What are the secret to stunning photos?
Does a stunning photo require one thing or is it a combination of secrets? These questions have been burning in the minds of photography enthusiasts forever. It can be frustration to have the desire to take stunning images but a lack of knowledge holds you back. I was like this once- new, green and unaware. But I had a burning passion to learn. I went to college and soon discovered how to take professional images. I can tell you from first hand experience that being professionally trained shaves years of trying to work it out yourself.
There are three main “secrets” to stunning images.
The first is vision and preparation. The second secret is the technical aspects of photography such as mastering fine control of your camera. The third is simply letting your creative mind run wild. Once these three things are combined it is much easier to create stunning photos. It doesn’t take a long time to understand these things but it does take practice.
Vision and preparation
We’ve all heard this about photography but what does it mean and why should you care? The fact is you should care very, very much. Without forming ideas and creating plans to make those ideas come to life you will not get very far. Without a solid idea you will not know what to shoot or how to shoot it. Preparation is the key to success because it gives you a strong direction and saves a lot of time.
Technical know- how
I get asked about cameras a lot. I don’t get asked about lenses much. It’s a shame because it should be the other way around. Having a large sensor camera is nice, but it won’t automatically give you good photos. You need to know how to work the camera, understand what control and dial does what. There’s no point to getting a good camera if you simply do not know how to use it. And don’t buy a large sensor camera and shoot in auto all the time. If you’re going to do that you may as well use your iphone.
Sharpness, for example, is obtained three ways. The first is aperture. Aperture and depth of field are intrinsically linked. A high number means a large depth of field and a sharper image in general. The second is a fast shutter speed. Many blurry pictures are due to the shutter being slower than the subject. If your subject is moving then shoot with a very fast shutter to make sure the subject is sharp. The third is using your tripod. Sometimes camera shake can ruin a perfectly nice photo. Keep the camera still and your chances of capturing sharpness increase.
Creativity
Can creativity be taught? Yes of course it can. Creativity is simply a way of thinking. When you are creative you can let your mind run free and come up with ideas or ways of making things different and interesting. You are creative in ways you are probably not aware of. Creativity is present in everything you do and is especially useful in photography.
Summing up
To sum up the “secrets” to photography, these three things are what give you a better chance of creating beautiful images. Photography is about mastering these components and bringing them altogether to create a story. All photographs tell a story and you have a good chance of making that story clear through practice and dedication.
