Tips On How To Take Better Holiday Snaps

Do you ever feel disappointed when you get back from a great trip and your photos just don't portray the beauty you saw when you were there?

Here are a few easy tips to improve those photos.
When photographing landscapes, lighting plays a big role in the effectiveness of the colours and details.
If we take photos in the heat of the day they can be washed out and have harsh shadows and areas of brightness that lack detail.
When travelling, go and look at the scene you want to photograph at different times of the day and see how the light changes the scenery.
Take photos in the softer light of morning or afternoon. This will give more intense and warm tones.
One way to photograph scenery is to pick out a focus point like a tree, building or person. Encourage the eyes to lead to the focus point. To do this try to find a natural line like a fence, a path or the water’s edge. This way your eyes follow the line creating depth and interest.
Try to change your perspective. Don’t just stand in one place and take three or four photos the same. Get down low to the ground or climb up high and see how different the scene looks.
When we travel in the outback I like to get down on the road and shoot along the rough stones and dust towards the vehicle to give a perspective of just how rough the road really is. I also do this on the beach as a wave washes in right under the camera.
When you travel it is always a good idea to photograph signs along the way so when you get home you can tell roughly where in the trip you were when you took the particular shot.
And I always try to take images that tell a bit of a story about the locals. For example, I might take a shot down a lonely outback street of a couple of old guys sitting on the bench having a yarn.
Try to avoid taking photos out the window of a moving car or through the windscreen as you will find the camera will not be able to fix its focus properly. If you shoot through the windscreen your camera will focus on your probably dirty windscreen and not the scene you’re trying to shoot.
Make sure you get the right balance between scenery shots and those of your loved ones. You don’t want to get back and find that you have no photos of yourself on the trip or the opposite people in every photograph.
When photographing buildings don’t just stand back and get the whole thing in. Yes it’s good to have that shot but also look for some interesting detail to focus on. For example, when we visited Alcatraz Prison in San Francisco I found some really interesting attic windows covered in moss and a lone seagull sitting on top. This photo turned out to be so good we enlarged it and framed it for our wall. Every-one commented on the photo asking “where is that?” and most thought it was a poster not an photo I had taken on
our trip.
Night time images can also be effective. Use your timer and turn off your flash so the camera can open the lens for a longer time allowing more of the natural light to be captured. If you hold your camera you will end up with shaky images so learn how to use your timer and night time mode for some different looks.
I have taken some really great photos of Las Vegas at night just by using the timer and slow shutter speed.
The most important thing is to have fun and keep your camera handy, especially when on a road trip, you just never know if over the next hill you are going to see the most spectacular view. And if your camera isn’t by your side you might not bother to get the shot. I always keep my camera and video camera in the front with me and we have had many occasions when we were thankful it was there. For example’ in South Australia we came across a pair of Wedge Tailed Eagles sitting in a dead tree very close to the road. Those shots were fantastic, especially with the long lens.
If you would like to find out more about our travels and see some of my images check out my travel blog at =>
www.thriveonsuccess@blogspot.com
I also post regular images on my Face-book so look me up and send me a message to let me know you are interested in my photography and I will add you to my friends list.
I wish you all the success in your quest for the perfect holiday snap.
Cheers
Annette James

Simple tips for taking beautiful photos of your kids

If you can master the simple techniques I am going to teach you then you may never need to pay for an expensive photo shoot with a professional photographer again.
I am a retired Professional Child Portrait Photographer and some of the best images I have ever taken were the simplest to set up.
My children are always lining up to be in front of the camera, this is because we make it fun. We take ordinary everyday events and turn them into memories by playing together and just being ready to capture those special moments. I am always looking at the children in a visual way, taking in their smiles, light in their eyes and joy on their faces, thinking about how I could frame their faces right then and there.
Start looking at your kids like this. It will help you when you have your camera in your hand and you’re trying to get that special shot.
Keep your camera handy. Don’t store it in your closet, have it in the kitchen or near the computer for instance and always take it with you when you go on outings, so you can grab it as soon as something wonderful happens. There is no point in it being at home and you saying “Oh I wish I had my camera!”
The key to taking great photos of your children is to be relaxed and let them play. Step back and watch them for a while. Look at their expressions, the way they laugh and take note of quirky little habits they have. These are the things that make them who they are and this is what you want to capture so you can hang on to those memories forever.
One thing I suggest is you invest in a good SLR Digital camera with a quality zoom lens. After a few successful shoots with what you saved in professional photography fees you will have paid for your camera.
You don’t need a studio and lighting to take great images, all you need is some natural light and a nice background. I suggest you go outside, go to your favourite park, your local beach or even the backyard. Choose some bright clothing that coordinates with all your children. Try not to put all your children in the same outfit or you will find they become lost in the colour and patterns.
When it comes to lighting make sure you don’t have full sun on your subject’s face. Kids especially hate the sun in their eyes and will not smile for you no matter how hard you try. The best light is even brightness without harsh shadows. Try to find a fully shaded area like a veranda or under a tree at the park or, if you’re on the beach go in the late afternoon so you can find shade and the sky will be more vibrant in colour. Use a light board or something white to reflect sunlight on to your child’s face. A white, silver or gold sheet of cardboard works perfectly and only costs a few dollars.
Let your children interact with each other. For example, let them play on the sand, walk along the beach together, swing on the swing, cuddle ... I am sure you get the picture. Don’t get too close, stand back and use your zoom lens to get up close. What this does is allow your child to be the focus in the image by blurring out your background. Don’t worry too much about your composition, you can always crop your image on the computer later. But try to keep your child’s eyes in the top half of the frame and always leave more room in front of the face than behind the head.
Don’t be afraid to take lots of photos. Using a digital camera means you can delete the bad ones and the more you take the better you will get at noticing what works and what doesn’t.
The most important thing is to make the experience fun, that way whenever you trot out your camera and say “let me take a picture of you” they will be excited and line up for the fun.
If you are having trouble getting your little one to cooperate try showing them the photo you have taken and even get them to help you take some photos of the other children or even Dad. That way he/she will be excited to see what they have created and just might like to have one of themselves.
Remember, be patient and let them do their own thing, just be ready to grab the shot when they do something adorable.
I wish you all the success in your quest for the perfect image. And keep your eyes out for more helpful tips from me.