Get snapping! Enter summer pic contest
THE summer has arrived and the National Farmers Union wants your best pics. Whether you’re out and about in our glorious countryside, eating the best of British, or on one of our great British farms... get snapping!
The competition involves uploading a summer-themed photo to Instagram, showing what you think makes the British countryside a beautiful place to be in the summertime.
To enter follow them on Instagram @nfucountryside, upload your photo and tag them @nfucountryside then use the hashtag #SummerPhotoComp
The closing date for the competition is August 31 and the winners will be drawn shortly afterwards.
Instagram allows us to show people the world of farming happening in real time, with images being uploaded daily on all that’s great about British rural life – from fascinating flora and fauna to beautiful landscapes; showcasing what our farmers do for our countryside and the delicious food that they provide us with.
The competition involves uploading a photo to Instagram of what you think makes the British countryside a beautiful place to be; whether you’re out working on farm, enjoying a country walk or simply tucking into some delicious British food.
Our in-house graphic designer, Toby Lea, has put together top tips on how to take the best photos for Instagram:
The best camera is the one you have with you
Smart phones are capable of some great photos, and let’s face it, having any camera with you is better than none. Keep it clean Give the lens a wipe before you take a photo, you don’t want a bit of pocket fluff ruining your shot. Don’t be lazy, zoom with your feet Don’t use the digital zoom, it’ll just reduce the quality of your photo. Instead, get closer.
Light is your friend – the built-in flash isn’t
Avoid the built-in flash, it’s unflattering and will wash out your colour. Always aim to use natural light. If you need to shoot indoors do it next to a north facing window where the light will give you a soft even light.
Steady now!
Take your time, a steady hand makes a nice crisp photo so take a deep breath, exhale slowly and shoot.
If you’re still ending up with blurry photos use your surroundings, get your elbows on a table or lean on a wall. Composing a masterpiece When framing your shot, use the rule of thirds, in the settings menu on most smart phones you will have an option to turn on the grid, use this to position key elements on the lines and your photos will instantly improve. Shoot from the hip... or the floor Well not all the time but do try different angles to make it more interesting.
Most photos are taken from chest height so they all have the same perspective, try getting down low or up high.
It won’t hurt to take more pictures than you need!