Living for Pretty

With the creation of the internet and digital cameras anyone can claim to be an excellent photographer.
People are uploading 60 new pictures a day and some of them are good and some leave something to be desired.
I personally love the “myspace pictures” where you strike a sexy pose in the mirror and take a picture with your camera. can someone say vain?
but enough about that.
I’m all for great photoshoots with your friends and capturing moments on film so with that said lets get into a little photography 101.
I don’t remember much from my intro photography classes but i do remember some things…
My advice on taking a good photo:

• the rule of thirds: cut your photo into three sections. the classic one of this would be one third land, one third mountains, and one third sky.
• pay attention to the background. you don’t want a street light coming out of your friends head or cars cluttering the image. keep the focus on the image and choose a simple background. the most simple one is a blue sky. (or not so blue if in the winter months in Washington)
• step to the side and move your grandma out of the center of the picture. a photograph gains some complexity when it’s not so cut and dry. if your subject isn’t looking into the camera and instead looking to the left leave some empty space on the left end to convey where their attention is concentrated.
• taking a picture of your beloved pooch or small nephew? get to their level. crouch down and then take a picture.
• look for interesting lines. this could be in shadows or trees. it gives your eye something to follow. but it shouldn’t be coming from the subject you are capturing.
• the best time to take a picture is in early day or evening. the light is softer and will make your image glow.

that’s what i think about. but there’s a lot more. fotofinish has some of these tips and others that are very useful.
Now go out and and have some fun in the summer sun.
and for those of us who love the camera here’s wikihow also gives some tips are taking better executed photoshoots with friends. I’m a personal fan of the photoshoot in front of brick graffiti on walls