Carl Fox, our
favourite photographer, has put together some great tips on making your photography stand out from the crowd. Whether you intend to use an SLR, a point-and-click or an iPhone to shoot with, we’ve got some invaluable hints about lighting, exposure and composition.
1) Always use a tripod
This might sound silly to say it but it's essential to help you take a straight shot, and also to prevent blur on long exposures (see tip 2). If you don't have a tripod any sturdy surface will do, but make sure your camera is protected from falls.
2) Use a long exposure
Try and avoid lighting the room. Where possible use the natural light available to you. If your camera allows it, set to manual and expose to get the important detail. In a dark room the shadows tend to clump together, so increase the length of exposure. In a bright white reflective room, shorten the length of exposure so the highlights don’t blow out. However, if this seems too difficult, it’s worth noting that most SLR cameras will automatically adjust the exposure when the flash is turned off.
3) Avoid excessive reflections
If you are getting too many reflections from a particular source of natural light (i.e.
a big window) soften it by covering with muslin or tracing paper (double up the layers until you are happy with the way it’s looking). If it is a bright sunny day, putting a sheet over the window can create a nice effect.
4) Choose your focal point
Pick the most interesting thing in the room to look at and make this the focus of the shot — even if it means you are not seeing the whole room. I would rather see three different views of a room where each displays its contents and atmosphere well rather than one shot where everything gets a bit lost.
5) Think about composition
Consider a variety of different angles before you start. I would avoid very low or high angles as these can distort the objects in the shot. A good general starting point is an 11 year-olds eye level — you can fine tune from this. And always get your central vertical line correct. And don’t be scared to shoot with objects in the foreground cropped. ‘Shooting through’ things, like doors, tables or chairs, can help to give a sense of depth to a room. However, be aware that about 90% of the shot should be the room itself.
Carl Fox, is a London based freelance photographer shooting news, features and portraits for editorial use for national newspapers, PR companies and commercial clients. His work has been published in all British national newspapers, magazines, company reports, brochures and advertising as well as overseas. Working on location using lights, covering news or in the studio, Carl is available for assignment.
