5 Tips for Taking Better Photos

(Source: Flak Photo - Looking at the Land)

I lucked out.  

A friend from the Singapore office sold me his Nikon D300 for $400 SGD (about $300 USD).

It was a steal.  I had to buy it.  That's how I got into photography.

I've now spent way more than $400 SGD on lenses, flashes & a camera bag (it's an expensive hobby), but I love it.  Photography makes me see the world in a different way; it makes me slow down and see the beauty in everyday objects.

"You don't make a photograph just with a camera.  You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved." - Ansel Adams

It's the ultimate act of self-expression.

I started an Intermediate Photography course at Objectifs, a cool photography studio near by apartment on Arab Street, and we spent our first class reviewing photography basics.

For anyone wanting to create better compositions, here's 5 go-to tips:

1. Rule of Thirds: Mentally divide your photo into 9 sections.  Place the focus of your photo at the intersections to create a more interesting composition.

Photo on the right uses the "rule of thirds": (Source: Wikipedia)

2. Rule of Diagonals: Place picture elements along the 45 degree diagonals from each corner.  This trick will natural focus the viewer's eye on the most important elements in your photo.

Mona Lisa's notorious smile is on the 45 degree diagonal (Source: Diagonal Method)

3. Dominant Hues:  Too many colors distract the viewer.  Instead, focus on 1 or 2 dominant colors.

Green & pink are the dominant colors (Source: Me - Singapore Wetlands)

4. Foreground Framing: The most beautiful landscapes can seem unremarkable in a photo.  Use foreground elements to frame the background & add depth to your photo.

I used my boyfriend's glasses to frame the background (Source: Me - Melbourne)

5. Fill the Frame:  When in doubt, fill the frame.  A close-up image evokes more emotion.

Focuses on the rooster's eye, rather than its entire body (Source: Me - Rio, Brazil)