Practice Framing and Learn Your Camera

Marc Silber gives an introduction on how to take better photos.

First of all make friends with your camera. Read the manual and know how it operates. Pros always know their pieces of equipment as this is a starting point.

Despite the above advice, it is not the camera that makes you a photographer. Any piece of equipment can produce a good photo as it is just a tool.

Framing your shots well is what makes a difference. You need to use the space of the frame in the best way. In order to learn this skill, a simple framing card is often recommended. Just cut out a 3 by 2 rectangle and always take this card with you. Instead of setting up all your photo gear to compose a picture, opt for faster capturing the frame with your card. It will train your eyes to find the best composition.

As C. Bresson said, Framing is a precise organization of forms which give that event a proper expression.

Creative Way of Using Flashes

This video shows how you can use flashes even on a sunny day to get really creative photos. The cross effect is achieved because two flashes light the subject from different sides, crossing their rays at the subject.

One flash is directed down at 45 degrees and the other one is placed on the ground. Both of them are controlled from the built in (pop up) flash on the camera. The upper flash has a colored filter and therefore it gives warmer light, while the other one gives colder light. It adds to the effect.

The camera is set to 1/125 sec shutter speed and f22 aperture. Flashes are manually set to half power.

Chase Jarvis' Advice

Award winning photographer Chase Jarvis shares a simple but yet useful advice on how you may improve your photography.

It is very simple - just start taking more pictures with your camera. Do not be obsessed by technical stuff: new photo gear, new features, etc. Modern cameras are wonderful tools that have a program mode "P". It works well and you need not bother with apertures, exposures and so on. Create art with your mind by taking photos.

Portraits in Natural Light

Davide Greene shows how he photographed his model in the day light without using any reflectors or flashes. This short masterclass compliments Using Natural light for Indoor Portrait.

First of all he is picky of the right location. It needs to be shade but with some reflected light coming from a large building across the street for example. A model has better lean on something, in his case it is a brick wall. That way the model's pose looks relaxed.

In portraits background is not as important as surfaces and textures near your model.