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Chapter 12: Taking Great Pictures
Microsoft Digital Image Standard User’s Manual
8. Analyze and Try Again
Photography takes practice. And you will progress at a faster rate if some of
your practice time is focused on developing specific skills. One way to do that
is to analyze your pictures and then take them again.
When you get a chance to look at your pictures on a computer or as prints, you
can assess their quality of composition, lighting, exposure, and white balance.
Upon close inspection, you might realize that you placed your subject too close
to the center of the frame, or that incandescent lights caused an orange glow.
The next time you’re taking pictures, take this same photo again, and make
adjustments for the problems you encountered before.
When you look at the results of your second round of pictures, you might find
that you got excellent results, or you might find that one of your adjustments
disrupted something else in the photo. Or maybe the different lighting condi
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tions of the different day made it more difficult to nail the exposure.
To continue the exercise, photograph the same subject or scene on a regular
basis. You must always compensate for the differences in lighting each day, but
you can try new approaches to the composition. Learning to photograph the
same subject under different conditions or with a different approach gives you
valuable experience and ideas when you encounter new situations.
9. Take Pictures Every Day
To become a talented and confident photographer, make photography part of
your daily routine. Fortunately, digital cameras have made it much more conve
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nient and inexpensive to take lots and lots of pictures. Once you’ve purchased
your digital camera, you can take as many photos as you want. The only cost is
for batteries and storage for your pictures.
The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become in your skills and in
your equipment. You’ll also develop the habit of keeping your camera close by,
and having it ready for photo opportunities. Train yourself to look for these
opportunities, and take advantage of them when they come to you. Some of
the world’s most memorable pictures were taken by amateur photographers
who happened to be in the right place at the right time. So to be ready to take
that once-in-a-lifetime shot, know how to use your gear, have your equipment
handy, and be on the lookout for great photo material.
A quick check
with the LCD
One of the benefits of
digital photography is
that you can get a look
at your photos on the
LCD preview screen
right after you’ve taken
the shot. This feature
is great for a quick
analysis of the photo’s
composition, exposure,
and color tone. Because
preview screen is
so small, however, it
often does not reveal
problems with focus.