Winjeel.Com

English Language Teaching and Learning

How to take photos: Ideas for Photos

Basic gear you need:

• Whatever you've got (and it doesn't have to be much)
• Suggested: Some variety of lenses, a tripod, polariser, Neutral Density filter

The Aim:

• To get the best photos you can, and avoid the can.
• Get some variety (See some of my variety: Winjeel at PhotoShelter )
• Get some unique pictures

How:

The list below isn't exhaustive, but could help you think about what you've got near where you live. Every place has some unique character to it. The photos I've seen from two photographers on Photo.Net have very different flavours, despite both coming from the very small place of Malta, in Europe. It depends on your ingenuity.

The page below was based on the 101 Tips & Tricks page, but out of convenience, and to show you a different way of perceiving familiar photos (especially for the regular visitors to this site, and thanks to the thousands who regularly come back). Also note, some pictures you'll recognise, many comments are different. So, I hope this, below, inspires you, gives you a new way of thinking, and planning, too.

Examples

	< 1. Frames. Look for rectangles, holes, whatever, and what can you see through them?
	< 2. Choose a theme, this one is "flowers", and some context, at a historic village. You could visit a local park, and photograph flowers with children in the background (see point 4, below).
	< 3. Looking down, thoroughfares, stairs, whatever gives you an interesting angle.
	< 4. ONE SUBJECT! And something DOF'ed out (also see point 2, above).
	< 5. Don't be afraid of the cliché shots or signature buildings of your town. Take the common tourist shot and appreciate why it's so good, later. Also, try these same signature shots near sunrise or sunset. This place (left) would look awesome if I could've waited around for sunset.
	< 6. Prime lenses. These are fixed focal width. Walk around your neighbourhood, only photographing what you can adequately capture with that lens. Going from this example, a 28mm lens could be used. The pictures you'd get from a 28mm prime, would be rather different to a 100mm prime.
	< 7. Look for patterns, and keep it free of any contaminates.
	< 8. Local clubs. Look up glider clubs, hiking clubs, chess clubs, remote-controlled aircraft clubs, electronics clubs, four-wheel drive clubs, and the list goes on. Phone up and see if you could take a look for a day.
	< 9. Historical or tourist sites, and special events.
	< 10. Look for colour contrasts. Also, use higher shutter speeds, especially when the wind blows the leaves about.
<-- Back
	< 11. Close ups and macro. You can give yourself a mission to only look for small things, or only take out one lens: the macro lens.
	< 12. Youth culture, and pop culture. Look for special events and see what you can find. I saw an 80 year old guy photographing a pair of teenage girls scantily clad in pvc at this event... so I did, too.
	< 13. Buildings. Look for geometric lines, angles, curves and things. Also, in cities, look for reflections.
	< 14. (oops, missed one... I'll find something later)
	< 15. Toys. Legos happen to be popular at the moment, especially for stop-animation.
	< 16. Find ordinary things, then experiment with PhotoShop or other. This had both Saturation and Hue tinkered with. Check out PhotoShop Tutorials from YouTube. Also, HDR was popular in 2006 to 2007, but still fun, today.
	< 17. Go out on a different time of day. Surprisingly, lots of photographers get up early to get sunrise pictures at around New Year's Day in Japan. See details in the Sunrise and Composition tutorials.
	< 18. Go out of your way to find interesting places, scenes, and angles. Taking photos in the backyard doesn't really broaden your horizons.
	< 19. Look for different angles. This one leads your eye to focus in a particular area
	< 20. What can be seen in the country? Go out and have a look.
	< 21. Animals. Ellen van Deelen on Photo.Net has a great variety in her portfolio, including ladybugs, stray cats, and regular animals. See Ellen's portfolio and point 15 above.
(more to come)	< 22.
	> Why not consider these high-end amateur / Semi-pro cameras listed on "Which Camera?".