Improving+your+photography

On 5 April 2013, the Nairobi Comms meeting discussed useful tip to improving photography.These are the main points from that discussion.

**Cameras**
There are various types of cameras in the market each with their strengths and weaknesses.
 * Digital Single Lens Reflex (DSLR) camera's are preferred if you want to take more professional looking photos. This is because DSLR's give the user more control over the picture taking process than the small 'point-and-shoot' cameras.
 * DSLR advantages include ability to change lenses.
 * However, DSLR's are complex and heavy, meaning they are not always easy to use or to carry around. Often times the best camera is the one you have with you when a photographic moment arrives!

It is recommended that you take time to read the camera's manual in order to understand what it can and cannot do. Few people utilise the full abilities of the camera they have.

//Minimizing blur//
 * Where available, activate the anti-shake feature of your camera (see camera manual).
 * When photographing, hold the camera steady (with both hands and closer to body preferred than at arms length), pre-focus (by half pressing the shutter button) and then press steadily to take the shot. This helps to avoid camera shake when pressing the shutter.
 * Where possible stand with legs slightly apart (e.g. shoulder width) to steady your body and reduce chances of movement.

**Tips for better photos**

 * 1. Know your subject**
 * This is the most important aspect of photography.
 * You need to know what you want to 'say' in any shot you take.
 * Deciding on a subject sometimes requires thinking about what you want before going out to take pictures.NB: a subject is not always a person and can be an item or an animal e.t.c.
 * Be selective in deciding on a subject.
 * Once you have decided on a subject, remember the following as you photograph:
 * Make the subject stand out.
 * Avoid clutter around the subject by avoiding noisy backgrounds
 * Get closer to your subject so they fill more of the frame than the rest what is going on around them.


 * 2. Composition **
 * This refers to how your subject is placed within the 'frame' or 'shot.'
 * Consider using the Rule of Thirds which in encourages avoiding subjects smack in the middle of your frame
 * Ensure the elements (if more than one) in your photo are balanced or symmetrical. e.g. by not having elements at the edged with nothing in the middle e.t.c.


 * 3. Perspective**
 * Where possible avoid the common 'standing height' shots. This is what most people see of the world and does not give (very) interesting photos.
 * Try different angles to give an unusual and likely more interesting view of a subject by stand higher, bending, sitting or kneeling to find usual angles of 'ordinary subjects'

Light: Photography is all about light and how it relates to subjects.
 * 4. Other considerations**

//Outdoor photos://
 * If possible take outdoors photos early in the day or in late afternoon when light is more gentle than at noontime. Cloudy days are also more likely to give better photos of outdoor activities than times of bright sunshine (because clouds spread the sunlight and reduce the harsh light!).
 * Avoid photos while facing the sun (unless of course taking silhouettes and sunsets). Where possible, have the sun behind you as the photographer or use shelters (e.g tree shades) to your advantage.

//Indoor photos://
 * Place your subject (or move around them) so that light falls on them and is not behind them.
 * Avoid bright windows as backgrounds.
 * In dark rooms, use flash, especially bounce flash (which come with additional accessory DSLR flash guns that tilt and adjust).

//Video//
 * Use tripods when taking videos to avoid shake.

For more information visit the following web pages. Simple steps to improving your photography Photo composition

For more information about photography at ILRI contact Albert Mwangi, Paul Karaimu or Zerihun Sewunet (Ethiopia)

//Contributed by Albert Mwangi and Paul Karaimu//