Back to Basicsby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 08 Sep 2009 03:11 PM Purchasing an expensive DSLR camera and costly high-tech photo editing devices won't guarantee stellar shots. Rather, the key to snapping spectacular photos is simple: Master the basic rules of photography. Before you drop hundreds of dollars on pricey photo equipment, consider getting back to basics. Experiment with lighting, composition, angles and poses. By investing time instead of money honing your craft, you'll reap priceless images that speak volumes for your picture-taking skills. COMPOSITION When in doubt employ the Rule of Thirds. By doing so you can avoid taking a boring shot where your subject is dead center in the photo. The Rule of Thirds divides your camera's screen into nine small squares, similar to a tic-tac-toe board. Some digital cameras offer a Rule of Thirds feature that adds the divider to your screen. All you have to do is place your subject anywhere besides the center square. This simple adjustment can turn an ordinary photo into a work of art. DEPTH OF FIELD Experiment with depth of field to get great shots that feature crisply focused subjects and slightly blurred backgrounds. If you have a zoom feature on your camera, stand a good distance away from your subject, then zoom in all the way. Set your camera to Manual mode and open your aperture to f4 or f5.6. This flattens the depth of field to create the effect you are after. LIGHTING When taking indoor shots study the lighting first, then experiment with different techniques to take advantage of as much natural light as possible. For example, use natural light from a window with no flash or use your camera's flash in a dark room or partially lit room. Another option is to use a diffused flash or light that can be reflected to illuminate your subject. The goal is to experiment with as many light situations as possible, so you can be prepared for a variety of shooting scenarios. Related Articles: Basic Photo Tips for Digital Camera Owners Getting Rid of Red-Eye and Saying Bye-Bye to Blurry Shots Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Discuss this article
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