This is a blog for the adventurous amateurs – the photographers out there who want to take their images to the next level.
We find that one roadblock for many amateur photographers is their equipment, or rather lack of equipment. It’s tempting to say that it would be easier to take breathtaking photographs if you only had the newest and most expensive camera but forget that immediately, it’s not true. Good photography is about knowledge, curiosity, and endless experimenting. Here are a few ways to create professional photographs without having to upgrade your equipment (too much).
Know your tools
All images have a different purpose and there is no right answer for what settings work the best. However, knowledge is power and it’s very good to know exactly what aperture will give you the sharpest possible photo. This can vary between different lenses, but the so called ‘sweet spot’ is usually found between f8 – f11. One way of testing your own lens is by setting your camera on a tripod. First attach a page of newspaper to the wall (aim for small text across two pages), then point the camera straight at the paper, focus and shoot a series of pictures on each aperture. Check your images against each other in Photoshop at 100%. You will best be able to see the difference in sharpness on the outer edges of the image.
Gadgets worth investing in
Using lens filters is one of the simplest ways to maximise the quality of colour and exposure in your RAW files. Not everyone finds them necessary in our digital age, but they are worth a try, especially if you’re a landscape photographer or mostly find yourself shooting in natural light. Direct sunlight can often reduce the quality of your images by creating an overall haze, but by using a UV filter you can avoid this and get sharper images. A polarizing filter is used to reduce reflections and boost up the contrast. There’s a wide range of filters to suit different photographers’ needs, so here’s a to get you started.
A remote shutter release is another photography gadget that is worth getting if you don’t have it already. Did you know that camera shake is one of the most common failure reasons here at Alamy? It can easily be avoided by using a tripod and a remote release when photographing in low light.
Never stop experimenting
There are no limitations for creativity. Here are some of our favourite workarounds to test when you feel your equipment falls short:
Light is everything, not equipment
The quality of the light you are photographing in is often more important than the quality of your camera equipment. As long as you know how to get the most out of the light you’ve come a long way already.
Set out during the magic hour, an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset, and challenge your perceptions of colour. The light is easy to direct and creates forms and shades like nothing else. The top tip here is to set your white balance to cloudy to capture the subtle glow.
As sunrise and sunset varies depending on where you are and the time of the year, it’s worth getting a that can help you prepare and get the most out of these golden sun rays.
Most importantly, take photos of what you enjoy, not what you think is expected. It will pay off eventually.