Photography Basics
The techniques you need to take exciting travel pics, the kind of photos that will generate income are not that difficult to master with enough practice. In the next several pages, we’ll introduce you to some basic skills you can use to improve the quality of all the photos you shoot.
1. Learn all about light
Professionals know how to use the best light in all situations. The available light may be enough for most photos, but adding or subtracting light to fine-tune an image is a valuable skill. You should start paying attention to the light that exist in your day to day world. A good way to start is to ask these questions; what is the source of the light, what is the quality of the light and how do objects in your world respond to that light. Quality of light is a personal evaluation but light is either harsh as in midday sun or soft as in the light form the sky after the sun sets. Professional photographers are always aware of the light because without light there is no photography. Determine what light looks best in different situations. You have to discover what appeals to the eye in the real world to be able to reproduce it on demand.
2. Finding the perfect light
Sunrise and sunset offer the best time of day to capture sellable images, but you still need to know where to be at these times of the day. All locations need to be scouted first to determine if the location is a sunrise or sunset location. Photograph these locations whenever you first see them and then make plans to wake up before dawn and photograph these locations again. This technique will demonstrate how different times a day will produce striking different images. Upon review of these images once back at the home base the concept of “quality of light” will become evident. Rule of thumb on direct light, the longer the shadows the higher quality of light is present. At noon there usually are no shadows, at sunset the shadows are long and the light is gorgeous!
3 Take The High Ground
Landscape photography requires a good landscape to photograph and a good vantage point from which to capture the landscape. Photos taken from ground level usually don't offer an unobstructed view of any landscape unless the area directly in front is an ocean or a wide river. To capture a landscape correctly find a hill, a parking structure, climb a tree or get to the top of a high rise. The higher the camera is positioned the more of the landscape can be photographed. Landscapes offer the ability to use graduated filters. These filters are clear on the bottom with color on the top. The horizon line between the land the sky is a perfect spot to start the color.
4. Zen and the art of photography
Before approaching any photographic endeavor, it always helps to stop for a moment and relax. Try to clear your thoughts of all the craziness of travel or anything else and just go ZEN for a moment. This is the time to remember all the images you've seen in your life that might resemble what you are about to photograph. How were those memorable images produced, why were they so good? Try to use your visual memories to help produce an even better image. The law (which is strictly enforced) regarding copying another image is that the new image just has to be better. Try to improve what has been done with your own personal style. If you don’t have one, then find it!