January 18, 2013
Use the pet scene mode when photographing cats and dogs. If your camera doesn’t have a pet mode, disable the audible beeps and focus assist lamps while photographing them so the lights and sounds aren’t a distraction.
January 17, 2013
Successful close-ups of babies often involve eye contact. Focus on the eyes. Use a longer lens, or a macro lens, and get in tight on the eyes and nose.
January 16, 2013
Like the look of HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography but not sure you’d be able to pull off the technique? A number of Nikon cameras have a built-in HDR mode where the camera does the hard work for you. Check your manual to see if your specific camera offers this feature.
January 15, 2013
Looking for inspiration for your photography? Look no further than Learn & Explore, the area on the Nikonusa.com website that is packed full of educational articles, how-to tutorials and inspirational pieces on all sorts of photography topics.
January 14, 2013
Take a moment to look at the photo framed in the viewfinder or LCD before you snap it. Make sure you can see over the tops of your subject’s heads, and all the way to their feet if you’re taking a full-length portrait. It is easy to cut off part of a person if you’re in a rush to snap a picture.
January 13, 2013
Sometimes you just need to throw out the rules. Tilt the camera for different angles and unique compositions. An old filmmaking term is called “Dutch Tilt” (made famous by Alfred Hitchcock). As long as something is recognizable, it will work.
January 12, 2013
Compose photos using the “rule of thirds.” Think of the frame as being broken into nine rectangles (like a tic-tac-toe grid over the picture). Place your subject at one of the intersections of the lines for a more visually stimulating photo.
January 11, 2013
Photograph pets at their eye level—then try photographing them from way up high or down low for a really unique image.
January 10, 2013
To get the starburst effect you often see in photos, use the smallest aperture possible on your camera (this is usually f/16 or f/22) and shoot towards the sun. Shooting towards the sun will cause you to see flare in an image sometimes but this can add interest to your image. Shoot a bunch of frames—capturing the starburst with and without flare.
January 9, 2013
Add drama to an image by shooting when the shadows are long and deep. Try to photograph just a person or object’s shadow for a unique image.
January 8, 2013
When you want to tell a story with your photographs, take multiple pictures—close-ups, wide-angle views, different perspectives. A photo essay can include as few as three photos or as many as it takes to fully document a subject, and will often tell a better story than just one image.
January 7, 2013
Adding objects—man-made or natural—to a landscape will add interest and scale.
January 6, 2013
When shooting video of an event, add interviews for a unique viewpoint. Shooting a birthday party—talk to the birthday boy or girl; shooting your kids sport—interview them or the coach—at a wedding—ask the bride and groom to comment.
January 5, 2013
When shooting food, simple compositions are always better. Zoom into the dish so you don’t capture the table, or zoom tighter so you don’t even see the plate. If you’re taking a shot of your meal at a restaurant, move some of the cutlery or glassware out of the frame for a better shot. It will only take you a moment to do so.
January 4, 2013
Use contrast to separate a subject from its background. A light subject will stand out against a dark background and visa-versa.
January 3, 2013
The eyes, it is said, are the windows to the soul. Capture the personality of your subject, through his/her eyes. Make sure you can see them by zooming in on your subject or moving in close to her.
January 2, 2013
One of the rules of composition says that horizon lines should not be placed in the center of an image, but closer to the top or bottom of the frame. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken. When you’re photographing a subject and its reflection, its perfectly fine to place the horizon in the center of the frame.
January 1, 2013
Be creative with your posing of groups. Don't just line everybody up. Use the steps or the arm of a couch to experiment with some people standing and others sitting. Have kids sitting in laps or someone sitting on the floor or kneeling. Mix it up.
January 1, 2013
Happy New Year! Kick off the New Year by giving yourself a photo project. Shoot a photo a day; document the changing seasons; or learn more about photography and how your camera works.
December 31, 2012
New Years Eve is a fun holiday and a great time to take lots of photographs as you celebrate the coming of the New Year.
December 30, 2012
Placing a person into a scene will almost always add interest, and can also provide scale.
December 29, 2012
Use fill flash to add a little sparkle to your subject’s eyes when shooting portraits outdoors, during the day. Even in bright sunlight, fill flash can even out the lighting for a more pleasing photograph.
December 28, 2012
Look around when you’re out photographing. Not every great photographic subject will be right in front of you.
December 27, 2012
When shooting landscapes at dusk or nighttime, use a tripod and cable release or self-timer so you can slow down the shutter speed to let in more light. This is the technique used when you see pictures of car lights as lines, not pinpoints.
December 26, 2012
If possible, try to place your subject on an angle to the light. When light is more directed, causing highlights and shadows, your images will look more dramatic than if flat lighting is used.
December 25, 2012
When taking pictures of a big group, try to have everyone lined up perpendicular to the camera. Otherwise those closest to the lens may be out of focus or slightly distorted.
December 24, 2012
If you normally use one lens for everyday shooting, leaving your others at home, plan a day to use only your second lens. It may force you to look at your subjects with a new perspective and could lead to wonderful images.
December 23, 2012
When taking pictures of a child blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, get onto their level, instead of shooting downwards from a standing position, for a different viewpoint.
December 22, 2012
At your next family get together, designate one of the kids as photographer for the day. You might just be surprised at the unique viewpoint the images have. And remember, you can always delete any bad shots.
December 21, 2012
Celebrate the first day of winter by taking photos of outdoors, even if there’s no snow on the ground. Bare tree branches make great subjects.