| So you have just picked up your first SLR (Single | | | | your teacher will likely give you assignments based |
| Lens Reflex) camera. You've read the manual and | | | | on individual elements of photography you may have |
| surfed the web, and now you are ready to start | | | | never considered. |
| taking some Pulitzer- grade photography. Right? Sure! | | | | 4. Say Farewell to Color |
| But before you take off with camera in hand, take a | | | | Before you dive into color, buy a few rolls of T-Max |
| moment to read over these five tips so you can help | | | | 400 (great B&W film) and see if taking it back |
| your images go from great to fabulous. | | | | to the basics changes your interpretation of the |
| 1. Dump the Flash | | | | world around you. You will know it's time to upgrade |
| While it is true that professional photographers often | | | | to color when you can shoot and print a black and |
| do use a flash or complicated light rigs, you shouldn't | | | | white image that has pure black, pure white, and |
| need a flash in most lighting conditions. Subjects | | | | every shade in between. Taking photos in black and |
| taken in natural light often look more natural and | | | | white will force your mind to think less about the |
| have more detail and depth than pictures taken with | | | | "image" and more about the importance of how light |
| a flash. Additionally, ditching the flash for the first | | | | interacts with the objects in the frame. |
| week or so will make you intimately familiar with how | | | | 5. Shoot, Shoot, Shoot |
| your camera works with light - an invaluable skill for | | | | This may seem obvious, but if you're interested in |
| the beginning photographer. | | | | becoming a "great" photographer, you'll need to |
| 2. Turn Off Auto Focus | | | | shoot lots and lots of photos. The more pictures you |
| There's no arguing that a camera that auto-focuses | | | | take, the better you will get. Photography is often as |
| is infinitely handy and easy to use. However, focusing | | | | much about timing and luck as it is skill and equipment. |
| on the fly is an important tool in any photographer's | | | | Even "great" photographers only average 3-4 good |
| toolbox. Since cameras don't understand your intent, | | | | photos at a time, so don't worry about taking a lot |
| it's up to you to make sure you're focused on the | | | | of images. It's far worse to miss a shot than take |
| right thing at the right moment. It's amazing how | | | | too many! |
| interesting an image can be when you let the focus | | | | There is no great secret to being an amazing |
| be out of the direct center of the frame, so don't | | | | photographer. The more you challenge yourself, the |
| forget to set your camera to manual from time to | | | | better you will become. If you start with a strong |
| time. | | | | understanding of how your camera works and what |
| 3. Take a Photo Class | | | | it takes to take a good photo, the rest will come |
| You can buy all the books in the world and browse | | | | with practice. Your camera will never change- only |
| the internet for days, but the absolute best way to | | | | your ability to manipulate it. So keep your camera |
| learn about photography is in a hands on | | | | close and extra film (or a memory card) on-hand. |
| environment. Find a class at a local college or adult | | | | Never be afraid to experiment with new ideas! And |
| school and see how understanding the basics will | | | | remember, the best picture you'll ever take is the |
| improve your photos for the better. As a bonus, | | | | one you're about to take. |