Can everyone suggest one tip

[Chris71]

What if everyone on the forum suggested one hint, trick or tip for photography?

It could be any branch of photography or indeed the post processing associated with digital stuff. Just a thought.

This of course puts me in a difficult position, being exactly the sort of newbie who would hope to read it and yet feeling compelled to add something! How about:

Try to make use of the histogram if you have one on your camera - as a general rule you want to get a fairly broad distribution from the dark tones (on the left hand side of the histogram) to the light (on the right).

That might seem liking stating the obvious to more experienced photographers, but I found it useful...

[odyssey2200]

Always take the lens cap off!

:sorry I could not resist it.

[White Fly Swater]

take a spare battery and memory card


oh yes and your camera !!!!!!!

[VxDuncan]

Chris71 said:

Try to make use of the histogram if you have one on your camera - as a general rule you want to get a fairly broad distribution from the dark tones (on the left hand side of the histogram) to the light (on the right).

...and do the same thing in photoshop. Unless you're after a specific effect, bring up the levels command (Ctrl+L), and set the end points on the histogram to be the point where the darks start(LH side) and the light point where the lights fall off (RH side). Tweak the mid point if needed to suit. Bottom graph is rarely needed. For advanced use convert to (/use) 16 or 32 bit modes for this and consider using an adjustment layer for more control.

[Simpo Two]

'Before you press the button, stop and think if you can make it any better'

[Andy M]

Remove from the photo what doesn't deserve to be there (could also be read as: get closer to the main subject)

[Barreti]

Look out for telegraph poles, pylons, wires, lampposts, aeroplanes and jetstreams.

[Scho]

i use a tripod wherever possible.

allows me to think more about what i'm doing.

handy for portraits too as it allows you to get out from behind the camera, interact with your subject and have a proper look at what you're shooting.

[Elderly]

Simpo Two said:

'Before you press the button, stop and think if you can make it any better'

or act on instinct in order not to miss that 'decisive moment' .....

..... it depends on what sort of photograph you are taking

[Rude Girl]

Can I put a couple in?

Always do a last check that you're not taking a lovely picture of your own shadow or your reflection before you press the shutter.

And a refinement of Simpo's - check what ISO setting you had the camera on last time you used it before you dive in.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

My tip is to read this thread

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[VxDuncan]

If you're walking around with the camera, constantly keep it adjusted for the shots you are likely to take next. ie when queing for a temple, set it up for indoors. Travelling in a truck through africa, have it set with a long lens ready for a grab shot of that monkey up a tree or crazy coloured bird.

Basically hedge your bets on what your next picture will be before the oppertunity even arises.

[miniman]

If you spend £80 on a new tripod head, £20 on a remote release and £100 on ND filters so that you can have a punt at long exposure water shots in daylight whilst on holiday...

...remember to put the tripod in the car when you leave

[Luca Brazzi]

Have a quick look in all corners of the frame before pressing the shutter.

[VxDuncan]

Maybe it's just the nature of the photography that I do (usually travel), but I'm of the bosch out a frame straight off, then stop and compose the rest slowly and methodically!

I think I used my "can everyone suggest one tip" up now. Night all.

[Simpo Two]

Elderly said:

Simpo Two said:

'Before you press the button, stop and think if you can make it any better'

or act on instinct in order not to miss that 'decisive moment' .....

..... it depends on what sort of photograph you are taking

True. In my case a bad photo is no use to me or my customers, but to meet the unexpected, have the camera set up roughly right in anticipation.

Edited by Simpo Two on Tuesday 11th March 13:00

[Colin RedGriff]

Always run through a standard check of settings at the start of a session.

white balance
ISO (has already been mentioned)
focus mode
metering
exposure compensation
mirror lockup

Stops you trying to take action shots with mirror lockup, manual focusing and tungsten white balance after doing a night shoot.

[CivicMan]

Colin RedGriff said:

Always run through a standard check of settings at the start of a session.

white balance
ISO (has already been mentioned)
focus mode
metering
exposure compensation
mirror lockup

Stops you trying to take action shots with mirror lockup, manual focusing and tungsten white balance after doing a night shoot.

So if you're disturbed, your camera is all ready you mean.......

[Fume Troll]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds

Cheers,

FT.

[GetCarter]

Carpet bomb.

(I'll take 100+ shots if it looks good through the finder, changing angles, settings, barcketing, d.o.f. more sky, less sky etc) - I'm amazed that often the first 50 look crap - but maybe that's just me!)

Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 11th March 13:38