Your photos 28

Your photos (28)

Take Better Photos

Hints and tips
by Philip Grosset

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with comments from Philip Grosset

"I have recently returned from Africa, where I took these pictures. I hadn't had any photos developed from the camera I bought to go away with prior to going, so I didn't know what to expect. Could you give me your opinions on the following. Camera used: Pentax MZ50 with 300mm zoom. All pictures were taken using the "Auto" setting. Matt." (Matthew Whitford)

Glad you had the zoom lens - a lot safer! Above left: a really good photo. You could make it even more dramatic by moving in closer, as on the right. I'd be tempted to do this, even though you lose some of the setting. But it's all a matter of taste, and I like both versions!

On the left: you really do have an eye for a photograph! This is great. You've spotted something really interesting and amusing, and composed the picture to draw maximum attention to it, but with just enough of the other elephants to set the scene. All I'd suggest is that it might have been even better to have reversed the picture, as on the right, so that our eyes move across the picture in the same direction as the elephants, with the darkest framing on the left, so that our eyes also travel from dark to light. But I think it's my favourite picture of all those I've been sent to comment on!

Another arresting picture (on the left), although the subject's relaxed expression doesn't seem to quite fit in with the spear! I've moved him a bit off-centre (on the right) and tried to divert attention onto him rather on the spear. It's a pity his face gets a bit lost against the background of his arm. If he's part of a show put on for tourists, this would explain his tolerant amused expression, but, if you wanted to make this point, we'd really need to see some of this activity going on in the background.

Reply from Matthew Whitford: "Thank you for your time and patience. I think the elephant picture definately looks better from left to right. That's one of my favourites too. I am just getting in to photography. I have always "toyed" with the idea of buying a nice camera, and now I am glad that I did."

"Hi, This is what I think is my best yet photo of my granddaughter, please give me your comments as I am studying for my City & Guilds in photography with a view to perhaps, if I'm good enough, becoming a free lance photographer, am I wasting my time?" (Jean Walley)

Above left: your fine happy photo. Centre picture: I've tried moving in closer but also keeping in the brightest flowers. The snag now is that she seems to be looking towards our left, but there's not much space for her to be looking into. On right: here I've reversed the picture so as apparently to allow more space in front of her! There is some distortion because the camera is looking down on the girl. It's usually more flattering to .look up at a face from slightly below, or at least to get down to a child's eye-level, but I expect you chose this angle to show the flowers in the background. It's always a good idea to dress your subject in yellow, as here, (or in red) to make them stand out. No, you're not wasting your time, especially if you enjoy the course!

Reply from Jean Walley: "Many thanks for your encouragement, it means a lot to a beginner. Your last photo is a definite improvement, but how did you manage to reverse the picture, I assume you used a program like photo suite or similar, could you let me know the best programme to invest in please. I shall now probably inundate you with other photos of different subjects, many thanks jean."

I used Photoshop, but this is a (very expensive) luxury. Any photo editing program would do. Or, even simpler, compose the picture just right when you take it!

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