Better Photo's with Digital PhotographyDigital Cameras: Getting Better Photos of Family
and Friends
Taking photographs of the people in your life is simple with a digital
camera. We all have collections of images which represent the important
people and events in our lives. Some of the pictures are great, but some leave
our subjects stiffly posed, lost in the sea of a cluttered background, and
often lacking personality as they stare back with the same "posed"
face as in every other photograph. So how do we capture the detail and
the personality so that the image saves for us a more meaningful record of a
moment or a person?
Obviously, professional photographers take control of the background and
lighting, direct the pose of their subjects, and use a great deal of creativity
with props and camera controls to assure the highest quality image. For
the average person however, candid shots are more effective in capturing the
true meaning or personality at a given moment. For these individuals, following
just a few basic tips can go a long way in obtaining photographs that will
become a treasure for many years to come.
• The subject should be the focus of the picture. Avoid a
cluttered background so that it does not distract from the subject. Using
the viewfinder allows the photographer to determine how the shot will
look. If the background is too cluttered the subject can be moved, but in
more candid shots of individuals, holding the digital camera in a vertical
position sometimes helps to eliminate some of the background.
• Step in close to capture more detail. For an image that
captures the true personality and emotions of the subject, a photographer must
get facial detail. When taking a candid shot and stepping in closer would
disrupt the moment, use of the digital camera's optical zoom or telephoto can
have the same effect.
• Some shots don't require posing. Many of the most meaningful
shots are taken as subjects interact or are engaged in an activity. From
images of children at play, a spouse reading the morning paper, a parent and
child talking, or grandma gardening these are the moments that reflect the true
personality of subjects.
• Happy is good, but there are other emotions worth capturing. It
adds depth to a subject when images reflect other feelings such as humor,
concentration, relaxation, or even boredom.
• A relaxed subject makes for a better photograph. When posing
subjects, many photographers suggest talking to them to get them to relax and
reveal more of what they are feeling or thinking. A natural, relaxed
posture will provide a better image than that of a person standing rigidly with
their arms crossed. A subject may be seated with their head resting on their
hands or standing with their head at an angle and hands in their pockets;
posture varies in real life and should be varied in photographs as well as it
reflects the subjects mood.
• It is sometimes acceptable for a subject to be looking away from the
camera. Just as with expressions on the face and posture, variations in
where a subject is looking can work well in capturing a more meaningful image.
Whether it is a child daydreaming as they gaze out of a window or simply an
attempt to catch the profile of an adult as they drink their morning coffee
these images which most accurately capture a subjects personality don't always
require that they face the camera directly.
• Use the portrait setting on the digital camera for individual
shots. The portrait setting will set the depth of field to focus on the
subject.
• Focus on the subject can also be enhanced by framing them. For
instance, a subject may pose in a window, an arbor, a doorway, sitting on a
swing, or something similar to focus attention in the image on them.
• Lighting does matter. Although natural light outdoors is
generally the best lighting for photographs, direct sunlight must be used
carefully as it causes harsh shadows. Using the fill flash on a digital
camera can help to reduce such shadows. Otherwise, taking shots in the
shade, on an overcast day, or in the morning or evening when the sun is less
harsh can help alleviate this problem.
For images that truly capture the personality of people that matter to us,
photographs taken by family members can offer a dimension that is very
difficult to capture in a studio. A willingness to experiment with more
relaxed and natural poses or to avoid posing completely will provide a
collection of photographs that reflect and record our lives more accurately.
Author Resource Box
Christine Peppler is
the webmaster of homemedias.info, an online home
electronics store. Visit the site to learn more about a digital camera,
cordless phone, camcorder,
television or other electronics.
03.11.2008. 08:46
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