In sharing a selection of useful photography tips I feel that it's important to pass on in as practical a manner as possible what was of most benefit to me in my early photographic days. My list follows, but first to my own photography story . . .

John
 

Vision
  Develop the art of 'seeing' images, and whenever possible, produce images that fall into the 'out of the ordinary' category. Awareness, anticipation and imagination are a few of the 'personal tools' needed to merge successfully with our photographic equipment and settings. For example, you're on a hillside looking down on a winding road. What you visualize is a red vehicle on an 'S' curve on the road. Now all that is needed are some appropriate camera settings, and some patience . . . then voila!

Light
  Utilize the best light of the day.  Light, shade and texture enhance any image, be it a close-up or landscape. Sometimes, just by changing our camera angle we can improve the angle of light falling on any given subject. Get yourself to your chosen spot early or late, and then hurry up and wait!

Simplicity
  'Clutter' is fine and necessary with some subjects such landscapes with foreground interest, but as a general rule keep things simple. Also, keep an eye out for distractions in the background or on the edge of the frame, such as a branch, or a patch of unwanted light. If foreground interest is not your thing, then perhaps 'minimalist' is?
Example 1  Example 2  Example 3

Creativity
  Experiment with techniques . . . could this subject be recorded best with a slower shutter speed; by selective focus; or a ‘ton’ of depth of field and so on? Make the ordinary look extraordinary.
Example 1  Example 2   Example 3

Composition
  Can the composition be improved with a different camera angle, or tighter framing? Try zooming in and out, and/or walk around and consider the angle of light on your subject. Look for would-be distractions in your field of view, then go ahead and shoot in the knowledge that you are giving the subject 'your best shot'.

Impact
  Fill the frame whenever possible. Try a different camera angle, especially closer, lower or higher. Use the widest angle lens you have, then get in close to your subject. Experiment with panning techniques. Try different fill-flash/daylight exposure combinations, and remember that silhouettes by their very nature have a lot of impact.
Example 1  Example 2

Quality
  There are many situations whereby hand-holding your camera yields sharp results, but there are those times such as in low light - I call it 'available darkness'! - that call for some camera stability. That slightly soft image that you thought could be your best shot could have made the most of a tripod, right? A tripod and a low ISO will yield your best quality whenever practical. Long lenses are often in need of support, so how about a monopod? Of course it may be impractical to use a camera support for the long lens/action shot combination so opt for a fast shutter speed, say 500th of a second and faster, combined with a wide aperture of around f4, and a high ISO.

Details, details
  Explore your viewfinder and remove those elements that will bother the life out of you later!  This will usually be something akin to a splash of sunlight on a rock, or misplaced blade of grass when doing a macro [close-up] shot.

Guidelines
  Follow those photo guidelines such as the ‘rule of thirds’ and so on, but, also break those ‘rules’ whenever you see fit.  Rule 1, take note of the rules, and rule 2, break the rules!

Be prepared
  Keep your camera on hand in anticipation of those special moments. Make sure your memory card isn't almost full, and pre-set your camera to capture what will likely be an 'action ' situation. A setting of 250th @ f.8, or Program [P] will place you in the ballpark, plus it will be beneficial if you enable the 'high speed continuous' frame shooting setting.
Example 1

Keep an open mind
  Quality images are to be found with the sun at it’s highest point of the day - changeable weather could be a favorable factor too - and polarization does work at other than right-angles to the sun. In other words you don't have to follow along with the common clichés.

Be thorough
  Don’t settle for ‘second-best’, and the subsequent disappointment it often brings. Consider all the elements that could improve your picture before you press the shutter button. There might be something distracting in the picture such as rubbish/trash, or a branch that could be removed in a matter of moments. Also, does the subject merge with something in the background that can be cured simply by moving to the right or left?

Planning and patience
  Get to know your subject's behavior patterns be it Elk during the rut, a bird approaching a nest, or when the sun will hit a mountain peak at dawn. When you get your logistics right, it's just so very rewarding and satisfying.

The best tools for the situation
  To improve your pictures consider your lens and accessory choices. Will a filter help? Will a longer lens be useful for landscapes?  Will manual focusing alleviate your focusing problems? Would an interval timer simplify night or time lapse photography? These are decisions and techniques you must make for yourself, so practice them often until they become second nature to you.
  Example 1 . . . shot while I was asleep using an interval timer!

Does the camera make you a better photographer?
  Not at all in my opinion. It's really all down to how you see and compose pictures. Seriously, it's not the equipment, it's you!

Be adaptable
  Change camera positions to leave out those power poles or 'stray' people. Perhaps the shade of a tree can serve as your lens shade? Have you lost or broken your cable release/remote? . . . use the camera's self-timer.

Tell a story
  Include the 'environment'. What does the image say about the time, place or person? I personally like to fill the frame with my subject, but once in a while I will include more of the background, such as for character shots to create an 'environmental portrait'. This applies to wildlife too.
Example 1

Take advantage of each opportunity
  Take the opportunities afforded by zoos, wildlife farms, and events such as historic re-creations to capture those rare and otherwise unobtainable images. Obviously you'll want to get in tight on your subject, so use longer lenses to eliminate man-made distractions.
Example 1    Example 2

Make an extra effort
  An image you have in mind may require some elaborate setting up. If the image is worth the effort, then go ahead and manipulate and coerce!  Also, don't leave that tripod in the car or think, "The best lens for this shot is back in my camera bag, but . . . ".  When you take the time and effort to get it right you won't be disappointed.

Make it about you 
  Take pictures for your own pleasure first of all. Please don’t do take pictures just to please others or a club judge. Be you, and pleasing others with your images will certainly follow.

Photography is an art
  Just as with the many other fields of art out there in the big world, you will naturally develop your own style. Yes, even with a camera. I've been in Camera Clubs and at exhibitions and hear comments such as "That's a 'Joe Bloggs shot", and yes, we all have that potential within us. Grasp it, nurture it, enjoy it!  
 

Written and photographed by John Baker, Photographer/Guide, Travel Images Photography Tours

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