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Pro Tips - How to Improve Your Photography

Pro Tips - How to Improve Your Photography

Mark Rivera
Blog, Blogs, Blog Post, Photography, Tips, nature

Let’s kick of 2020 with some Pro Tips on How to Improve Your Photography

1. Eye Level - For wildlife and animal portraits, make sure to get down LOW to eye level or lower if possible. It not only creates a pleasing, non-distracting, uncluttered background, but  also, more importantly, it allows the viewer to connect to the subject.

2. Shoot Raw - This is the best option.  If you need quick edits, most gear allows you to also shoot JPEG and RAW simultaneously; however, remember that, unlike JPEG, shooting raw allows you to get the highest level of quality, record greater levels of brightness, easily correct dramatically over/under exposed images, easily adjust white balance, enables you to get better detail in your photographs, and enjoy non-destructive editing as well as creating and maintaining a more efficient and productive workflow.

3. Reduce Camara Shake  - For landscapes and seascapes, make sure to use a sturdy tripod and a remote wireless cable to ensure minimum camera shake.

4. Use Filters -  Experiment with different types of filters; these can dramatically improve your photos.

5. Shoot Manual - Although some wildlife photographers recommend shutter priority or aperture priority for wildlife photography.  Only use this setting if you are confident and fast enough to change your settings on a moments notice. Some of my best wildlife photographs came from shooting manual which  give you the most flexibility. 

6. Understand Light - Know how to use the 8 different types of photography lighting and how they can enhance your photos

7.  Know the Difference -  Some situations will require you to shoot with a tripod and others wont; know the difference. When I went to Alaska to photograph Trumpeter swans, I knew I needed mobility. I spotted 3 swans flying towards me. The freedom of not having a tripod allowed me to photographed them. To my right there where other photographers with giant tripods and they moved more slowly due do it.

8. Study and Practice - Look at many award winning photographs to understand what makes it to the very top. Practice and develop your craft, practice makes perfect.   

Trumpeter swans_alaska



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Photographing Nature as Abstract Art