Hobbies And Interests
White Balance
One the greatest advantages digital photography gives us is the ability to change the camera’s white balance setting to match the changing light conditions. In the days of film, if you were using daylight color film inside without a flash, you would end with a very warm (yellowish-brown) color cast on your pictures. Using the correct white balance settings on your digital camera will improve the color and light in your pictures.
Remove the Camera Flash
If you are using a Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera, whenever you can use a remote cord and move the flash off the camera. Hold the flash in your left hand up and at a 45 degree angle to the person you taking a picture of. The difference this simple technique makes in your pictures is significant. You will no longer have pictures of people with bright spots on their faces, but you will create a picture that is more flattering to the people in it. If you don’t have a remote cord, but the head of the flash can be angled, when indoors angle it upwards at a 60 degree angle so the light bounces off of the ceiling. Using the flash this way will give you more even lighting across your picture.
Use Your Flash on Bright Days
It may seem strange to use a flash on a bright sunny day, but it will improve your pictures. If you are using a DSLR, set your camera to underexpose the picture by one full stop. Doing this will capture more of the sky and it will be nice and blue. Install your flash and turn it on. Set your camera to Shutter Priority, set the shutter speed at the maximum for flash photography, which is usually 1/250th of second and let the camera determine the aperture. This simple technique will eliminate those shadows on your subjects faces caused when the sun is directly above.