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Try these guidelines to invigorate your photography…

Find you have photographer’s block? Not sure what to photography or how? Try something different; experiment. Break the rules and see what results you get. I’m sure this will take you somewhere new!

Be an individual…
…deviate from the normal with your photography:

1. Use your camera On Manual

This is the very tip you need to explore and abide by. Leave your camera on automatic and the camera has control over your photography. Switch to manual and you have given back control to yourself. Until you do this you cannot move on.

2. Slow down that Shutter Speed

Slowing down the shutter speed is a easy way to create more dramatic photographs. For movement to be captured or seen by the camera, you will need to stop down to about 1/15 of a second. From here to 1 second and beyond will give you some brilliant results in capturing movement. Some ideas to examine are night-time shots of cars, lights, people, daytime shots of waterfalls, the ocean, cars again and anything else that moves. Find your composition first, put your tripod on your camera and fire away.

3. Move your subject to the Edge of the Frame

Don’t compose in the centre of your frame, be bold and move sideways, up, down, wherever. There is a tendency to centre the subject because that’s what your camera is suggesting you do, particularly with exposure and focus controls locking your eye in the centre of the frame.

4. Terrible Weather, make some photos

Yes, I know it can be a problem with rain, wind and other aspects of bad weather. But a storm can give your photographs some drama. In addition to this, there is generally some excellent light provided by a storm. Have a look next time at the saturation of the light offered. Everything looks different to that of a fine day. Worried about getting your camera wet; use a plastic bag, cut a hole for the lens, buy a glass filter and screw the bag on with the filter.

5. Toss away that Tripod!

Used to using a tripod to stabilize your camera for slow shutter speeds for a close-up or for a long lens? Leave it at home and introduce some camera shake and movement. Swing you camera round with its straps; jump up and down while you release the shutter, turn in circles, take a photo out of the car window while moving (not you driving of course). Think of some more wild stuff to do, your list is endless.

6. Move in Real Close

Think you are close to your subject? Move closer until you can’t move any closer. Alter your camera into macro if you need to. Be extreme; see what designs you can find inside of the normal frame you were originally intending. Move around the frame with your eye glue to the viewer or LCD.

7. Focus! Why Focus?

Hopefully you are at ease with manual mode by now, so you can play with focus. Try shooting slightly out-of-focus. Try totally out-of-focus, you will find some very interesting backgrounds emerging with some practice, especially in colour. Remember, there still needs to be a hook of some sort to keep the viewer interested. Forget I just said that, if you want to be abstract, break all the rules.

8. Slink on your stomach

Get down and dirty; you will find a lot of interesting stuff at this level. Switch to macro if you need to. A cheap way to get into a decent macro level is to buy an Extension Tube for your camera (camera must have removable lens though - SLR). This will give you great magnification and open up an entirely new world. A tripod is difficult at this level but you can usually find something to stabilize with; a stick, stone, the ground, etc.

9. Look outside the Rectangle

Why shoot the frame the camera provides us by default. Your camera provides you with a rectangle to you for composition. Try deviating from this. Unfortunately the camera you have will probably not provide you with a tool to change this, so you will have to change the way you see. Try looking for compositions that are square, panoramic, vertical strips or even round. You can always edit your rectangle in your photo editor to whatever you want. Digital makes anything possible here.

10. Shoot in Black and White

There’s just something about Black and White photography isn’t there? It provides something that colour cannot. Again, digital gives us access to a field only a pro or enthusiast with a darkroom could get involved with. It’s there for you to examine. Explore what is has to offer. Set your camera to B&W or use Photoshop.

For some sample photographs of the above tips visit tips and techniques and for further resources check out digital photography courses; for info on courses in photography.

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