These ‘Rules’ won’t turn you into a professional photographer, however, they will make your pics more useful.
With a digital camera it is so easy to just click away. However, a little planning will help save you a lot of time in ‘processing’ your photographs after you return home. And they will be more useful to the person preparing the Trip Report.
GENERAL
- Plan your pic. What’s the story you are trying to tell? What is the subject of your photo?
- Remember the Rule of Thirds.
- If using a smartphone, ensure that Location Services are ON.
- Close ups ARE GOOD.
- Watch the background for anomalies.
- Ensure your shadow is not in the photo.
- Not too much foreground; not too much sky.
PEOPLE
- Don’t cut off limbs or a portion of the head. Ensure that the entire person is in frame – legs may be an exception. If you have taken a great photo but broken this rule you may be able to crop the hapless digital amputee from the photo at a later time.
- Do not take photos of people with their back to camera. Forward or side on only.
- Limit posed photos, group photos and selfies.
- No photos of people taking photos.
VEHICLES
- Don’t take photos of the back of vehicles – with occasional exceptions.
- Don’t cut off any part of a vehicle.
- Don’t take photos through the windscreen. If the subject/situation is worth a photo it is worth stopping and alighting from the vehicle.
- Try not to include the rego plate, if possible.
WILDFLOWERS
- Find a good flower. No missing petals. No scars.
- Be parallel to the face of the flower.
- Use a tripod or similar to steady the camera.
- Don’t damage the flower or its plant.
CAMPFIRES
- Just one pic will do.
If this is all too much, just remember:
- PLAN YOUR PHOTOGRAPH
- CLOSE UPS ARE GOOD
- DON’T CUT OFF ANY PARTS OF THE SUBJECT