“How can one know before seeing, and decide before knowing? –Yves Bonnefoy’s query in the the Foreword of Henri Cartier-Bresson Photographer
If you’ve been following this blog, you probably know that I’m passionate about including a photo – either one of my own, or ones I’ve secured from public domain sites. My posts feel naked without an enhancing or illustrative photograph to go with them.
Ever since I got my first Kodak Instamatic when I was ten years old, I have always loved taking pictures. Since day one, I have been the (sometimes annoying) one among my friends and family that remembers to take the group shots. The “foto histórico” I call it.
Can you scooch in a little bit?… Can’t see you… Look over to your left … Smile.
That’s me.
A friend asked me recently what my secret was to taking good pictures. Seeing as I’d never been asked that question before and it got me thinking, I thought I’d share here an expanded summary of what I told her…
(…in case you were wondering).
My secret to taking a good picture is to …
- Take lots of pictures
- Delete lots of pictures
- Have a reasonably good camera
- Know when to pounce; when to capture what the notable photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson calls the “decisive moment”
- “Keep in mind what’s behind”; nothing is more distracting to your subject than all that unnecessary stuff in the background (i.e. clutter)
- Keep your hand steady; unless it’s done on purpose for effect, nothing kills a good photo more than one that is out of focus
- Learn a few tricks on your reasonably good camera; knowing how to take an interior shot without using a flash, for example, is really helpful and can lead to some interesting mood shots
- Look at and appreciate the work of others
- Have no attachment to the to the outcome
- Have fun
To give you an idea of how I think with regard to taking pictures: when I walked past my friend’s porch and saw the three huge, draping homemade banners and flags welcoming their son from Afghanistan, I wished I had had my camera with me!
Photo credit: Yours truly taken by her husband, Jay Vogt (who says that this is what I often look like to him! ;-))
I can add one more…unless you are an extremely skilled photographer always be sure the light is behind you..
Good one… Right you are, Lynne!