Learning from the pros is always a great way to improve your skills. That's why we read books and watch videos, like the ones I highlighted in "Treasure Trove of Photo Tutorials." It's always instructive to see how the masters work and try to emulate them. But there's a lot to learn we can learn from the exact opposite--by studying the things that can go wrong.
This week, let's look at the five most common mistakes I see in everyday photography, and learn how to avoid them. And while you're at it, you might want to peek back at my recent "Getting Started in Digital Photography" for some more basic tips.
1. The Subject Is Underexposed
* If you're taking pictures indoors, move near a window or bring a lamp or two into the room.
* Move closer to your subject.
* Manually adjust the shutter speed on your camera.
* Change exposure settings. Digital cameras allow you to adjust the exposure of your photos from the main Capture menu. For lighter photos, adjust exposure up; for darker photos, adjust down. You are able to see what your image will look like as you adjust this setting.
2. The Photo Is Blurry
Blurry picture are the bane of every photographer. But diagnosing the problem isn't always easy, because there are many reasons for indistinct photos. For example, it's possible the image wasn't in focus, or that the shutter speed was too slow.* Avoid shutter lag (the time between pressing the trigger and the camera taking the picture) by pressing the trigger halfway down. When the right moment comes, press all the way down to instantly capture the desired photo. This strategy is great when you're taking pictures of people (especially kids) or animals who may move and then be still for a moment.
* Use a tripod or brace yourself against a stationary object to hold the camera still.
* When it's dark, use your camera's Night Scenery mode (which uses a long exposure and no flash) or Night Portrait (which uses a flash and a long exposure) shooting mode. Because of the longer exposure times, a tripod is a necessity with both of these modes.
* If your subject is moving, use the Action shooting mode on your camera. This setting automatically optimizes your shutter speed to capture the action.
3. The Subject Has Red Eyes
Ah, the old Zombie Eyes. Red eye almost always happens when you shoot in low-light conditions with a camera-mounted flash. The solution is to turn up the lights and turn off the flash. Shoot outdoors in daylight whenever possible. When you have to shoot indoors, make sure the camera's red-eye reduction mode is enabled. See "Avoid the Red Eye Effect" for all sorts of tips on avoiding this problem.* Turn off your camera's flash.
* If it's too dark to go without a flash, ask your subject to look toward the camera, but not directly at the lens.
*By taking photos during the day, you'll most likely eliminate the need for a flash. If necessary, bring in additional light sources.
* Stand farther away from your subject.
4.Subject Is Too Far Away
When you're composing a picture using the LCD or the viewfinder, it's easy to make the mistake of trying to fit too much into the photo, which leaves the photo lacking a focal point. Also, not using the zoom feature can lead to similar results.This one's easy. Simply get closer to your subject or use the zoom feature on your digital camera. As you're composing, ask yourself, "Does my subject fill the frame?"
5.Overexposed (bright) Photos
Bright light, including daytime sunlight, can cause photos to have very light and very dark areas, which is unpleasing to the eye. Also, high-contrast photos usually lack detail, so they tend to look washed out.
Try one of the following methods to even out the lighting in your pictures:
* On sunny days, find a patch of shade to photograph your subjects.
* Use a flash, which will cast an even light over your subject.
* Take advantage of overcast days for photography. No shadows!
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