Pixiq

Specters

Earlier we asked our readers in the Your Photo Tips.com Flickr Group to give us some of their best one sentence photography tips and we had a great response! For the next few weeks I’ll be elaborating, in my own words, what those photo tips mean to me and how they can help you become a better photographer. So if you missed the original post you can find it at 16 Quick Tips For New Photographers.

Because this will be an ongoing series this will be where I tell you to bookmark the website or subscribe to our feed so you don’t miss the upcoming posts!

30 Seconds To Better Photos

cuulblu had much to offer by stating

Unless you are in a situation where speed is of the essence, think about each shot for at least 30 seconds before you shoot. Consider your subject, how do you want to frame it, is your camera set to the best of your understanding for the shot, is it properly focused.

Read, magazines, library books, the internet. Learn all you can about photography.

All of which is great advice.

It’s very important, in the quest for photographic excellence, to consume all knowledge of photography by reading books, magazines, and of course photography blogs.

I want to take a closer look at the first part of his statement.

When you are in the process of creating a photograph, slowing down and taking your time can really increase your chances of capturing something truly special. Of course the disclaimer is “Unless you are in a situation where speed is of the essence”. We’ve talked about this before in discussing why shooting film can make you a better photographer.

But you don’t have to be an analog photographer to enjoy those benefits.

• 30 Seconds

This is about time. Time to think. Time to stop, take a breath, and ask yourself;

Where am I?

Where is my subject?

Where is the light coming from?

What’s going on in the background?

• Consider Your Subject

Is the light flattering?

Do I need fill light?

• Framing

Should I zoom in or zoom out?

Prime lens – should I get closer or further?

Does this composition benefit from the rule of thirds?

• Settings

How much ambient light is available?

Should I be shooting this wide open to blur the background?

Do I need a higher ISO than 200?

• Focus

What part of my subject needs to be in focus?

How fast do I need my shutter to avoid camera shake or subject movement?

The truth is that all of these questions will overlap for each process. If you stop to consider these things (and more) then you’ll end up with photographs that are thoughtful, evocative, powerful, and you’ll have far fewer images to delete.

Did I miss any questions you ask yourself before creating an image?

Photograph Specters by Stina Stockholm. You can find her photoblog at Mer än tusen ord. I can’t read a word of it, but it’s really great work.