Quick Tips for Taking Better Snapshots

by Patrick Young
Created: July 12, 2003
Last Edited: July 10, 2004

It's really quite easy to take good pictures, even with the simpliest cameras. Here are some simple pointers that can help you improve your pictures.

1. Keep the horizon straight!

This seem so easy and obvious yet we all still make this common mistake. I still can't believe how many times I make this simple error. If your scene has a horizon in the middle, be sure to align it properly so that the horizon is parallel to horizontal edge of the frame.

2. Don't put your subject squarely in the center of the image.

In this image, we've used the Rule of Thirds to align several things. First the lighthouse is directly aligned against the left vertical guideline. Also the lighthouse light tower is aligned at one of the vertices.

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to put the subject of your image right in the middle of the image. This is really boring. Intentionally put your subject off-center. One thing to try is to use the Rule of Thirds (discussed more extensively in the Beginning Photography tutorial).

Basically what we do is divide the frame into a tic-tac-toe board in our minds. What we try to do is align objects in the scene along these lines.

The trick to all this is to make a few decisions. Which was is the subject "facing"? For example in our lighthouse image, you get the sense that the lighthouse is facing toward the right. So what I've done is aligned along the left vertical guideline.

Aligning things in this manner creates spacing that is pleasing and aethestic.

3. Offset your horizon.

The horizon splits your scene into two distinct sections, and leaving the horizon directly in the center of the frame causes an unsettling and confusing symmetry. Which is more important--the sky or the ground?

You can make your images much more effective by simply moving the horizon higher or lower. Follow these simple guidelines:

• If the upper part of the horizon is you are trying to emphasize in your image, then it should take up the majority of the space. That means you should move the horizon lower in your image.
• If the lower part of the horizon is what you are trying to emphasize, then move the horizon higher in the image.

How much to offset? That really depends upon you and how much emphasis you place. For example some pictures I've taken, I've only left a sliver of the ground as the foreground because the subject was the sky. In others, I've taken pictures of the sea and only left a sliver of the sky. Most of the time it will be somewhere in between. You can even use the Rule of Thirds if you want.

4. Zoom in on your subject.

If your picture is a subject picture--like a snapshot of a person standing in front of something, a picture of an object, etc. then the subject should take up a large part of the frame. That doesn't mean 50% or even 30%. It just means your subject should be prominent and stand out.

5. You don't need to capture the whole scene--focus on a subject.

It's not necessary to capture the whole scene. Sometimes we are overwhelmed by the beauty or magnificience that surrounds us and we just feel compelled to try to capture it all in one big panoramic picture. Not only can you not physically do this, but often times these pictures are the very ones that we find the most disappointing. Instead of trying to get everything, try to concentrate on parts of the scene and thing of them as subject photos. If you look at the lighthouse scene above, you'll notice that only the lighthouse and not the entire area (which was incredibly scenic) was captured. Simply put--subject shots are much more effective because they are focused, whereas just trying to get everything in one frame is really unfocused, and the result is usually an ineffective and disappointing image.

6. Stay away from shadows.

Shadows are your worst enemy. You won't notice them when you take your pictures, but you will when you look at your pictures--and they are quite distracting. Things you can do to avoid shadows:

• Avoid taking pictures facing toward the sun.
• Avoid taking pictures in places half in the shade and half in the sun.
• Stay away from taking pictures under trees or partial shade.
• Watch how shadows are cast on your subject (hats and caps are particularily worrisome).

Be especially aware when taking portrait photographs--harsh shadows exaggerate facial lines and wrinkles.

7. Use flash during outdoor daylight photographs.

This may sound strange if you are a novice photographer. Flash is best used in such situations. This is called fill-flash, and the purpose of it is to lighten or remove harsh shadows on you subject.

8. Don't use flash against reflective materials.

I'm amazed how many people don't realize this. I go the Monterey Bay Aquarium and people are always trying to take pictures of the fish and don't turn off the flash. I already know what pictures they are going to get--a picture with a big white flash in the middle because it reflects off the glass. Take the time to turn off the flash if you notice your scene includes anything reflective like glass or metal.

9. Zoom in for portraits, zoom out for landscapes.

If you are photographing a specific subject, zoom in to it. If you are trying to take a landscape, you should zoom out.

10. Don't have your subjects just stand and face you.

The blandest picture you can possibly get is to have your subject squarely facing you (double the blandness factor if you zoom out and center her!) A good idea is to have your subject face toward something. For example if it's the landscape in back of her, you could have her standing slightly turned and then look back at the camera.

11. Isolate your subjects.

Try to avoid clutter in the background when you take a subject photo. Look out for things that stick out, they will be distracting. Watch out for things like branches sticking out from behind your subject, on film it will appear that it sticks out from your subject! If you can, reduce your depth of field to blur your background slightly.

12. Take your time to look around for a good shot.

Look around for good spots, then look for good angles. Just don't take pictures from eye level and from directly in front. Try different angles, squat or stand up on something. Different perspectives, in particular viewing objects from angles rather that from a straightforward viewpoint can really spice up your pictures.

13. Rotate your camera.

It seems we are always transfixed by horizonal images. Our cameras are designed especially for taking horizontal photos. But the world is not big and wide, it can be large and tall too. Try rotating the camera to see if the scene looks better.

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