Better Photo Tips - Photo Filters and More
When it comes to taking your work to the next level, sometimes you need an edge. Often little things make the biggest difference. Like the frosting on the cake; this article covers little things that can dramatically improve your photography.
One of my
first award winning photographs was a photo with a waterfall in the background
and a stream leading from its base right into the foreground. I was standing in the middle of the stream at
a fairly low angle, but what made this photo unique was that I had also managed
to capture several stars reflecting off the water. I admit it; it was pure luck, but with so
many people impressed by those little stars . . . I started looking for ways to
be able to do that whenever I wanted.
That was when I first started exploring the world of photo filters.
Photo filters are NOT going to change a bad photo to a good one, BUT . . . they
may change a good photo into a great one.
In other words; filters are like the frosting on the cake, if the cake
itself tastes bad, it doesn’t matter how sweet the frosting is. For the sake of this photo article we are
going to assume you know how to make a good cake (take a good photo), and now
you are ready to go to the next level.
Star Filters - these are available
in 4 point, 6 point, or 8 point variety.
These photo filters add glamour to nature or highly reflective surfaces
(like someone playing a trumpet).
Polarizer’s - this type of photo
filter is often thought of for enhancing clouds in the sky, but they also give
you more control with reflections on water or glass. They also help with extreme photo lighting
situations like snow or sand.
Close-Up Filter Set – not everybody
can afford an extra $300 to $400 for a macro lens, this set of photo filters is
well worth the investment. This gives
you the edge to be able to take advantage of, and photograph the unexpected;
whether it is a butterfly on a flower or dew on the morning grass.
Split Field Filter – A Split Field
Filter allows you to go beyond the limits of traditional depth of field in
photography. Half of the lens is
basically a close up filter, half is regular glass. Now you can take an extreme close up photo of
a flower at the edge of a vast canyon and still have BOTH sections of your
photo look crystal clear.
Split Color Filter – This filter
comes in several combinations. Similar
to the split field filter, part of the filter is just regular glass, BUT the
other half is colored. If half the
filter is deep orange for example, you can take a photo of any mountain range
and make it look like it was taken at sunset.
Spot Filter – The idea behind a spot
filter is that a small portion of your photo will appear sharp (usually a spot
in the middle) and the rest of the photo looks soft and dreamy. Often used in Wedding pictures or individual
portraits.
Soft Focus Filter – As the name
implies this photo filter gives the entire image a soft focus or dreamy
effect. Use this VERY sparingly or
people will think you can’t focus.
Besides photo filters there are some other small items that you should tuck
into your camera bag to help you improve photographic opportunities. The cost of these photo gadgets are relatively
small but can give you big time (professional looking) results.
Double Sided Poster Board – For many
years I carried a 10 inch x 12 inch poster board that was black on one side and
white on the other. This can be used to
make a small subject stand out from
the back ground. A small tree frog on
grass is much harder to see than one against a black background. This can also be used for controlling light
like a small photo reflector.
Spray Bottle – having a small spray
bottle of water means now you can take a “flowers with morning dew” photo, even
if it’s the middle of the afternoon. You
can also make an athlete sweat whenever you want them to; or you can wet down
wild hair that is blowing in the wind for a better outdoor portrait.
The last fairly cheap item for big results is a Tripod or a Monopod. Tripods don’t have to be built so a man can
sit on it to be of good quality. And if
you are worried about space as you are taking your wonderful photo trek into
the wilderness consider a monopod. It
offers stability as well as making a good walking stick.
All of these items are considered photo add-ons. None of them are required to make a great
photo, but when the opportunity arises it’s good to know you have the right
tools at your disposal. Of course there
are hundred of other photo gadgets and gizmos that you can get, but I advise
sticking with the basics. Far more
important than anything you can add to the outside, is the vision you have on
the inside. Learn the elements of
design. Practice leading lines, balance,
repetition, framing and the rule of thirds . . . these are the ingredients of a
great photo. All the rest is just
frosting on the cake.
Source: Free Guest Posting Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
About Article Author

Award winning writer / photographer Tedric Garrison has over 30 years experience in photography. As a Graphic Art Major, he has a unique perspective on the Elements of Design and how those elements relate to all aspects of photography. His photo eBook “Your Creative Edge” (http://www.betterphototips.com/creativeedge.htm) proves that creativity CAN be taught. Today, he shares his wealth of knowledge with the world, at: http://www.betterphototips.com
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