{"id":493,"date":"2022-08-01T11:48:20","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T10:48:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.campsinternational.com\/?p=4771"},"modified":"2026-06-24T15:39:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-24T14:39:06","slug":"photography-for-beginners-easy-photography-technique","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.campsinternational.com\/usa\/photography-for-beginners-easy-photography-technique\/","title":{"rendered":"Photography for Beginners – Easy Photography Technique"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Written by: Will Hall, Wildlife Presenter and Photographer<\/h2>\n

Photography for Beginners Series – Easy Photography Technique<\/h4>\n

When we have some of the world\u2019s most powerful tech in our pockets it\u2019s sometimes hard to make the images stand out from the crowd and so these are just a few tips to get you started on how to make your images different from the rest.<\/p>\n

\"Beginner

Getting low immediately creates a connection between the subject and viewer<\/p><\/div>\n

Get Low!<\/h5>\n

This is the number one rule I always tell people. It\u2019s incredibly easy but also incredibly effective. Whatever you\u2019re photographing, make sure you\u2019re shooting it at its eye level. This creates a sense of drama and connection between the subject and the viewer. All too often I see photographers taking images of their dogs from above, looking down. This image tends to be a bit awkward as it makes the viewer feel superior to the subject.<\/p>\n

Use the environment<\/h5>\n

Rather than positioning the subject in the middle of the frame, position it in an interesting angle and elements of the environment to create soft areas and out of focus backgrounds. This can be incredibly fun as you hunt around an environment for some color or contrast to shoot through. You could use a bright flower in the foreground for some out of focus softness, or some lights on water to create beautiful light spots behind. Is there something going on in the background which might add to the image? For example, if I\u2019m photographing a bird on the sea then crashing waves behind it add drama and story to the image. Sometimes we want to use our cameras to remove distraction from the background and this can be achieved through changing the mode on a phone camera or the aperture on a DSLR.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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\"Photography

Light reflecting off water can create
some amazing bokeh balls<\/p><\/div>\n

Bokeh<\/h5>\n

This is the technical term for an out of focus background. The way to achieve this is fairly simple\u2026 the distance between you and the subject needs to be less than the distance between the subject and its background. The further away the background, the smoother the bokeh. If there are pinpricks of light behind the subject in the distance you might find that you can achieve \u201cbokeh-balls\u201d which can really enhance an image. In order to achieve that distance between the subject and the background, think about moving around and getting low down.<\/p>\n

\nFind a new angle<\/h5>\n

This is particularly powerful when you\u2019re visiting a well known landmark or location. Imagine you\u2019re standing on a viewpoint looking out over the Golden Gate Bridge. How many people have stood in that exact location and photographed from that exact angle? Have a look around the area and see if there\u2019s a new position to shoot from. You can even combine this with using elements of soft focus to bring more into your image. Make sure you\u2019re safe when looking for a new angle!<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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\"Photography

How many leading lines can you see in this image?<\/p><\/div>\n

Leading lines<\/h5>\n

This is a technique which is often drilled into art high school students. The human eye quite likes lines but it doesn\u2019t like symmetry. When you\u2019re taking a photo of a landscape or a subject, try and look for leading lines to draw the viewer into the image. For example you could use roads, rivers, telegraph poles, walls, hedges, queues of people, shadow lines etc etc etc. Once you get your eye into looking for these lines, you\u2019ll find that it comes quite quickly. There is always something to help you but you may need to adjust your angle. Once you\u2019ve found a line, try and position the focus of the image along that line. It\u2019ll help tell the story of the image and create a more engaging image for the viewer.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t focus on the subject<\/h5>\n

The image you create should tell a story and so it\u2019s sometimes important to include the environment in which you\u2019re taking it. Try not to get too caught up on getting super close to whatever it is you\u2019re trying to capture. Look around the area you\u2019re working in and see if there\u2019s more to whatever you\u2019re photographing. Is there something in background to include, is there an interaction<\/span> <\/a>1about to happen which you don\u2019t want to miss?<\/p>\n

Holding positions<\/h5>\n

This last point is fairly simple. The more points of contact you have on the camera and against a support (i.e. wall, floor, lamppost, car door etc) the better the image will be. Hold the camera\/phone with two hands and close to your body. This will reduce the challenge of camera shake but also force you to stop and think.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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So there you have it, some basic tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your photography when you\u2019re on expedition. As a bonus tip (not really technique based), I would recommend that you invest in some extra storage – either as a USB drive or online. The last thing you need is to run out of space and start culling those amazing images you\u2019ve captured. Make sure you get out and practice and explore using different techniques before you leave for a trip. Have fun and good luck!<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Definitions and Meanings<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Interactions\u00a0<\/strong> – are one of the most sought after things in my photography style. It\u2019s all well and good getting a nice portrait shot of a puffin for example. But if I can get a shot of a puffin fighting or catching a fish, then that image is of far greater value.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n
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    About Will Hall<\/h4>\n

    Will Hall – Wildlife Presenter and Photographer<\/a>. Will is an animal biologist from Hampshire, UK. He has a passion for bushcraft, wildlife and tracking which has led him to pursue a career in outdoor education and adventure. His videography work has been seen on BBC and ITV while his photography has been featured in the Times, Telegraph and Mail. Will is currently living in Scotland where he works as a bushcraft instructor and wildlife guide in the highlands; teaching young people about nature, conservation and bushcraft – often through the medium of photography.<\/p>\n

    Why not visit Will’s Instagram<\/a> for more inspiration.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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    More Articles in the “Photography for Beginners Series<\/strong>” by Will Hall<\/p>\n