Maybe it’s because I absolutely dread winter or perhaps it’s because I was never a big fan of school. Regardless of the reason, I always have a hard time saying so long to summer. As the sun sets on my favorite season of the year, I’ve compiled some tips to consider when you are out and about with your camera:
Snapping Eye-Popping Shots: If you are trying to capture a portrait of your children in the great outdoors look for a muted background that makes their faces pop off the photo. For example, if your daughter is wearing a pastel summer dress, have her pose in front of a darker background rather than a lighter one, so that she stands out instead of blending in.
Watch for Distractions: A few years ago I set-up what I thought was the perfect vacation photo. I gathered my family in front of the setting sun along Oahu’s famed Waikiki Beach. Unfortunately, in my rush to snap the shot before the lighting changed, I neglected to look at the entire frame. The end result: a loan coconut tree sticking out from my mother’s head. Don’t forget to look at the big picture before hitting the shutter button.
Depth of Field: To snap a truly stunning shot, consider manipulating the depth of field. Doing so correctly will result in an appealingly blurry background and a crystal clear main subject. Typically, if you reduce your depth of field you can get the desired effect. Also, if you really want to make your photo stand-out in a shot, you can open or close the aperture, which will aid with the exposure. By making manual modifications on your camera you can make backgrounds appear lighter or darker to better complement your subject. If your camera doesn’t offer a manual option, then just place your subject in a strategic spot in the frame.
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