Hobbies

4 Biggest Mistakes People Make With Traditional Photography

Traditional photography is a fun hobby that costs very little money. There are many types of photography that you may choose to pursue, including street, fine art, journalistic and food. If

you are thinking of taking up a traditional photography hobby, then consider these pointers.

Film Speed Setting

Film comes in many different speeds, so it is important to think about which film speed fits your needs the best. All film is rated by an International Standards Organization (ISO) number. Generally, if you are shooting fast-moving objects, then choose a faster film speed than when you are shooting a stationary object. Furthermore, keep in mind that the higher the film speed, the more the action will appear to be stopped in your photograph. Explora explains, “400-speed film is practically an industry standard and is a commonly used ‘jack-of-all-trades’ film. It’s noted for being fine, yet retains a distinct grain quality, high sharpness, and wide exposure latitude. 400-speed film has also been used for a long time, and was a favorite for professional journalists and documentarians.”

Storing Photos

All Storage Online explains, “when storing photos, it’s tempting to grab a shoebox, pop a few stacks of photos inside and call it a day. Don’t do this. It may seem like a space saver, but you should never store photos in stacks. Even in a climate-controlled storage unit, there’s still the risk of these photos sticking together. This risk becomes even greater if you store photos in stacks for a long period of time.” Instead, consider how you will keep your photos safe as storing photos requires careful climate control. Additionally, protect your images from dust and light as they are the twoe hardest elements for photos to endure. Furthermore, make sure that they are protected from pests.

Consider Background

The background of your photo can ruin your image, so take a look before you press the shutter release. You may want to take photos from several different angles allowing you to change the background to see which one you like the best. Clipping Path recommends, “One thing you don’t want your background to be is distracting. The backdrop should never distract the viewer’s eye from the main subject. When shooting, make sure the product or object you want to feature shines.” Additionally, consider getting closer to your subject with your body rather than relying on a zoom lens to control the background.

Choose the Right Lens

Many traditional cameras can be equipped with many different lenses. Using a prime lens often increases the quality of your image, but it can get to be expensive. If you choose optical lenses, then make sure to choose ones with the right focal length for the situation. Rocky Nook recommends, “When you take shots, do you always end up at the wide end of the lens, wishing you could go wider? Or do you find yourself at the long end, longing to be able to reach further? Think about what’s wanting in your best shots. Or you could challenge yourself and see what is made from that. Imagine you’ve got a fixed lens in your camera and every shot has to be 28mm or 100mm. How does this affect your work?” As a general rule, those with 10 to 12 power and a wide angle fits most situations. You will always want to protect your lens with a protective filter.

Traditional photography is a fun hobby, and it can turn into a business if you desire. Start by following these four tips to make the most of every image. Remember that most traditional photographers only keep one in 12 images, so be sure to capture lots of photos to get that special one.

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