Juliet Varnedoe

Of all the art forms in the world, photography can be quite opposing and requires a lot of training in combination with a natural talent. This does not mean that you must be born a photographer, but you must be willing to learn a few new trade secrets and remember to stick to a formula that works for you.

Play with the notion of scale, perspectives and expressions. A simple object can be made artistic if it is portrayed in a setting that makes it look much bigger or smaller than it is, or places it in an original and funny situation. Work on your compositions to get a unique take on a familiar object.

Move in closer to your subject. When you spot something you'd like to take a picture of, snap a shot. Then move in closer and take a better shot. If you have your subject fill the frame, it will help the viewer appreciate and understand your photo. When taking the picture, continue to move closer until you are sure your picture will represent the subject.

Know about film speeds when you are trying to take the best pictures. Faster film speeds tend to be grainier, and less focused, than slower speed film. Slower speed film needs much more light to take good shots. 400 speed film is good multipurpose film while slower speeds are better for composed images.

Do things that you would otherwise think to be crazy. Put a small child in an adult size fireman's boots, hat and coat. Throw a woman in a pool with floating flower petals wearing a gorgeous wedding gown. These photos are sure to catch the attention of the passing eye and likely captivate the viewer.

Focus your efforts. When you are attempting to better your photography skills, you will be more successful if you choose subjects that interest you. If you love people watching or lively images, practice with those subjects rather than landscapes. Practice keeping your subject in focus while crafting a shot that excludes distracting elements such as telephone lines, trash, or conspicuous signs.

When doing a photo shoot, take a lot of pictures. With digital cameras and computers, you can take near infinite pictures. You'll have a better chance of getting good photos when you take more. And if you get bad ones, all you have to do is hit delete to get rid of them.

An important tip to consider with photography is that while black and white photography can look artistic at times, you do not want to overdo it. This is important because those who are involved with photography will spot this from a mile away and will be sure to let you know if they sense anything that seems forced.

Now that you have some tips to help you capture the images that you shoot, you are sure to produce images that you can be proud of. You can show all of your photos off knowing that the images in them are clear and ready for all to see them.