One Tip at a Time Tip 3 – Change Your Viewpoint or Angle

Do you ever struggle with how to make your photo more unique? Regardless of your subject, changing the viewpoint or angle of your shot can make a huge difference in the final image.

Most people tend to keep their camera pointing straight toward their subject. One of my favorite things to do is to try multiple angles until I get something that I love. Sometimes my fav will be the straight forward original, but more often than not I will prefer one of the unique viewpoints or angles.

How do you make this happen?

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One Tip at a Time Tip 2 – Get Closer

The number one piece of advice I give out when folks ask me how to take better pictures?  Get Closer.  Whether you do it by zooming in, using your feet or even cropping, this tip works with every camera from cell phone to top of the line DSLR.

Now I’m not suggesting that you walk out onto the football field with your iPhone in the middle of a play – I love my iPhone but it doesn’t work for everything!  I am suggesting however that if safety permits, do what you can to fill the frame with your subject (or a close up portion of your subject!).

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Look Back – Is the Best Shot Behind You?

On our Disney Cruise vacation, they announced that we would be arriving in Tortola (BVI) near sunrise, and the view of the ship pulling into port would be worth getting up for.  I was the only one in my family interested (no surprise there).

Walking around on the upper deck with a handful of other passengers at shortly after 6am, I looked over the front of the ship as we approached the islands.  The view was pretty, but not spectacular, mostly because the beautiful sunrise was behind the ship.  The “approaching” shot I had envisioned was not there.

Initial view approaching Tortola - www.tressiedavis.com

Growing bored, I turned and walked toward the back of the ship, and noticed immediately a better view was behind us.  Adjusting my camera settings for the more intense light and stunning color, my next shots evoke an entirely different feeling and memory of that morning – and my images do not do it justice.

Look back - the better view may be behind you - www.tressiedavis.com

Once the sun rose high enough in the sky, I again moved toward the front of the ship to catch our final approach to Tortola.  Was it worth getting up for?  Absolutely – a beautiful beginning to the day.

View Approaching Tortola - Disney Fantasy - www.tressiedavis.com

These three very different images were taken in the span of 30 minutes or so.  Lesson learned – sometimes it’s a good idea to look back…before facing forward once again.