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Beginning Photography - Five Mistakes You Can Avoid While Learning

Photography is an exciting and challenging hobby that is accessible to almost everyone who has an interest in it. The great thing about photography is that anyone can pick up a camera and start taking pictures, but if you choose to learn more advanced methods there can be a steep learning curve. However, there are a few common pitfalls that you may want to avoid so here is a list of the five most common mistakes.

Gear Everywhere!

With all of the photo equipment available, it's easy to get overwhelmed with all of the possibilities. The list of cool photo equipment is endless- filters, tripods, extra lenses, lights, reflectors and timers and so many others. If you don't have a solid understanding of what you're able to do with your camera, you'll never be able to truly master the use of all of the accessories. Start off small with a basic digital SLR or a basic 35mm camera and only one lens so you can really learn the photographic basics. Once you've gotten comfortable with using your equipment and have goten some great shots, it's time to start looking at some new accessories.

One Missed Shot

When you get started, you're going to miss lots of shots. There will also be times when you get a shot but it turns out badly. For this reason, it's probably a good idea to take every photograph at least twice. This will help teach you about the subtleties of your camera's inner workings, as well as provide a bit of safety in knowing you won't miss the important things. Besides, in the day of digital the cost of shooting thousands of images is no more than shooting only ten.

Turn the Flash Off

The flash really isn't your friend. An automatic flash can prevent you from properly learning how to handle complex lighting situations and sometimes even ruin your images. You should turn your flash off and get used to working with natural light and your camera's settings so you can further develop your photography skills. Cameras are quite versatile and can shoot in almost any environment, so try to be creative about how you use the light you're provided, even when it doesn't seem like enough.

Improve Your Composition

Although you see it done commonly, you don't need to center your subject in the center of the image. This can cause wasted space in your photos, or tone down how interesting they are. Picture the frame or viewfinder of your camera as a cropping tool so you'll always compose exactly what you want in your picture. Framing your image properly in the viewfinder doesn't take long to learn but will make a lasting difference in the quality of your photographs.

Simple Cameras

Simple digital cameras with giant LCD screens on the back are certainly tempting, but if you're hoping to learn about the art of photography and challenge yourself to improve, you're probably not going to get anything out of a point and shoot camera. Many beginners pick these cameras due to their convenience and affordability, which is absolutely fine if you're only intending to use it for non-professional or artistic purposes. If you want to understand photographs and the ways in which you can create them, you need to start with the right tool for the job.

Now that you know these 5 common mistakes, you can steer clear of them and focus your efforts on practicing and expanding your photography knowledge. When learning photography it's important to establish good habits and skills early on so you can continue to build upon a solid base of knowledge going forward. By regularly taking pictures and avoiding these common pitfalls, you'll be taking great quality pictures in no time that you'll be happy to display in a beautiful picture frame in your home.

How to make a reflector

Ex-Pro 5 -in- 1 Photographic Light Reflector - 32 (80cm) Silver, Gold, Black, White & Translucent, Collapsible. £13.97 Whatever your needs, the reflector will add vibrant colour a clarity to your subject with the Ex-Pro 5 - in - 1 Package including 5 different side reflectors, Silver, Gold, Black, White & Translucent plus a pouch for storage, the unit collapses away to less than 50% of the diameter for easy storage or portability. Silver increases the spectacular highlights and yields a high-contrast image. It's p...

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