The Society's resident photography expert, Michael Harden, shares his tips for taking great photos. If you're planning on entering our Junior Photography Competition, read on for some expert advice...
The best camera is the one you have with you
You don't need the latest and greatest camera to produce amazing images! Any camera, whatever its age will do. Phones these days have very impressive cameras built in. Get used to how it works, play around with the settings and how it affects your photos.
Shoot the things you love
Photography is art and art is food for the soul. We all have our own likes and dislikes, but when you go out and take photos of the things you love, you'll feel inspired.
Look at the every day in a new way
No object is boring if you are creative enough. One example is that we all pretty much see the world from eye level. Get low or up high (safely) and you'll see the world differently. A small tree can become a tower when shot at the right angle.
Geometry is your friend
Shapes are everywhere. In nature or manmade objects, shapes can make for great subjects but they can also help frame them too. Look for natural lines that guide your eye to your subject.
Take at least one photo every day
We get better by doing. This is a great way to not only keep a diary of the year but also you'll see where you can improve, what worked and what didn't work so well.
A picture is worth a thousand words
One of the greatest parts of photography is you can be the best story teller without ever saying a word. Look for moments of joy, the unpredictable, or even the unbelievable. The best photos always have a story behind them.
Rules? What rules?!
There are books and books of how you should take a photo (I know, I've read most of them!). You may hear terms like 'composition', 'the rule of thirds', or 'aspect ratios'. These are great to know, but they are there to be broken. Art is about expression not following rules - dare to be different and stand out from the crowd.
Have fun
This is probably the most important tip I can give anyone who wants to take up photography as a hobby or even a career. The very heart of everything we do in photography should be with the goal of having fun. Never stress the shots that you miss or what you could have done differently, just enjoy every second of it.
Enter the Junior Photography Competition
