ADVANCED TIPS

Mastered the basics and want to step it up a level? Try these extra nuggets of advice…

01 Flash – Ah-ahhh!

Chances are you’ll have to deal with dark woods at some point, and a little mini sun in your bag can be a great help. After all, photography is all about lighting, so having a light source you’re in full control of can only be a good thing. Just keep an eye on balancing the power of your flash and the natural, available light. Using flashes on and off the camera will give very different results.

02 Gear up

I won’t pretend that nice, expensive camera kit doesn’t increase your chances of getting good photos, but it isn’t the silver bullet. Yes, highend cameras have more resolution to crop with and thus tweak composition after the fact; their bigger sensors are better in low light, helping you to get those fast shutter speeds; and they have quicker and smarter auto focus to make sharp photos easier to get. But even with a phone you can take some great images if you know a few simple tips and tricks (see my How To article in MBUK 355).

03 Edit for excellence

If you want to take your photography up a level, editing is a key stage between being out in the woods with your mates and that photo being an Instagram hit. These days you don’t need a fast computer, as simple software like Adobe Photoshop or even freeware such as GIMP (honestly, that’s its name!) have everything you need to improve most images. But remember, less is more, and selective saturation is pretty Marmite.