A few tips on taking better photographs.
First off, some encouragement regarding equipment: You don’t need an expensive camera to take great photos! But, the better your equipment, the higher the technical quality of your images can be.
Learn how to use your camera: No matter what camera you have, it’s important to understand how it works and what settings are available to you. You should also learn the basics of photography: Understanding things like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO can help you take more creative and well-exposed photos. You can then experiment with different settings to see how they affect your photos.
You could also invest in accessories. An expensive camera might not be in your budget, but simple accessories can improve your photos. For example, a tripod can help you take sharper photos, and a lens hood can help reduce lens flare. A remote shutter lets you take the snap with less camera shake than occurs when pressing the shutter release with your finger.
Experiment with lighting: Pay attention to the light in your photos and how it affects the mood and atmosphere of your shots. Use natural light: Natural light can be very flattering and can help you take great photos even with a basic camera. The so-called golden hours, the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset are often the loveliest times of day for beautiful natural light.
Pay attention to the composition of your shots and try using techniques like the rule of thirds to add balance and interest to your images, also remember rules are there to be broken. Get creative: There are many creative techniques you can use to take great photos, even with a basic camera. For example, you can try playing with depth of field, using leading lines, or experimenting with different compositions.
Be patient, especially if you’re shooting wildlife, you may have to wait quietly for long periods before the best shot presents itself. I wrote about how patience is one of the most important internal apps you can have at your disposal.
If your camera allows it, you should shoot in RAW. RAW files are like a digital negative, they contain all the information that the sensor in your camera records rather than having been compressed to JPG format. The RAW file lets your photo editing software adjust far more detail so you can balance exposure, colour, contrast, sharpness, and other factors to bring out the best in your photos or to give them a unique style using particular processing approaches.
Finally, practice, practice, practice. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at taking photos, no matter what equipment you have.
Actually, that wasn’t finally…finally, finally! Have fun: Your photography should be enjoyable, so don’t take it too seriously, enjoy it and you will get better and better as you have fun.