Update: This is a repost of an old guest post on my iCan’t Internet blog.
Photography is a wonderful art that combines imagery, light and color, to deliver stunning presentations that can blow away the human mind. As a photographer it is paramount that you understand exactly how to mix these elements up, so you can create exactly the type of image inside your mind. But so many times, for different reasons, photographers – both new and experienced – make mistakes that most times question their professionalism or career, or even threaten to ruin their reputation. It will do you a lot of good to know the most common mistakes photographers make and learn how to avoid them.
Dramatic sunrise over the countryside – Bjorn Beheydt
Red Eye
Many people will agree that this is about the most common mistake in the photography world that even the pros regularly fall victim to. What causes red eye in photography? Red eye occurs when the light from your camera flash strike the retina of your subject’s eyes, and then bounce back into the camera lens – the redness is due to the blood vessels in the retina. The best way to prevent red eye is to avoid using flash when taking photographs. But if the place is too dark, try telling your subject to face the camera without looking directly into the camera lens.
Blurry Photos
Your photo becomes blurry when your subject is in motion or you shake the camera when taking the photographs. Even the slightest shake can make a good photo come out blurry. The solution to fixing blurry picture is to make use of a tripod so it is easy for you to make the camera still to take a clear picture. But if you’re going to take the picture of a subject in motion it is important that you put your camera in ‘action’ mode. But please note that different cameras have different names for this mode.
Not Close Enough To The Subject
Many photographers fall victim of trying to include too many things in their photograph, thereby going too far away from their subject. This will make it difficult for you to find a focal point for your photographs. The fundamental of getting a good photograph is to ensure that you focus more on your subject and eliminate unwanted elements that can disrupt the beauty of your photo. To achieve this, all you need is to get closer to your subject. But if this is not possible you can make use of the optical zoom to achieve a closer shot.
I’ll Fix It With Photoshop
While modern photo creativity technology like Photoshop can be helpful, you will do yourself a lot of harm if you rely completely on the power of software manipulation. The solution to this is to ensure that you do your best in taking a perfect photograph with your camera equipment. Then you can now make use of software to correct minor errors, make the photo better or add some special effects.
Joe McNally – The Moment It Clicks
Underexposure
This is also one of the most common photography mistakes along with red eye problems. Underexposure occurs when there isn’t enough light falling on your subject, making your photo come out dark. When taking photographs indoors try moving closer to your subject or go close to the window to get some natural light. Adjusting the shutter speed of your digital camera can also help.
Overexposure
This is like the opposite of underexposure, making your photograph come out too bright. This is mostly caused either by extreme sunlight, artificial indoor light or excessive use of flash. Photographs that are over exposed won’t deliver or express important photo details and may even look washed out. Look for a shady spot if you’re shooting on a sunny day. And make use of your flash to even-out natural light indoors.
