10 Digital Photography Tips

10 Digital Photography Tips!

01.Compose in Thirds

To use the rule of thirds, imagine four lines, two lying horizontally across the 

image and two vertical creating nine even squares. Some images will look best with 

the focal point in the center square, but placing the subject off center will often 

create a more aesthetically composed photograph. When a photograph is composed using 

the rule of thirds the eyes will wander the frame. A picture composed by the rule of 

thirds is more interesting and pleasing to the eye.

02. Avoid Camera Shake

Camera shake or blur is something that can plague any photographer and here are some 

ways to avoid it. First, you need to learn how to hold your camera properly; use both 

hands, one around the body and one around the lens and hold the camera close to your 

body for support. Also make sure you are using a shutter speed that matches the lens 

focal length. So if you’re using a 100mm lens, then your shutter speed should be no 

lower than 1/100th of a second. Use a tripod or mono pod whenever possible. In lieu of this,

use a tree or a wall to stabilise the camera.

03. The Sunny 16 Rule

The idea with the Sunny 16 rule is that we can use it to predict how to meter our camera 

on a sunny outdoor day. So when in that situation, choose an aperture of f/16 and 1/100th 

of a second shutter speed (provided you are using ISO 100). You should have a sharp image 

that is neither under or over exposed. This rule is useful if you don’t have a functioning 

light meter or if your camera doesn’t have an LCD screen to review the image.

04.Use a Polarising Filter

If you can only buy one filter for your lens, make it a polarise. This filter helps reduce reflections from water as well as metal and glass; it improves the colours of the sky and foliage, and it will protect your lens too. There’s no reason why you can’t leave it on for all of your photography. The recommended kind of polarise is circular because these allow your camera to use TTL (through the lens) metering (i.e. Auto exposure).

05. Create a Sense of Depth

When photographing landscapes it really helps to create a sense of depth, 

in other words, make the viewer feel like they are there. Use a wide-angle lens for a 

panoramic view and a small aperture of f/16 or smaller to keep the foreground and 

background sharp. Placing an object or person in the foreground helps give a sense of 

scale and emphasises how far away the distance is. Use a tripod if possible, as a small 

aperture usually requires a slower shutter speed.

06. Use Simple Backgrounds

The simple approach is usually the best in digital photography, and you have to decide 

what needs to be in the shot, while not including anything that is a distraction. 

If possible, choose a plain background – in other words, neutral colours and simple 

patterns. You want the eye to be drawn to the focal point of the image rather than a 

patch of colour or an odd building in the background. This is vital in a shot where the 

model is placed off center.

07. Don't Use Flash Indoors

Flash can look harsh and unnatural especially for indoor portraits. Therefore, there are 

various ways you can take an image indoors without resorting to flash. First, push the 

ISO up – usually ISO 800 to 1600 will make a big difference for the shutter speed you 

can choose. Use the widest aperture possible – this way more light will reach the sensor 

and you will have a nice blurred background. Using a tripod or an I.S. 

(Image Stabilisation) lens is also a great way to avoid blur.

08.Choose the Right ISO

The ISO setting determines how sensitive your camera is to light and also how fine the 

grain of your image. The ISO we choose depends on the situation – when it’s dark we need 

to push the ISO up to a higher number, say anything from 400 – 3200 as this will make the

 camera more sensitive to light and then we can avoid blurring. On sunny days we can 

choose ISO 100 or the Auto setting as we have more light to work with.

09. Pan to Create Motion

If you want to capture a subject in motion, then use the panning technique. To do this, 

choose a shutter speed around two steps lower than necessary – so for 1/250, we’d 

choose 1/60. Keep your camera on the subject with your finger half way down on the 

shutter to lock the focus and when ready, take the photo, remembering to follow them as 

they move. Use a tripod or mono pod if possible to avoid camera shake and get clear 

movement lines.

10. Experiment with Shutter Speed

Don’t be afraid to play with the shutter speed to create some interesting effects. 

When taking a night time shot, use a tripod and try shooting with the shutter speed set at

 4 seconds. You will see that the movement of the object is captured along with some 

light trails. If you choose a faster shutter speed of say 1/250th of a second, 

the trails will not be as long or bright; instead you will freeze the action. 

This technique works well if you are using a tripod and if you are photographing a 

moving object.

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