| It never ceases to amaze me how amateur | | | | immediately show an improvement. |
| photographers think that they can shoot the perfect | | | | 2. Shoot a subject a hundred times |
| image when they only take photos now and again. | | | | This was one of the exercises I did that dramatically |
| Even amateur sportsmen and women spend | | | | improved my photography. Take an ordinary object, |
| considerable amounts of time practising their discipline. | | | | like a kitchen fork or ladies purse, and photograph it a |
| So why not photographers? Here are some simple | | | | hundred different ways. Think it's impossible? Think |
| practise techniques that will help you improve. | | | | again. This type of practise really gets you thinking and |
| Since the dawning of the digital age and the 'low cost' | | | | squeezes every last ounce of creativity out of you. I |
| or 'no cost' of digital photos people think that if they | | | | used a kitchen fork and eventually after changing my |
| shoot enough photos they are bound to come up with | | | | angle, distance, focus, ISO I was able to get all the |
| a great image. Using that principle you have about as | | | | shots. Believe you me it was difficult but I did it and I |
| much chance as a room full of monkeys creating a | | | | was amazed at how some of the shots came out. By |
| best seller just by banging away on typewriters, given | | | | practising, you work out what type of angles work and |
| enough time. | | | | which ones don't. Learning what works is such an |
| The chances of you taking a fantastic image without | | | | important step along your photographic journey. |
| spending time practising your photographic art are very | | | | 3. Plan to shoot regularly |
| slim. What practising does is hone your skills while | | | | If you don't plan to shoot on a regular basis your |
| allowing you to improve. Now, it's great to talk about | | | | practising will be sporadic and your images will reflect |
| practising but unless you know how to practise you | | | | this. It is essential to shoot several times a week if you |
| probably won't get very far in your learning journey. | | | | are to see any improvement in your photography. By |
| Let's take a look at a few keys. | | | | doing this you get to know your camera and its |
| 1. Learn to change your viewpoints | | | | settings, which angles and viewpoints work and what |
| Many of us are very single dimensional in our picture | | | | you need to do to improve your images. It doesn't |
| taking. We shoot from one angle, usually directly in | | | | mean that you have to go out on a photo shoot to |
| front of the subject, and expect to get a good image. | | | | achieve this. Just shoot wherever you are. Carry your |
| So how do we practise different viewpoints. Choose | | | | camera with you wherever you go. |
| a subject in your garden or home and stand about 15 | | | | Unless you are shooting images on a regular basis the |
| feet away. Take one shot then move three feet to | | | | chances that you will show any significant |
| your left and shoot again then three feet to your right. | | | | improvement in your photography are minimal. By |
| Move in three feet towards the subject and kneel | | | | practising you get to know your weaknesses and |
| down. Do the exercise again, three feet to the left and | | | | strengths and know what areas need more attention. |
| three feet to the right. Finally lie down on your stomach | | | | Photography is not hit or miss and you need to work |
| and do the same exercise. Once you've taken all the | | | | at it on a continual basis refining and adjusting your |
| shots, review them. What do you think? By practising | | | | skills and techniques. |
| using this method you'll find some unique shots that will | | | | |