1 Photography tip

I'll try really hard to keep this brief, post up your one key idea/tip that has helped you out most or you find helpful on a regular basis.

To try and keep a consistent list yet allow for discussion could you copy the list posted so far and then add your own?

List:
1: Take many, post only your favourites.

Elaboration that doesn't need copying and can stay in the individual posts:
When I really started getting serious and taking pictures instead of snaps, I'd heard about lightroom after watching a video tutorial so I got that and a flickr pro account. I took hundreds of pictures and on any shoot I'd have 5-6 variants that I quite liked (often of a very similar view like the lighthouse or the ship recently) and I'd make (what I consider a mistake) of posting the 5-6 up. I can't remember where I got the tip from but I realised that the best flickr streams (other photo sharing services are available ) were populated by single examples, the similar pictures just dilute the originality of the single real good one of that subject.

[keith_d]

Sorry, I have to add two.

Short term tip: before pressing the shutter look around the edges for crap that doesn't belong in your photo. We all tend to focus on the the subject and ignore the distractions, but you'll get better photos if you can get rid of extraneous junk.

Long term tip: be critical. Look back at your last month's photos and see what you did right and where you would improve them. Also look at other people's photos the same way (but don't say anything if you want to stay friends )

[Bri w]

If you're taking a portrait photo set the camera to multiple shots. Quite often, when you ask people to smile you get an obvious 'plastic' grin but when the subject hears the shutter they relax. The second shot captures them as their facial muscles start to relax, and quite often the second shot is a better photo.

Look at the angle between you and the subject, experiment by crouching or lying down or standing on things - it's amazing the effect the change in angle can have.

You get used to the world from a specific viewpoint as the height of your eyes above the ground is relatively constant. However it's not always the best height to take the photo from....

[mister c]

Don't be afraid to shoot in manual. Look at the automatic settings & work around them in manual. Sometimes a little darker, or lighter can make a big difference.

[Littlepeahead]

Always change your lenses somewhere out of the wind if you can. Had to drive 40 miles today to get a spider removed from my sensor. I can only think he got in there when I changed lenses at a cricket ground yesterday as there was no shelter And turn the camera off of course as the static will attract dust to the sensor otherwise.

Can I also add buy a polarising filter. Great bit of kit.

[Mark_h]

Get a big bulbous puffer thing for cleaning your sensor. Has to be at least as big as a tennis ball to be of any use.

Periodically take a picture of your ceiling or something else flatish and then zoom into the pic looking for blotches. These blotches are muck on your sensor. (Assuming you've already checked your ceiling for blotches)

Set your camera to B, Bulb or "clean" to lift the mirror. Quick puff with your bulbous blower and it's sorted.

DO NOT BLOW IT WITH YOUR MOUTH. That puts spit all over your sensor. Not that I would know because of course I wouldn't have done that would I as that would just be daft. Spit can be cleaned off by some special solvent and a very special big earbud thing that the man in the camera shop has. Or at least that's what I assume would happen if you were daft enough to spit on your sensor as obviously I wouldn't know.

[Paul the 6th]

- shoot it wide
- shoot it tight
- rule of thirds - try composing the shot using different 3rd's for different bits..
- if shooting in low light, just before pressing the shutter release (that button what takes pitchers) tuck your arms in tight against your torso and hold your breath. It doesn't always work but does most of the time and you'll be glad you atleast tried..

[Kenzie]

Shoot RAW if possible. Just started dabbling with this and I have saved a few wedding shots that would otherwise have been ruined. Also fit a UV filter, it's cheaper than scratching your lens.

[Littlepeahead]

Of course the first rule of photography is... always carry a camera. Easier these days with mobiles, but I always have my £90 Fuji Finepix in my pocket or bag. So if a great photo opportunity arises it doesn't matter that I'm not lugging a DSLR around.