Written by Jen Golay
Ten years ago, I took one of the last darkroom photography courses offered at a local community college, and it is one of my all-time favorite college classes ever.
Not only did we learn how to develop black and white film and print our photos, but we learned timeless skills and techniques for being a good photographer.
The other day, I was going through my film class portfolio and my notes and came across these reminders for taking better photos. I thought I would share them with you.
1. Understand the Exposure Triangle
It is important to know and understand the exposure triangle and remember that there is no one correct exposure. You choose your exposure based on the available light and what’s important in the image.
When you’re just starting out, you will probably expose for the mid-tones to get a generally even exposure, but as you become more experienced, you may choose to expose for the shadows to get a light and airy portrait. Or you may choose to expose for the highlights for a dramatic and moody image.
You may also choose to underexpose an image and push the film in development to add contrast and punch up the colors.
And on rare occasions, you may even choose to overexpose and pull the development to tone down the contrast and bring out texture.
These are creative choices you make knowing how to manipulate the exposure triangle.
2. Know Your Camera
Know your camera and know it well. This might mean finding a copy of the camera’s manual and actually reading it!!
Knowing what your camera can and can’t do will allow you to use it to its fullest potential.
It will also encourage you to get creative. Every camera has different features, and if you know how to use them, you will look for opportunities to use them.
Here are a few more tips for improving your photography skills and getting creative.
3. Pay Attention to Light
Pay attention to light—even when your camera isn’t in your hands.
Photography is literally writing with light. Notice the direction of the light and use it to your advantage.
When is direct light or harsh light something you need or want to tell the story in your image?
How does side light affect your portrait?
What about backlight and lens flare?
Consider the quality of light. Is it harsh or soft? Can you manipulate it if you need to?
And never hesitate to push the shutter button when the light is perfect. Good light is hard to find and short-lived. Take advantage of it whenever you can!
4. Embrace Shadows
Life is made up of opposites. Without contrast, how can we tell what something is or how it’s different? There is no light without darkness. Shadows will always be a part of photography.
Sometimes you may want to minimize the shadows and other times you might want to include them for contrast or drama.
But just as you are paying attention to the light, pay attention to the shadows, too.
image.
5. Get Close
Get close!
Not every image has to be a close-up, but don’t be afraid to move around looking for the best framing for your image.
Make sure that everything within the frame has a purpose and reason for being included.
6. Pay Attention to the Foreground and Background
For better photos, pay attention to your foreground and background. Eliminate distractions like trees sprouting from your subject’s head or a contrasting bright spot in an otherwise dark background.
Foreground can help tell the story of an image and lead the viewer’s eye to your subject.
Avoid clutter and confusing elements.
7. Use Your Shutter and Aperture Creatively
A wide aperture will isolate the subject and blur the background (and maybe help avoid distractions in that background). A smaller aperture can be a storytelling aperture making the foreground, subject, and background all sharp.
Here is where it’s especially important to pay attention to the foreground and background and make sure they add something to the image.
A fast shutter speed can be used to freeze motion and capture creative images that our eyes miss because they happen too fast.
A slower shutter speed can imply motion in a still image by blurring something in motion. This usually works best when it is contrasted with something still in the image. It can also be used when panning to blur a still background by following the moving subject.
8. Use the Rule of Thirds and Other Composition Techniques
Knowing all of the technical aspects of photography will only get you so far, so if you want your images to really shine, learn the rules of composition.
And once you have learned the rules, feel free to break them—but only if you can do so intentionally.
Utilizing the rule of thirds will help make your images pleasing to the viewer’s eye. But don’t forget about the other aspects of composition such as leading lines, S-curves, diagonal lines, shape, form, pattern, texture, perspective, and color.
Here are some more composition techniques specifically for square format.
9. Slow Down
Slowing down is so much a part of being a film photographer. Almost every photographer who has arrived in the film world will say that film has made them slow down, and that slowing down has made them a better photographer.
Because of the finite number of shots per roll as well as the cost of film and processing, we film photographers can’t help but take our time to make sure each click counts.
This extra time helps us to get to know our cameras, to remember to double check exposures, to look for light and shadows, to double check what’s in the frame and watch out for background distractions, and to consider composition.
Shooting film and slowing down will always make you a better photographer.
10. Shoot Every Day
Shoot every day and take a lot of intentional photos. I know this seems to contradict number nine, but I promise you that it actually complements it.
Shooting every day and taking lots of intentional photos is very different from just shooting lots of images.
Shooting every day can be taking just one photo a day, but one that you’ve carefully thought about and planned. Or it could be shooting one or two rolls of film a week.
Making lots of intentional photos means that you are slowing down to think about each one. The key is to shoot regularly and often because experience is the best teacher.
The CREATE Acronym
To help get your creative juices flowing, consider this acronym my film photography instructor gave our class. I’ve added and changed a few things over time.
Let me know what you might add to it as well!
Thank you so much, Jen! Jen is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and you can check out her other articles here, including 15 Must-Have Film Photography Accessories and Tips for Buying Your First Film Camera.
You can also check out more of Jen’s work on Instagram.
Leave your questions about these techniques for creating better photos below in the comments!
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