The Tribune

One of the questions that is continuously asked by persons just entering the photography business is: “How can I take good pictures with what I have, and without spending too much money on new cameras and lenses?”.

Ever since DSLRs (digital single-lens reflex cameras) became more affordable, and people started buying entry-level DSLRs, there has been a great interest in photography from the general public. However, one major obstacle that everybody runs into is the fact that when most professional photographers show the equipment they use to make great-looking images, it creates an impression that only expensive gear can produce top photographs.

So does it really boil down to the wallet, and how seriously a person wants to get into photography? Some may purchase expensive gear and think it will help them take good pictures, while others hold off and just keep their DSLRs as “point and shoots”, realising they cannot do any better with what they have.

Here is the twist: Professionals advise that it is not necessary to have expensive gear to produce great-looking images. “An entry-level DSLR will get you 90 per cent of the way there,” they say.

Sure, professional equipment is always better and faster than entry-level gear. That is why it is called ‘professional’. However, some entry-level cameras surpass professional cameras, such as D300, in terms of image quality and noise.

The biggest difference between non-professional and professional gear nowadays is a set of advanced features, and not necessarily just the quality of the camera sensor.

These features include durable shutters and faster frame rates, which can handle abnormal temperatures/humidity, have faster processing speeds and better auto-focus.

But ask yourself this question: Who would have a better painting; a great artist with a mediocre brush or a newcomer with the most advanced brush on the planet? The answer is obvious… a camera is just a tool in a photographer’s toolbox.

Now, give that same advanced brush to the great artist and he will create even better paintings. That is why professional photographers buy the best gear because they know how to get the most out of it.

Anyway, let us move on to how you can use what you have today, and learn how to take good pictures.

Do not leave your camera at home

This might sound awkward, but how good is your camera if you leave it at home? Whether it is something silly or totally unique, having a camera with you might help you to capture those rare, once-in-a-lifetime moments.

Take lots of pictures

The more you practice, the more you learn. Use every opportunity to capture images, whether it is early in the morning or late at night. By taking lots of pictures you will start to understand how to use your camera in different lighting conditions, learn what works and what does not.

Start researching and reading articles, books, magazines and online forums to find a solution to problems. Eventually, you will learn from your mistakes and gain a great deal of knowledge on how to use your equipment effectively.

Notice nature

Experiment with flowers, butterflies and other insects at different times of the day, and not only learn a lot during the process but also capture beautiful images. Everybody loves flowers and butterflies.

Join local and online photography clubs, and shoot with the professionals

Join one or several clubs, and learn from other photographers. Access valuable information on local events that might be worth attending. Find advanced photographers and professionals, and ask if you can assist them in any of their jobs. Learn from these folks.

Consider photography workshops

If you have extra cash, consider investing in a photography workshop. There are free workshops available online or on subscription-based websites such as Kelby Training .

Get down

If you are still taking most of your pictures standing straight - at eye level - then you should start experimenting with angles. Try to get down on your knees, or even try lying on the ground to get a different perspective that yields great results, especially when photographing people and animals.

Use a tripod sometimes

If you do not already own a tripod, I recommend getting one. Why? Because a tripod will open up new opportunities for low-light photography. You can experiment with the light at night and capture really beautiful images of things that only come into life then. It lets you capture sharp photographs of non-moving subjects, and blur out moving subjects, creating very interesting and dynamic shots.

Shoot early in the morning and late in the afternoon

Harsh, direct sunlight can produce horrible shadows - not only on people’s faces, but on all other objects around, resulting in bad photographs. The best times are early mornings and late afternoons, when the light is beautiful and soft. For portrait photography, two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset seem to be the best times.

Shoot in RAW

If you are still using JPEG for your pictures, it is time to move to RAW. Any DSLR today is capable of recording images in RAW format, so set it to RAW. A RAW image is called ‘raw’ for a reason, as it is an unprocessed image with more colours to work with than a JPEG image.

RAW gives you a lot more flexibility and is preferred for print, because you can convert it to any colour space you desire. RAW takes more space than JPEG, but memory is so cheap nowadays that it is not a big problem. When it comes to storage on your PC, a 1 terabyte hard drive can be bought for less than $100, and you will need thousands of pictures to fill it all up.

Adobe Light room for post-processing:

If you are still manually storing your pictures on your hard drive in various folders, I highly recommend installing Adobe Photoshop Light room. Processing pictures in Adobe Photoshop + Camera Raw not only takes long and is and cumbersome. Light room makes a huge difference in the way pictures are stored, processed and organised.

Travel and find good locations for photography

Do not sit at home and expect great pictures. Look for potentially good spots for landscape photography, or develop an eye for what looks good and what does not.

For example, a ‘still pond’ is a great way to produce a mirrored image that looks exceptionally beautiful during sunrise or sunset, when the clouds, trees and other objects are mirrored on it.

For portrait photography, find locations that make good backgrounds. The great thing about portrait photography is that a good background is often easy to find – all you need to do is find something interesting, such as an old building, a painted fence or an old tree.

Always use your imagination, be creative and think out of the box. If you can afford to travel, do it as much as possible but take your camera with you. Until we meet again, fill your life with memories as opposed to regrets. Enjoy life and stay on top of your game!

• NB: The columnist welcomes feedback at deedee21bastian@gmail.com

ABOUT THE COLUMNIST: Deidre Marie Bastian is a professionally trained graphic designer/marketing co-ordinator with qualifications of M.Sc., B.Sc., A.Sc. She has trained at institutions such as: Miami Lakes Technical Centre, Success Training College, College of the Bahamas, Nova South Eastern University, Learning Tree International, Langevine International and Synergy Bahamas.