Phocus Point Summer 2015 | Page 29

2. learn white balance White balance being “off ” can take that beautiful sunset you thought you captured from vibrant and full of life to dull and very cool. 3. practice! practice!! practice!!! You should be practicing every chance you get. Find a new technique every week and work on perfecting it. 4. know your subject Different subjects require different lenses, different lens speeds, and different angles. You would not photograph a child from the same angle as you would an adult, nor would you use the same shutter speed to shoot portraits as you would for wildlife photography. Photo by Derek Palmer 5. keep in mind the light If you’re outside and it’s noon, find some shade. Keep your subject facing the sun. Use your flash to remove harsh shadows. The best time to shoot outside is early morning after sunrise or late afternoon before sunset. Some refer to this as the “golden hour”. Photo by Derek Palmer PHOCUS POINT 29