Photo Tips

Professional photography. Heavy bags filled with lenses, tripods and spent film canisters. Light meters, measuring tape and time wasted whilst the film reveals its secrets in the developing lab.

Composition means more than getting your subject somewhere in the frame

You want to shoot a skater performing a killer trick outside the Modern Art Museum in Barcelona. As he kicks into the air you want the viewer to really feel the height of the move. Think about where you place yourself – lower will exaggerate height – and subject against the background, the urban environment the skater is performing against. Each tells an important part of the story. And don’t be afraid of ‘empty’ space. Use your camera’s features to help you here. For example; the wide-angle optics feature in your Nseries gives a wider frame and more space to play with. Remember, your audience will feel closer to your story if you place the subject in contextual proportion to its surroundings.

Find the moment

Think about your viewer. Tell them the story you see in the scene you want to capture. Is it the skill of the skater or the harshness of the concrete landscape? Each deserves a very different shot. With a lightweight digital device you can move quickly around a scene and shoot every moment as it happens.

Light changes everything

Light is a powerful emotive tool and probably the biggest difference between pro and amateur photography. Light offers flair and shadow, silhouettes and focal points, all of which create strong moods and emotions within an image. Subjects can be sinister or playful, depending on how we use the clear and restricted daylight in the scene. Here, a flash can either be a great tool for controlling light or a simply wash everything in the same white glare. The Nseries gives you adjustable exposure and white balance, which will give more accurate colour reproduction in different types of light. Also a built-in flash gives you options, whether you are shooting indoors or outside in bright sunshine.

Shoot for purpose

How do you want to use this image? A poster or a postage stamp? Your answer should tell you a lot about how you should shoot it. Wide frames with multiple subjects lose their meaning at smaller sizes. Want to shoot an image for a small format in your blog? Pick one key element or part of the subject and reduce the space around this focal point.

Making colour jump

Without colour or tone, images look flat and boring. Do you want to simply record a scene or truly capture the emotion in an unrepeatable moment? Find a strong colour or tone in your subject – an object or piece of clothing – and make that your focus. Draw the viewer’s eye in to the image with movement or blur around this central focal point. Use the variable colour mode features in your Nseries device to give you an extra advantage.

Tell the truth

The biggest missed opportunity in any photograph is the truth. The honest story behind the image. Many photographers forget that they are telling a story about someone or something else, not themselves. You are the storyteller, not the star. With an Nseries device in your pocket you can tell your unique stories in your own style and share them with the world – or just your friends – instantly via Ovi.

So, the next time you want to take a shot keep these simple insights in mind. But don’t think too much! The most important thing is to just enjoy yourself. Digital photography gives you the freedom to experiment so keep shooting until you find that perfect shot.

Setting up

Here’s a little secret. Most Pro photographers make use of all the settings on their camera to get the best shots. That’s what they are there for, so try them all out.

Resolution

The easiest place to start – Resolution determines size of the final image, and thus the sharpness and detail in a photo. The bigger the resolution, the greater the sharpness and detail in your picture. The trade off is that high resolution images mean larger file sizes. Unless you are planning to shoot hundreds of images, go for the quality larger resolution settings can give you.

White Balance

White balance lets your camera adjust for different kinds of light. Is it cloudy? Sunny and bright? Are you indoors? These different light levels can have a big effect on your shot. Pick the right setting and the colours you see will be clear in your final image.

ISO & Exposure

Now we are talking about light sensitivity. If you’re in low light, such as dusk, and want brighter pictures, the higher ISO numbers here will give your shots a boost. Always keep the camera phone steady and still to avoid blurring and use your flash for indoors photos. If you are outside in bright light, choose a lower ISO number for better quality.

Subject Settings

A great trick to help you shoot like a Pro. Subject settings, such as portrait or close-up, are already optimised for the best results. Nothing to do but shoot — another ace up your sleeve.

Framing

Your subject is the most important thing in your picture, but probably not the whole story. Think about placing he, she or it off-centre to show more of the background environment. Or would a close-up tell your audience more. The best approach is to experiment. You will know when you’ve found the best shot, and your friends will probably tell you too.

Just Shoot

Digital Photography gives you limitless options. So there’s no need to be camera shy – just take lots of shots. Capturing moving objects requires some practice, and a moment’s thought about shutter delay.

With mobile photography, you can see it, shoot it and share it within moments. And there’s always more to learn.

So now you are are on your way to shooting like a pro photographer, a true storyteller. What kind of story will you tell next?