What am I talking about? These are the things you probably want to do before you click the shutter on your camera in order to make a somewhat decent photograph.
In no particular order:
Previsualise, meaning have an idea of what your end photograph will look like. What are you trying to portray - the subject, the feeling, the mood, the surroundings, the ambiance, the art...
Look at the scene. Identify your subject. Is there anything to distract from the subject, like a lamp post coming out of his head? Are all the elements of the subject being captured, like his feet if it is a full body shot. (Where are the appropriate points to cut a portrait? Maybe that will be another post...) Is there foreground / background? Are they in or out of focus? What's happening in the corners of the shot? You know most camera viewfinders only show around 95% so don't forget to check the bits around the edges of what you through the viewfinder.
Which mode will you use? Av, Tv, Manual? For landscapes and portraits aperture (actually depth of field) control is most important. For big zooms (200mm-plus) and speed-related photographs (like Spitfires, tennis balls, and kids on the swing), controlling shutter speed is paramount.
Is the ISO setting appropriate? Lower is obviously better, but sometimes you have to use a higher number to get the shot.
What f-stop will you use? Low numbers for shallow depth of field and big numbers to get as much as possible in focus. Usually safest to stick to F8 to f11 if unsure.
What shutter speed? In particular if using a zoom lens, the speed should be at least around 1/ to prevent blurry photos. (eg: if zoomed to 200mm, then shutter speed should be - minimum - 1/200th.) Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but be aware of if. Fast moving objects need faster shutter. Or, if you're panning, maybe much slower. The speed of the subject often determines the speed you use. (Hmmm - this sounds like another future post.)
Part of the scene really, but deserving its own paragraph, is light. What type of light do you have? Were will it be in relation to your subject? Can you change it? Is it changing? Do you need to compensate your camera settings?
In summary:
- know what you want
- the scene, including light and 'unwanteds'
- ISO
- shutter speed
- f-stop
- click!
So, before you press the shutter for make a photograph, you need to have considered at least all of the above. This is just a very brief overview of the items to consider before clicking. Sometimes you'll ignore some. Sometimes you'll pay extra attention to one particular item.
What will you photograph?
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