Getting Incredible Photos Without Having To Get A Degree
If you study photography professionally, or in an academic sense, you’re certainly going to learn things that you may not stumble upon in the regular course of things. That said, what adulthood beyond educational facilities reveals to many is that anything can be learned provided the learner has enough passion, and gets hands-on experience.
Before traditional modern collegiate education, trades were learned through apprenticeship. This was the case for many centuries, and it’s not really all that flawed. Even Europe is apt to maintain such tactics in the modern world. These things are being said to point out this: you can become a top-tier photographer who makes this your living just by taking pictures.
Now, it will take some time for you to figure out those things which can positively or negatively impact a picture; but if you make a real effort to push through that which you don’t know, you’ll likely even discover a few things well-educated photographers have yet to come across. That said, photography can be complicated, it may be best to start simple. Following are several basic photography “hacks” that can turn you into something of an expert.
Improvised Filters; Tights, Shades, Vaseline, And Sandwich Bags
Do you have any tights or stockings? You can stretch them over the lens of a camera to create a specifically sought “blurred” effect. For moving pictures, this can facilitate a “dream sequence”. For events like weddings or other engagements, you can really capture the emotion around that perfect dress, or the gentle joy of that halcyon time, through such techniques.
Still photography uses are also considerable and diverse in this area. Sunglasses or colored plastic can be used similarly, as can vaseline or a sandwich bag. It will depend on the sort of camera you’re using; but a little vaseline on a lens can create an “old-timey” sort of feel which may be perfect for a birthday party shoot where an older family member is celebrating.
Steady Cameras Using Beans, Rice, Or Beanbags
If you don’t have a tripod, or can’t afford one, there are workarounds. You can use a bean-bag to steady the camera, and get it as high as necessary. Rice and beans either bagged or open in the right sort of container can also be used for this purpose, being adjusted as you require. Go with what works—just ensure none of the food items have been cooked, and remain dry!
Have A Pringles Tube? Shoot Studio Pictures—TP Tubes For Phones
A “Pringles” tube can be used to surrogate that “studio” vibe sought in so many professional shoots. A toilet paper (TP) tube can be used to the same purpose on smaller cameras, or smartphones. You can additionally unwrap such cardboard cylinders for larger lenses. Anything cylindrical and unbroken may be used in such a way.
Get The Right Kind Of Backdrops For The Right Photo Shoots
A backdrop adds texture to a scene. It need not be a stark contrast; a backdrop might just be used for purposes of color. Or, it could be used to simulate an outdoor shoot. When you’re taking pictures outside, many factors influence their quality. Wind, weather, sun, animals, moisture, vehicles, accidents—the list goes on.
That said, the right backdrop can make it so you get pictures that look as though they were taken in the wild, when in reality they were snapped in your own basement. At Denny Manufacturing you can find just the kind of backdrops to match your needs, and even some which may inspire you.
Becoming An Expert Photographer
They say it takes 10k hours to become an expert at something. You could go to school, or you could simply take your camera and fuel photography efforts with passion. That’s what Stanley Kubrick did, and everybody knows his name. You don’t need the most expensive equipment or education to become an expert photographer; you just need the will.