Great photos are made with critical judgment, not just at the moment when the shutter is released.

We should consider the viewfinder of our cameras as the preview window before the shot is taken. By this I mean thinking ahead and creatively framing your composition bearing in mind these simple rules.

Fill the frame

Portraits are usually the one genre that suffers from the worry of too much cropping. A tall person doesn’t easily fit into an 8×10 print, so rather than attempt to get the whole person in the frame, zoom in and capture the most important feature- the face. Open up the aperture to bring the subject more into focus and blur busy backgrounds. With that in mind, try not to frame subjects too close to the edge as the LCD preview or the view finder don’t necessarily display the end result in its entirety.

Balance and weight

Composition of a photograph relies on the attention to shape, colour, size and position. One thing that is vital to a good composition is NOT to achieve all four of these elements at the same time. Otherwise the image is cluttered and lacks a clear message. Think of these elements as effects to pull the viewer’s eye in a particular direction, this could be described as ‘visual weight’.

Perspective control

We take most of our photographs from the same viewpoint, a standing position. Changing to a new position will inevitably change the viewpoint and greatly influence the shape of an object and its relationship to its viewer. By getting down to a low level, there is more chance that the result gives an ordinary object a sense of surrealism. Ground level can add drama, while a high vantage point can make subjects small and impersonal. Investing in several lenses can enhance perspective control such as a wide angle or telephoto lens. Using software in post-production can correct perspective errors that easily occur with architecture using the Transform Tool.

Learn more on our Photography Tuition Workshop designed to give you a technical and aesthetic know on how to improve your photography on a professional level. Details can be found online: www.fergusnoone.com

I just bought myself a Panasonic DMC-TZ20 Lumix compact travel zoom camera and keep it in my pocket all the time when I don’t have all my professional gear on me. I absolutely love the accessibility of a compact camera and this summer when you are on holiday, enjoying a picnic in the park, attending sporting events, barbeques or family gatherings you will want to capture all the action and memories without worrying about settings and missing a great shot.

Compact cameras have various scene modes to help alleviate all the technical thinking behind photography and still allow atmospheric shots depending on your light situation. Set your camera on these modes and get better results from your compact.

Landscape mode

Landscape mode is a basic aperture priority where the opening of the lens is smaller in order to give a greater depth of field to focus everything in the shot from the foreground to the distant background. It also sets the white balance for this type of shooting, so you may find the greens and blues quite vivid.

Try this mode at the top of Greenwich Park by the statue of General Wolfe. It is one of my favourite vista points and on a clear day, you will want that whole city- scape in focus.

Night/Portrait mode

This mode is very handy for urban settings or parties at night when you want to retain the ambiance of the light that is given without it being blown out from your built in flash. The camera sets itself to a longer shutter speed to capture more of the ambient light, but you must keep the camera steady to prevent a blurred shot.

Try this mode in the Painted Hall of the Royal Naval College, the natural light that flows in from the windows and the candlesticks lit on the tables would be spoiled if flash was used.

Sport

This is a great mode for anything that moves fast. Use sport mode to capture and freeze the subject, this is especially useful for toddlers on the move or perhaps your favourite pet. The camera in this mode speeds up the shutter and is a great shortcut for fast moving objects.

Try this mode next time your in the park- playing a ball game or chasing your children, it will capture the expression and freeze the movement for a sharp picture.

One last tip especially if you are taking pictures of loved ones or friends, think about your angles and where the sun is in relation to your subject. Keep aware with shadows that may be blacking out eyes or parts of the face. Sometimes if you use your sunglasses over the lens, it can act as a handy polarizer to help stop down harsh contrasts.

Any questions about your camera pop in the gallery and we can help. I run One Day Photography Tuition Workshops once a month to help photo enthusiasts come to grips with their cameras and they are left with confidence in controlling the right settings, whilst making creative decisions. Call on 0208 858 3309 or email the gallery: gallery@fergusnoone.com