| Have you ever been on a beach holiday and thought | | | | time of day is somewhat filtered, is therefore not as |
| it would be a good idea to take thousands of | | | | harsh and gives lovely tones. It also creates a |
| photographs to remember how beautiful it was, only | | | | moodier feeling in the photo. And once again, it |
| to be disappointed with the final result? I'll bet you | | | | prevents to some degree those dark shadows (do |
| took a portrait of your loved one only for the shot | | | | you get the feeling that I don't like shadows?). |
| to turn them into a dark shadow or it left them with | | | | 3. TAKE A PHOTO OF ONE SPECIAL THING! When |
| harsh black shadows on their faces. Please don't | | | | you're at the beach the temptation is to just snap |
| worry, you are not the worst photographer in the | | | | away and take photos of just the beach. That's |
| world, this problem is quite common. | | | | great if you want to end up with 548 holiday snaps |
| Photography can be tricky in the bright light of day, | | | | of the same thing! Make your holiday photos |
| especially in a hot, reflective place like the beach but | | | | something interesting. Focus on one subject. Don't |
| it is not impossible. If you adhere to a few of the | | | | take a photo of your kids off in the distance playing |
| following tips, you will find that your photography on | | | | on the sand. How about taking an up close shot of |
| the beach will most definitely improve. | | | | them, building a sandcastle, their little faces deep in |
| 1.USE YOUR FLASH! I know it sounds odd to | | | | concentration as they build it higher and higher? Or |
| recommend flash photography in broad daylight but | | | | what about some foot prints in the sand? A feather? |
| this is a technique of all professional photographers. | | | | A crab peaking out from it's home in the dunes? All |
| It's called "fill in flash". And it does just that: it fills in all | | | | these might sound like silly things to take a photo of, |
| those dark shadows! Fill in flash really only works if | | | | but when you have your photo album of your holiday |
| you are close to you subject as a flash does not | | | | made up, it creates a story of your time there, |
| illuminate too far from the light source. So, a perfect | | | | instead of just bland old images. |
| time to use fill in flash is if you are taking a portrait | | | | 4. COMPOSE YOUR SHOT WELL! A well composed |
| and you have the bright sky in the background, for | | | | photograph draws the viewer in to a resting spot |
| example. Turn the flash on. Focus as normal. Take | | | | and makes them think. Plonking everything in the |
| the photo as per normal. It is that simple. If you find | | | | smack bang middle of your photo looks kind of drab |
| that your subject is a little "washed out", try turning | | | | and dull after a while. Okay, here's a little secret: you |
| the flash down (if you have an external flash) or if | | | | don't have to have a great camera to take great |
| not, simply just take a step or two back from your | | | | shots, it's all to do with composition. Example? Okay, |
| subject and try again. The photo should turn out with | | | | to keep it simple, imagine you are taking a photo of |
| a well exposed background and your subject's face | | | | the ocean. Instead of putting the horizon light right |
| should be well lit with no harsh shadows. Fill in flash is | | | | across the middle, imagine your viewfinder is divided |
| also perfect to use when your subject has a hat on, | | | | by three equal parts. Now, put the horizon either on |
| to stop the hat covering their face with a dark | | | | the bottom third or the top third line and suddenly |
| shadow. | | | | the photo is all the more interesting. It draws the |
| 2. CHOOSE YOUR TIME OF DAY WELL! Obviously, | | | | viewer. |
| the brightest and hottest part of the day gives the | | | | Practice using the above mentioned tips and you will |
| most problems with photography exposure. | | | | find that your photography will improve immensely. |
| Therefore I would recommend taking photos in the | | | | But most of all, enjoy taking photos! |
| early morning and the late afternoon. The light at this | | | | |