January 24, 2017 - On Taking Pictures

January 24, 2017

On Taking Pictures

I love taking pictures.  Easily I have several thousands of pictures on Facebook and Instagram.  Some of my favorite trips in the last few years have filled up Facebook: Brazil, Nicaragua, California, Lithuania, Barcelona, Germany, and Bolivia.  Plus, there are plenty of my beloved Dallas and zoos all over Texas.

I am not a picture expert; but I do love to take pictures.  The last few years I have learned some things about photography from my friend, Denise, and by studying other photographers on Instagram.  By the way, Instagram was created for photographers to share their photos, not teens to share selfies.  I mostly follow photographers on Instagram and have encountered some that have turned into friends.

So here are some things I have learned or figured out on my own.

Don’t focus on a central object.  Always making the focus of the picture in the center of the frame looks boring.  Try it to the side and see what happens.  I read once about dividing the frame into 3 equal parts and putting the subject on one of the two sides makes it more interesting.  If the subject is facing left, put the subject on the right side.  Of course, there are times that putting the subject in the center is just fine.

Move around until you get the picture right.  There is a tendency of many to snap a picture and run.  Instead look for a place where it looks good.  That might mean crossing the street, or standing directly under the subject. 

Don’t worry about other people.  In the past, I used to be worried about what people think of me taking a picture.  Now I think, “Who cares?”  Am I going to see these people again?  Probably not.  Am I going to have this awesome picture again in the future?  Maybe not.  Forget about the woman looking at you like you are crazy and get that awesome picture.

Framing the picture is good.  I love big beautiful skyscrapers, but to be honest, pictures of them can be boring.  So why not look for a way to frame the picture with trees or something else?  It makes it more interesting.

Sometimes you must get close.  I have taken a lot of pictures of paintings in museums.  I learned that standing back and getting the picture with the frame and wall is boring.  Get closer!  You can see the amazing painting that hangs on the wall of that museum.

Be willing to take a picture anywhere you might be.  You never know the amazing photograph you might have at any moment. 

The last is look around.  Even look at reflections in other buildings.  You might see the perfect picture.

Coming home for the holidays, I was greeted by a package from my dear friend Renee.  She lived here a few years ago, and has since moved to the Carolinas.  Her package was a gift of two cameras.  I am going to choose one and send the other back to her.  So maybe in the future I will have some interesting photos from that camera. 

My advice for you is to get out of your house and take a picture.  Well you can stay in your house and take a picture, I guess, but just go take a picture.

Link to My Amazon Author Page