how to take good photograph?

Answer 1

Sometimes when I take pictures, it looks better without using the flash

Answer 2

1.) Keep the sun (or main light source) behind you. Of course, this can be tricky if your photograph subject is a person who is then looking directly into the sun light. You can skew the angle a bit, or even have them close their eyes until your count of three, when you will snap the picture right as their eyes open up.

2.) The more lights, the better. The simplest set-up for good shots in professional shoots includes three lights. The key light, the fill light, and the back light. The key light come as close to straight on as possible, while still managing to avoid sharp shadows on your subject. The fill light comes in at an opposing angle from the key light to further diminish whatever shadows appear. As its name implies, the back light is located behind the subject, to separate him/her/it from the background and give the photo a sense of the third dimension.

3.) Get close! The worst thing is to have a perfect set up, but lose the shot because you stayed too far away. There is no need for extra space in the corners of your photographs. Get as close as possible to fill the frame with the subject.

4.) Get on the same level as your subject. If you are taking a picture of a flower, lay down in the grass to see it straight-on. Likewise with children or anything that is a different height than you -- get down to the subject's level to get a clear perspective.

5.) Use manual focus. Some cameras don't allow this function, and in that case, make do with the automatic, or get a camera that has a manual focus feature. When you get into manual focus mode, zoom in as far as the camera allows on something with specific detail (such as an eye). Once you are focused on that, the focus will remain as you zoom back out.

6.) Avoid the zoom! Except when manually focusing. Pictures are much clearer and less pixilated if you alter your distance from the subject, rather than if you rely on the camera's zoom feature. Professional cameras are better because they have more powerful lenses for objects farther away, and the photographers switch between these rather than zoom in on the subject. Of course, sometimes the zoom is necessary, but keep in mind, the picture will be better if you move yourself closer.

Answer 3

Taking "good pictures" involves more than just pointing the camera at something and pressing the shutter release. Its more than making 300 exposures and then hoping maybe 10% will be worth saving. A "good" photograph is the result of composition, lighting and your vision. There is no "recipe" for good photographs. You aren't baking a cake.

First, read and study the Owner's Manual for your camera. Then read and study it again. Become totally familiar with the settings and controls. Then, practice using them. Practice some more. Your camera should be an extension of you. It should be as comfortable to hold and use as a pen or a knife and fork. Google "Magic Lantern" and buy the Guide for your camera if there is one. It wll compliment your Owner's Manual and explain things that might be unclear.

Learn the relationship between light, ISO, f-stop, and shutter speed. Know and understand the "EV" settings on your camera and how and when to use them. The camera is just a dumb box. It can't think - you can*.

Learn to "read" the light. Light is different at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 6pm. An overcast day can be an excellent day for photography. Scenes are "softer" and colors are slightly muted. Its especially good for outdoor portraits since its a "soft" light which is flattering. Direct sunlight is harsh. It has its uses, especially if you want to show a lot of detail.

Visit your library and check out a few books on photography. Look for ones like Rick Sammons 'Complete Guide to Digital Photography" and ones on Composition**.

Biographies of early photographers are good also. Margaret Bourke-White, Dorothea Lange, Walker Evans, Edward Weston, Robert Capa, Ansel Adams, W. Eugene Smith.

While you're at the library, read the photography magazines they have. Pick one you especially like and subscribe to it.

Search on ebay or amazon for 'Object & Image: An Introduction To Photography, Third Edition' by George M. Craven.

Of the 7 answers before this one, IMO only Kendra said anything of value and that was in # 3 & 4. Placing people in direct sunlight is a guarantee of poor pictures. The harsh lighting makes them squint and every line or wrinkle or any other defect in their complexion is apparent. That old adage "keep the sun at your back" was advice given in the very early days of amateur photography. Film was slower then and the lenses on the old box cameras were slow. It required a lot of light to make an exposure. Today its about as relevant as a crank starter on a car.

Place people in open shade, use a Skylight filter to remove any bluish tint, and you'll have much better results.

Learn to scan the viewfinder before releasing the shutter. You don't want a powerline running through a person's head, or a tree or pole "growing" out of it. You don't want the empty pop bottle some trashy person tossed down. (If I had my way anyone caught littering would have to crawl on their hands and knees and pick up litter with their teeth. And I'd make sure there were plenty of loaded diapers in their path.)

* The meter in our camera "sees" the world as 18% gray. That is the mid-tone of an average scene and usually produces good exposures. The meter, however, is easily fooled by lighting situations that aren't average. This is when we have to think for it. This is also where we need to know about the EV settings.

1) Subject is backlit. The meter will compute exposure and our subject will be a silhouette. Unless we want our subject silhouetted we need to know what to do. We'll try an exposure at +1 EV and at +2 EV. We are giving more exposure to the subject so there will be detail. The background will be "blown out" but its not the important part of the photograph.

2) Subject is frontlit against a dark background. Let the meter make the decision and our subject will be "washed out". We'll try an exposure at -1 EV and at -2 EV. We are giving less exposure to the subject so there will be detail. The background will be very dark but, again, its not the important part.

3) If your camera doesn't have EV settings then you have to be in full Manual Mode. Set the shutter speed to what the camera suggests and then look at the f-stop it suggests. Say, for example, the meter says f8 at 1/250. Set the shutter at 1/250 and in Scene # 1 try an exposure at f5.6 and one at f4. In Scene # 2 try an exposure at f11 and at f16.

** They are called the "Rules of Composition". I prefer to think of them as "Guidelines". Using them as you are learning will be helpful. Slavishly following them as you grow as a photographer will lead, IMO, to boring, static, predictable photographs. You have to know them before you can intelligently bend and/or break them. There are photographers who will tell you "The horizon should always be in the top or bottom third of your picture." Nonsense! If you have a perfect reflection of trees and mountains in a lake put the horizon dead center if that's where you want it. Other photographers will tell you "Never place the subject in the center of the frame or have them looking directly into the camera." More nonsense. Look at the work of the late Monte Zucker. Look at the photo of Gordon Parks on the dust jacket of his autobiography.

The late Robert Capa, celebrated combat photographer, is quoted as having said:

"If your pictures aren't good enough you aren't close enough."
and
"I would rather have a strong image that is technically bad than vice versa."

On photographing people he explained:

"You have to like people - and let them know it."

Answer 4

First you need to be artistic. Then know how to use the camera to take the artistic photo.l Then you need to know how to properly dev the film and properly print and then properly cut and mat and mount and hang the photo.
Good luck.

Answer 5

look for a good day and take the photograph it will be brighter on a sunny day

Answer 6

stand still, squeeze your arms in by your sides, hold camera with two hands, squeeeeeeze the button till it goes down all the way and then pause before taking your finger off. easy solution and it works

Answer 7

Learn the basics of photography(exposure, shutter speed, aperture,ISO, white balance) and know good composition.

Answer 8

Look through the lense and then click that little button on your camera and there you go.

Answer 9

by having a good subject.

Answer 10

use proper lighting and composition. or take pictures of me =)