Stephan's Tips for Better Photos

If you use your mobile phone, tablet, a small compact camera or some pro camera to take photos, there are always some important elements to consider when creating and shooting great photographic compositions.

I'll try to summarize some of the key elements that I always bring with me when I'm shooting.

Don't stress. Relax and enjoy. Don't be afraid to look like a camera idiot. Step out and be bold.

Light is everything

Natural light is your best friend. The golden hour — just after sunrise or before sunset — gives you warm, directional light that makes almost any subject look interesting. Harsh midday sun is your enemy: it creates deep shadows and blows out highlights.

Get closer

Most amateur photos suffer from the same problem: the subject is too small in the frame. Move your feet. Fill the frame. Get uncomfortable close. Then take the shot.

Look for the unexpected angle

Everyone shoots from eye level. Get down on the ground. Shoot from above. Look for reflections, frames within frames, shadows. The interesting image is usually one step away from the obvious one.

Shoot in bursts, edit ruthlessly

Take many. Keep few. A great photographer isn't the one who takes great photos every time — it's the one who knows which ones to delete.