Black & White photography

A huge benefit of digital photography over regular film picture taking is the fact these little devices actually give a photographer instant access to many different special effects and filters. Perhaps the most spectacular of these effects is the ability digital photography gives to switch instantly from colour to black and white. Instead of having to change out film types or drain color from a shot on a computer screen, digital photography does this immediately.

Black and white photography tends to be under-rated and underused. If it’s used to create an impact with a shot, the resulting image can be stunning. For example, landscapes, portraits and even still life type shots can all benefit from an occasional switch over to black and white reproduction. Tale time to learn how to take full advantage of this digital photography technique.

Black & white digital photography can be a little tricky to master, but since the cameras generally come equipped with monitors to instantly see results, the risk factor of walking away with a bad shot is minimial. Pictures can be reviewed on the spot, anyone trying this digital photography technique will find they can see their pictures and make adjustments instantly if the shot isn’t quite what they’d planned.

You neeed to make the most of black and white pictures taken on a digital camera, and there are several tips beginners can use. Some of these tips do talso ranslate to regular film photography.

It's a very important technique for black and white digital photography and even colour - to see the shot. Pay attention to what the camera sees and shows before snapping the photo. With black and white digital photography, the monitor will likely switch over to black and white mode, which makes this simple. Pay attention to the images as they are presented and make sure the image presented is the one you want before you take the photo. Learn to rely on the monitor or the view finder, and you’ll know when more light is needed, when subjects need to be moved or even when it’s best to move.

Mono contrast is important - because black and white digital photography doesn’t rely on colour to tell the story, the contrast of shades will need to be carefully chosen. The right contrast is one of the most important black and white shooting tips. It's important to make sure subjects stand out even more so in black and white than in colour shots. Whilst a dark blue shirt might look awesome against a dark green setting in color, it will likely get lost in a black and white image.

Lighting is a factor - while that dark shirt and dark background can present problems in contrast, lighting can help solve the problem. A good way to master lighting for this type of digital photography is to play around and be willing to experiment to see what works. Try to use the black and white settings in all kinds of situations to really master what needs to be done under different circumstances to effectively light up a scene.

Mastering the black and white setting on a digital camera can be fun. Providing drama and impact, black and white imaging is a different way to record the world. 

Balanced composition

Informal balance gives uneven or unequal balance in the picture. When you have a large object in the picture it should be counter-balanced with a smaller object or objects to make a good layout.

Imagine a seesaw with a 5-year-old boy on one side and his Father on the other. The balance will be uneven as the father is larger and will make the seesaw heavier. Now the boy will be high in the air and the Father will be on the ground.

Now, in a photo scene, if you have a large tree on the right side of the picture frame then you must try to balance it with a smaller object such as a house, a small tree or even the figure of a person on the other side of the picture. The ways you balance the objects in your picture frame will determine the success or failure of the photo. You will have to resort to the use of different types of lenses in order to create the balance you require.

A very wide angle lens can create unbalanced composition very easily by taking the objects in front of the lens up close. The front objects will appear very large in the picture frame while the rear or distant objects will appear smaller even though they are actually larger still.

One way to create unequal balance is to find a position that will cause one object to appear larger or smaller because of the angle you took the shot. When you are out creating photographs be sure to keep these rules about balance in mind and try to incorporate them.

Smack in the centre is a definite no, no in good photo-composition rules. With the main subject right smack in the centre of the picture area it is called a Bull's Eye composition. Avoid this at all times, unless you have a definite reason for doing so. When the main subject is in the center of the picture frame the eye will go in to the picture and stay in the center of the frame looking at the main subject and will not move around in the picture to see and enjoy any other items in the image. now, the eye will get tired very fast and lose interest in the photo.

The purpose in taking photographs is to have people look at them, enjoy them, and talk about them. When they cannot get interested in a photograph they will not bother to look at it. It's best to always have the main subject off-centre in the image. Just a little off-centre it will improve the picture's composition.

Holiday photo composition

Try to be very careful with the composition and subject matter. Note that one thing you can do to improve your photography is good composition and layout ideas. Older manuals used to say that you should place your subject in the middle of the photo image. Note that this was because viewfinders showed more than would end up in your picture, but it usually looks poor.

Try to imagine three equally-spaced lines running across your image both horizontally and vertically lined up. Note that where the lines meet are the strongest areas to place your object. Of course, you don't need to draw lines on your viewfinder to do this, however, just practice putting your subjects off-centre. Now try taking a few shots from different angles, you'll get the hang of it quite quickly.

Always shoot slightly more than you want in the picture, because when you get prints, your images may end up getting cropped to fit the print. Now, if you have photo editing software, you can crop it yourself to the right size so that it looks the best possible. Try not to go over board with the extra space, though, because printing a small portion of a larger image will result in poor quality results.

Photographing landscapes will help capture the feeling of a place, but too often they are boring. Placing something in the foreground will jazz up your landscape scenes. For example, a lone fisherman on the lake in front of majestic mountains not only adds interest to the shot, it shows just how huge the mountains actually were. Try leading lines, which are good in any image, and even more so in landscape shots. Leading lines are things like roads, fences, or a line of trees which begin in the foreground and lead the viewer's eye to the background of the scene.

When you're traveling you also want to see people in the scenes. Of course, there's nothing wrong with photographing your companions by a famous landmark, but remember to use creative layout. Avoid the "people standing in a line in front of a monument" snapshot by taking candid shots. Note that you'll also get more genuine expressions.

The more your subject fills the frame, the better the photo will be. This is especially true for people and animal shots. Now, you probably don't care about your companion's vacation wardrobe; what's important is their face in the photo. Your camera may not have a zoom lens, and you'll be more limited in how tight a shot you can achieve. Look at what's going on in the background of the scene. Avoid a sign sticking out of someone's head or face.

Try photographing local people, this can help tell a story about the place you're visiting, especially if you're in an exotic location. Many people find it rude to be photographed without permission, however. If someone looks upset about you pointing your camera at them, ask if it's okay to take their photo. Flattery may be helpful, and some may even ask for payment.

Interesting photo opportunities are everywhere around you. For example, a bustling market, a cityscape, details of an object or building, a roadside food shack, or a lizard sunning himself can all make great photos. While everyone prefers to remember their travels as pleasant experiences, few places are completely stunning, so do your best!