
   
   
7. Unless you want the background or setting, try moving in closer to your subjects for more striking pictures. This is true for people, animals, and objects. Double-check your camera's manual to see how close you can get and keep your subject in focus.
   
   
8. One word: Backlighting. Your pictures will be so much better if they are backlit. So if you are taking a picture outside, be sure the sun is behind your subjects, not shining harsh light on them and simultaneously forcing them to squint at you. However, if you have bright light directly behind them (like a vibrant sunset reflecting off the ocean), you will get a picture of their silhouettes (unless you are a flash master, and thus can save the picture.)
   
   
9. Look for "frames." Windows, railings, playground equipment, and toys like hula hoops make great frames for your subjects and add interest to your picture.
   
   
10. Self-timers allow you to actually BE in some of your pictures. Learn it, use it, love it.

NOW WHAT?
Eager for more? If you want some homework, get thee to your manual and learn about white balance, ISO, burst and micro-burst, and the wonders of fill flash. Get online and learn about the Rule of Thirds.

All the great matching paper, embossed letters, and unique embellishments in the world can't compare to what really great pictures do for your scrapbooks. So, it really is worth the time to learn a little something that might inspire you to brilliance. Now go amaze yourself with the great pictures you can take!

About the author ...
Jennifer Bussey is a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer. She has been scrapbooking since the arrival of her first child five years ago. Scrapbooking quickly became much more than a hobby, allowing her to use an exciting creative outlet to make one-of-a-kind time capsules of her growing family. Jennifer has been married for ten years to the best husband and father a girl could hope for.

Published on 03/24/2006. Submitted by jbussey