Have you ever looked at your Instagram and thought ‘these photographs are OK, but they could be much better?’
If you have, then we have some great news for you. The good folks over at Canon were kind enough to share with us five excellent tips on how to capture the perfect picture.
So without further ado, here’s your guide to taking wonderful photos.
1. Composition is king
Composition is all about getting the different elements in your photo looking good together. It’s not just what you shoot that counts, it’s the way you shoot it.
An easy way to get it right is to follow the ‘rule-of-thirds.’ Imagine a grid in the middle of your shot – two vertical lines and horizontal lines giving four intersections.
Place your main subject at one of these points (see the leaf in the image below) and boom, you’ve got yourself an interesting photo.
2. Think about the time of day
Lighting can dramatically improve the quality of your photo.
Early morning and late afternoons are good times to take outdoor shots. The sun is low in the sky, shadows are long and the lights has a warmth that makes everything it illuminates look attractive.
The time after a heavy thunderstorm will also produce atmospheric images. The short shadows and increased contrast of the midday sun will also suit certain shots.
3. Experiment with your angle
To make your images interesting, try and change your perspective relative to the landscape. For example, looking down on a landscape from the top of a hill can produce an engaging and unusual image.
Alternatively, get down on the ground and shoot a point of interest in the foreground only a few centimetres from the camera. Try to find a patch of colour to fill the foreground – a cluster of flowers, for example.
With the low angle, the foreground will dominate the image and the rest of the landscape will appear more distant than usual. Either of these methods will produce images with impact because we don’t usually see scenes from this viewpoint.
4. Turn that landscape photo on its head
Most outdoor photos are taken using the ‘landscape’ format – where the width of the image is greater than the height. This usually works well to capture a wide expanse of the scene from left to right, but don’t ignore the ‘portrait’ format, where the height of the photo is greater than the width.
This often works where there is a tall subject, but can also be effective because it gives an unfamiliar interpretation of the landscape.
5. Try a different perspective on the same view
You can capture an interesting series of images by returning to the same place throughout a year to photograph your favourite landscape through the seasons.
Try to find a place for your camera that is easy to locate time after time – a particular stone on a low wall, for example, or a point mid-way between two distinctive trees.
This article is brought to you by Canon.
To find the best Canon products to help you capture your Christmas memories, and for Winter Cashback offers please visit Canon Ireland here.
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