photography TIPS

Valuable photography tips and tricks for inexperienced photographers.

We are learning to achieve a better outcome, and to record our travels in a better way.  You can join our journey and learn too.

Our journey started when we looked back on earlier trips and did a lot of “I wish” regarding the quality, quantity or type of photographs.  We had failures often,  just not taken something that you want to look back on, or the photo was just bad. You can improve your thought process prior to travelling from learning these tips. This will result in a better photographic memory.

Capturing pictures is cheaper now, in the early years of film there was a good reason to be careful, but now with digital it is real freedom as there is no real extra cost in taking 1 or 100 photos.

The photography tips and tricks below come from photographing mainly birds and wildlife – and general travel (we are not great at people photography, and improving at landscapes). These tips are relevant to all types of photography.  Tips will be added continually as discovered so that you can keep up to date and also keep learning.

This page is designed to try and help people learn what we have in much less time than it took us.  If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact us.
 

 Go to our gallery to see more photos

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP 1

Take that picture. In fact take 10.  Really look around, think about what you might want to look back on.  For us it is often things like – how crowded was the beach.  How much rubbish was around.  How built up was the area.  What did that accommodation look like in and out.  Will you want to compare something in the future.  What was a funny incident you will like a reminder of?

Everyone has different ideas and different interests.  Work out what you like and take that photo, achieve the result you want.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP 2

Focus is everything.  It does not matter how good your composure or any other aspect if focus is off.  This is a 3 pronged issue, firstly ensure your camera lens is focused on your primary subject.  If something with eyes is the picture, focus on the eyes.  Secondly ensure there is no movement of the camera.  Depending on the light this may mean using a tripod, but travelling this is often not an option so learn to brace yourself, use tables and other subjects to lean on.  Practice, practice and practice.  Lastly if your subject is moving ensure a fast enough shutter speed to freeze the subject.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP 3

Learn one thing at a time. You can not do it all in one go.  Concentrate on the above 2.  Once you have perfected them move on to the following tips.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP 4

Exposure. You need to learn how to use your camera’s histogram and to understand the basics of shutter speed, aperture control and ISO.  It is common not to like using a high ISO due to the noise – instead we ended up with many blurred photos.  If all there is to get a clear shot is to use a high ISO then do it.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP 5

Filters.  Use a polarising filter – this is not something that can be modified in post process and makes so much difference to high contrast, glare from water or sun, slowing shutter speeds and more

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP 6

Carrying.  There is nothing worse than getting somewhere and not having the lens or the filter you want.  Believe me we have done this a lot but have learnt after trial and error what works for us both.  This is not the same for each,  Steve likes to carry his camera on a long shoulder strap and bits and pieces in his pocket.

I use a capture clip on a belt with pockets (this was actually part of a backpack).  So the 2 pockets have filters, cleaning cloth, spare batteries and the camera clips on.  I always keep the long lens attached and then clip to the belt a short lens.  After all there is usually time for landscapes and subjects needing a short lens – not so for birds and wildlife that are there and then gone.  We do not use specific camera bags as we like to be ready at all times, but while on the move (ie planes etc) then they are in a padded backpack.  Work out what is best for you.

PHOTOGRAPHY TIP 7

Check your settings.  We often forget to check (especially as we will share cameras depending on who has what lens) the settings before shooting.  The best habit to get into is to make sure before you turn it off that everything is back at your defaults.