A new photo series by Canon(in association with Currys PC World)puts the spotlight on eight professional photographers and their creative journeys. The Through My Lens series asks them to think back to the beginning of their careers, and chart their progress and development through the years.
Alongside some stunningly beautiful images, the photographers shared some of the tips and techniques they relied on throughout their journey to becoming a successful professional photographer. Here are a few to get you started:
- Get to grips with your equipment
Anyone serious about improving their photography skills should spend time getting to know the technical ins-and-outs of theartform. As Carmen Huter(@carmenhuter) explains, learning how to work manual settings “will allow you to master your craft.”
© Carmen huter Get to know the various settings on your camera (and as many other cameras as you can access) and learn how to execute basic photography techniques, such as the rule of thirds, the golden ratio and leading lines.
- Discover how the time of day affects your photos
Shooting during ‘The Golden Hour’– just after sunrise and just before sunset– is almost a rite of passage for photographers. After all, says James Relf-Dyer (@jamesrelfdyer),“it’s commonly considered the most photogenic time of day.”
© James relf dyer But, don’t let your photography stop there. As Emilie Ristevski (@helloemilie) notes, “I often revisit a place at different times of the day to see what different effects I can get.”
© Emilie ristevski - Don’t be afraid to experiment
As with all things, practice makes perfect when it comes to photography. “Practice your craft”, says Scott Rankin (@othellonine). “Take as many photos as you can and try to capture interactions in as many ways as you can.”
© Scott Rankin Play around with different techniques and mediums,challenge yourself to try new things and experiment with every element of your photo. Photography is a creative craft, after all.
- Make the most of post-production
Embrace post-production to get the most out of your images. While some low-key colour grading might be all some images need, very few will look their best straight out of the camera.Shoot in RAW file format and use Adobe Lightroom to enhance your photographs. As many of the pros in the Through My Lens series emphasise, you should never be afraid to use post-production to take your images to the next level.
The tips above are only a snippet of what the Through My Lens photographers have to offer. Glean more from their experience and explore their work for yourself using the link above.