100 BEST-EVER PHOTO TIPS
To mark this 400th issue of Photography Week, we’ve put together a list of our top 100 essential tips and techniques to help you shoot better images. You’ll find all you need to know here, from the basics of setting up your camera and planning your shoot, to how to achieve well-exposed and sharp shots with the minimum of fuss.
You’ll learn the best autofocus modes to use, and when to use them; how to check your exposures and how to get the colours right in-camera; and how you can use the power of software to help polish your results images more. There are also loads of tips on composition, lighting and creativity, so once you’ve nailed the technicalities, if you’re struggling for inspiration, or simply want to improve your results, you’ll find loads of ideas right here.
Whether you’re taking your first steps with your camera or you’re a more experienced shooter, and no matter what subjects you like to shoot, there are tips and techniques here for you. All you need to do is start putting them into practice next time you’re out shooting, and you’ll come back with your best shots ever.
CAMERA SET-UP AND PLANNING
01 DATE AND TIME
Make sure that your camera’s date and time are set, as they can help you find your images more easily later on.
02 COPYRIGHT
Most cameras allow you to save your name in the copyright metadata, so you can keep track of your images.
03 FILE NAMING
Name images from a particular shoot with details such as a subject’s name or a location, to make it easier to find those images.
04 UPRIGHT VIEW
Select whether images shot with the camera upright are rotated when you review them on the rear LCD, and when you come to review them on your Mac or PC later on.
05 FOCUS BEEP
Make your shooting less intrusive by turning off the focus confirmation and timer beeps in the set-up menu.
06 FILE FORMAT
For the best image quality you need to shoot raw files, but these take longer to write and need processing. For easier and quicker sharing, choose the highest-quality JPEG mode.
