Taking Good Photos

GUIDELINES FOR QUALITY PHOTOS
1. Set your camera to the largest size it can take and at the finest picture quality setting before shooting. This will utilize your digital camera to the maximum of its megapixels capability.

Refer to your camera manual and look for where it talks about size of image in pixels for further assistance. Choose the largest size possible, usually ranging from small to large. Find a setting to adjust the quality of the picture. Sometimes referred to as the compression of the image, there may be settings such as normal, fine and superfine. Select the setting for the finest picture quality.

2. Indirect lighting is good and natural indirect lighting is even better. A room with windows can offer indirect sunlight, even on an overcast day. You do, however, want to avoid sunlight striking your work directly, as this will cause glare.

Now, if you haven’t got windows or are stuck in the gloom of monsoon season, artificial lighting will work. In this scenario, two or more light sources — preferably of similar wattage strengths — should be set at about 45º angles to the piece, off to either side. “Off” as in: out of the peripheral vision of both you and the camera lens. Your goal here is to light semi-naturally but to avoid strong shadows. Manipulate wisely with an eye toward even lighting.  Lighting is extremely important in producing correct color. If you find you need lights, hardware stores often sell clip lights or construction site work-lights for less than those at a photography store.

3. Make sure to use a tripod, because still photography is best done with a tripod. Lacking this piece of equipment, however, you can do the following to minimize any motion:
Use both hands to hold the camera.
Draw both elbows in to your midpoint until they’re close to touching one another, then firmly hold elbows and as much of your forearms as possible to your torso/chest. Your hands will be free to aim and shoot, but your arms won’t be moving. Much.
Hold your breath just before and while hitting the shutter.
4. Take LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of photos of your work using different lighting and settings to get the best possible results.
5. Turn OFF the Flash! Please, unless you know how to “bounce” flash from the camera to a middle surface and then to your object, turn this function off. In all seriousness, a flash aimed directly at the piece is, 99 times out of 100, your enemy when photographing art.

The flash function also has an amazing talent for leveling tones, evening out contrasts and wiping away shadows. You — and anyone else who’s looking — want to see the piece the way the artist composed and executed it, not as your flash decides is optimum.