The one thing about coming home from holidays that everyone looks forward to is to SHOW OFF the photos. It’s also the one thing your family and friends DREAD. Let’s face it, holiday snaps can be pretty boring.
Check out these 5 steps to go from boring to incredible, creative and even interesting holiday memories that you and your friends will want to see over and over again.
- Composition
This is really the most important part of taking a great picture instead of a boring one. Take a little time to consider what you are trying to capture.
The scene needs to have a subject, be it a boat, sunset sky, land mark, tree or building. This is because you are aiming to a) show off your photo and b) remember what caught your attention. What is the subject of interest in the shot you are about to take? If there isn’t one, then there will be no interest in the printed image!
Work out the best angle to capture the subject by moving around, getting up high or down low and tying both horizontal and vertical options in the viewfinder. Always look up, down and behind you. This can help make a much more dramatic image and sometimes you will see things you didn’t notice. I was once taking some nice sunset shots over a lake, only to turn around just in time to catch a massive orange moon rising up behind me. Find the scene, find the light, and then put your subject into it. Location, location, location.
- Self Timer
Get yourself in the picture. Don’t come home without PLENTY of shots with YOU IN THEM! This happens all the time. Don’t forget, if they wanted to see a photo of the Eiffel Tower, they could buy a postcard. It’s much more exciting when you’re in the picture.
Learn how to use the self timer before you go on holidays, and then get into the picture with your friends or family. Don’t set the timer pause for too long or you’ll have everyone looking in different directions by the time the shot is taken. You need just enough time to get yourself back into the scene.
- Travel Tripod
Why use a tripod? I’m glad you asked…because understanding this will give you an amazing advantage over other photographers that don’t see the necessity. When you take a photo in low light such as sunrise, twilight, sunset, evening shots and also fireworks, you need the shutter speed to be slow to allow more light onto the sensor to enable the scene to be visible in your image. This also means the camera will capture any movement and blur the shot if it’s not held still and it is virtually impossible to hold the camera steady for the length of time required for these low light shots.
One tripod known as Fozi Tripod is plastic and will fold down to fit into your wallet. There are also stronger metal mini tripods that fold to about the size of a ruler and mini fold down versions of the larger standard tripods. Do your research and check the internet and local camera shops for more info before you go away.
- Get in Close
You want to show some emotion on faces, details in the architecture and the beauty of a tropical flower. It’s not always about where you were, but what you were doing. Was there dancing with local tribal people? Was there a warm fireplace? Did you relax on a tropical beach? Why not try taking a close up of some deck chairs and a palm tree with the water and sand in the background, and not worry about getting the entire scene into the picture.
Do you really need to show the entire scene to portray cocktails were being consumed? Get in close and show only the umbrella and fruit on the top of the glass. These close up shots will make a stunning collage and tell a great story when you get home.
- Copy the Pros
This one is simple. Check the postcards in the shops nearby and then imitate what they have done. The professionals know when and where to get the best shots so use them as a guide. You need to put your own flair into the shot to make it personal.
Don’t forget: Keep the story of your holiday exciting and never boring. Pick out the most interesting shots and file the rest away just for yourself. Choose the photos that have lots of people in them and put them into an album or make a coffee table book. Let the images tell the story of your trip of a lifetime!
So…here’s to the holiday of a lifetime and the reward of wanting to show off the photos for years to come.
Of course there is much more to photography than I have explained in these 5 steps so for more information on how to improve your photography, to find out about workshops, to enter photos in a local camera club competition or even to sell some of your fantastic images online, go to www.ezipix.com.au
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