Simple Adjustments Produce Better Photos

One of the keys to taking better photographs is to know how to use natural light. Most of us amateurs make the mistake of using the sun as a lighting source for pictures. People squint with the sun in their faces and their noses cast shadows. The light is too harsh and colors have a burned out appearance.

Use indirect light whenever you can. Sunrise and sunset are the best times to take pictures because the sunlight comes from the side. If it’s a bright day and the sun is overhead, move the group under a dense, shady tree. This is called “open” shade. Here’s a good solution for eliminating red eyes, caused when light bounces from the subject’s retina into the picture. Use a camera with an external flash unit, because when the flash is farther from the lens, eyes don’t turn red.