There are some very basic things to follow to get better photographs.
Greg Johnson, who is best-known as The Tornado Hunter held a camera workshop for beginners at Windy Acres Retreat near Yorkton this week. He said photographers need to get the basics down first.
“This is more about understanding how the camera works,” he said, adding the best approach is “keep it simple.”
Johnson noted that there were 19 different cameras being used by the 19 participants.
Johnson said cameras today have a lot of different functions and adjustments that can be made, but by focusing on less things, you can be better at taking photographs.
“I show what we can eliminate and stop using,” he said.
One thing to stop using is the auto mode, he said. By going to manual control with a little experience there is nothing a person can’t shoot.
It is also important to use the camera often, and that means shooting lots of pictures, something Johnson said some people are reluctant to do.
“I think a lot of people still have a hang-up from film,” being careful in taking photos because of the cost of film and developing.
“The technology exists now we can shoot more,” he said.
Once out taking photographs Johnson said some general rules do come into play.
For example standing with the camera sort of between your navel and eye-line gives a rather boring viewpoint, said Johnson, adding get higher, or lower provides a fresher angle on the subject.
Johnson reminded that is the role of a photographer, to show a different side of things. He said as a result they need to capture their subjects in ways the eyeball doesn’t see the same thing every day.
One of the best ways is to get up close to the subject.
“Shoot close-up for impact,” he said, adding the closer you are to the subject, the fuller the frame becomes with the key subject, and the photograph is better.
