Getting it right in camera - tips for good photography

So busy I missed posting last Tuesday! It is not just the commissions that take the time it is preparing the pictures afterwards. That is why it is so important to work on using your camera properly so that you have to do less processing afterwards. However, there are so many creative things you can do on the computer afterwards it can consume a lot of time.

There are three things to get right in camera:

1. exposure - the right balance of contrast in a picture

Bride at the threshold of the Church door - didn't use the flash because it with the strong contrast that made the exposure right

2. focus - keeping the part of the image you want to be the centre of attention sharp

Controlling the depth of field required an understanding of aperture and  shutter speed

3. composition - the use of space and geography of picture elements that can please or disturb according to the intention of the image taker

Left or right, but rarely in the middle!

All three require technical expertise, an artistic appreciation and a empathy for the people and places being photographed. Perhaps I have learnt that it is the getting to know and understand people and places that actually makes for the very best images, you need much less of the first two to be a great photographer!