Master Photography, Tips From a Famed Photographer

PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR BEGINNERS

From Famed Photographer Pamela Goodyer

Pamela Goodyer’s remarkable success is a complex story that cannot be entirely told in just one article. However, here are some key elements to consider if you want to follow in her footsteps. Although this guide is labeled for beginners, even those with more experience may find some valuable insights they have yet to come across. So, let’s dive into the fundamentals of Pamela Goodyer’s achievements and see what makes them unique and inspiring.

As you delve into the art of photography and hone your skills to the point of perfection, profound moments will reverberate through your veins. The feeling is indescribable, but when you reach this level of mastery and capture jaw-dropping beauty from Mother Earth, you will truly understand its power. It’s like being struck by a surge of inspiration that courses through every inch of your being with each click of the shutter. These moments are rare and precious, like catching a glimpse of a shooting star or witnessing a breathtaking sunrise. But when they come, they leave an everlasting imprint on your soul and fuel your passion for creating timeless works of art. Embrace these profound moments and let them guide you towards capturing the pure essence of life in all its magnificent glory. You will not understand this until your photography goes from mundane, kinda looks good, to “Oh my God, I created that.” With practice, these moments will come quickly.

Quickly and Easily Master Photography – 15 Tips

1. UNDERSTAND COMPOSITION

Familiarize yourself with the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing. Knowing these concepts will enable you to shoot well-balanced and aesthetically pleasing photos. Some people have a natural ability to frame a picture for good composition. If you lack this quality, you must consciously learn and follow the basic rules.

2. PHOTOGRAPH EVERYTHING

You can pour over these words as much as you desire. But without physically immersing yourself in the process with your camera, the concepts and techniques won’t truly be absorbed into your mind. They won’t cling to your memory, and you won’t gain much from it all. You must practice!

Bring your camera with you everywhere you go. If you want to excel at photography, you’ve got to take a lot of pictures. By the way, shoot everything red. We all started out taking not-so-great pictures. Some of us who became obsessive quickly moved into the award-winning realms of photography.

After a tragic event, Pamela Goodyer turned to her digital camera for relief. She traveled to 20 states in one year, driving to all the local states around her: Pennsylvania, New York, MD, and CT. She also took vacation time and flew to other states, traveling from state to state. Within three months of her first digital camera being put in her hand, she won her first international award.

3. BACKGROUND

Also, many people don’t look at the background behind their subject. People shoot subjects with the orange street construction cone in the background. Moving just a few feet in any direction could have resolved this problem. Always keep your eye on the entire picture, not just your subject. If you don’t pay attention, you’ll go home and download your photos to stare at a bright orange cone or some other object that could have been avoided by moving yourself, subject, or both.

3. LIGHTING – TIME OF DAY MATTERS

Learning to use natural and artificial lighting can dramatically change the mood and quality of your photos. Always observe how light interacts with your subject and surroundings.

You will get good landscape and outdoor photography lighting about an hour before sunset. The sky’s colors at sunrise and sunset make for extremely dynamic photography. Once you photograph incredible sunrise and sunset colors, you might find that your midday photos seem a little dull. Watch the weather for good sky conditions. You want to be out there when the white puffy clouds are in the sky for the colors to reflect off of. Don’t go out of your way to do sunrise and sunset when there are no clouds. That might initially sound odd, but you’ll understand when you see dynamic colors in the clouds.

4. SHOOT AWAY FROM THE SUN FOR RICH COLORS

Shoot 45 degrees or more away from the sun to get deep, dark, rich colors. You can shoot into the sun for a silhouette-style photograph Or use a low-level flash to fill in the light when shooting toward the sun, especially when people are your subjects. Take a sample shot. Shoot towards the sun and see the colors washed out. Shoot away from the sun and see how deep and rich they are. Pamela Goodyer is known for her brilliant, dynamic images filled with color bursts. This is one of her secrets to rich color.

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5. CROOKED PICTURES

We strongly dislike intentionally tilted pitchers. While they were a popular trend for a while, thankfully, they have faded away. Most cameras have a level feature that lets you see if your horizon is crooked. If you struggle with determining levelness, make use of this built-in tool. A crooked horizon indicates amateurishness and can ruin an otherwise great photo. While it can be fixed in post-processing software like Lightroom, why not take the shot correctly in the first place?

6. INVEST IN A GOOD TRIPOD

During one of our travels, we brought our lightweight tripod that fits perfectly in our suitcase. However, as we stood at one of the most picturesque spots in the US, we realized that our tripod was too short to clear the tall brush and look down on Shark Fin Cove. It’s essential to have a tall tripod for situations like this. We highly recommend investing in a lightweight and portable tripod, such as the money-saving brand Promaster; we own three. You don’t have to spend 4 to 500 dollars on a tripod when there are high-quality brands such as Pro Master available.

7. UNDERSTAND SHUTTER SPEED

Shutter speed can enhance or ruin a photo. It controls the amount of light entering the camera, and adjusting it correctly can create effects such as motion blur or freeze action. A slow shutter speed requires the use of a tripod. When on a tripod, what is moving will blur, and what is still will be clear, like the milky water blur of our waterfall pictures. If you cannot get a long enough exposure, you will need a neutral-density filter to block the light.

8. KNOW YOUR ISO

ISO sensitivity determines how sensitive your camera’s sensor is to light. High ISO can benefit low-light environments but result in grainy images, so use it wisely. The higher the ISO, the more grain you will create. A low ISO, 50 or 100, will block the light from coming into the camera, and a higher ISO will let more light in and lighten the picture. READ OUR ISO PAGE HERE.

9. LEARN HOW TO USE WHITE BALANCE

White balance directly influences the color temperature of your photos, affecting how warm or cool they appear. Master its use to avoid unnatural colors or to create a specific mood in your images. It’s one of the easiest parts of photography to master. It’s just a matter of remembering to adjust your weight balance when the atmosphere changes. The basic sun, cloud, and shade are pretty easy to follow. READ OUR WHITE BALANCE PAGE HERE.

10. PRACTICE PHOTOGRAPHY USING MUSCLE MEMORY

Pamela Goodyer was highly trained in the art of defensive tactics. Her instructors taught her to rely on muscle memory, a technique that ingrained every action and movement into her body through repetition. She could perform these actions without conscious thought, even under extreme pressure or amid chaos. Hopefully, you won’t be facing bullets while practicing your photography (but in today’s unpredictable world, anything is possible.) But by consistently practicing and perfecting your skills in the same manner, you will develop good habits that will serve you well in any situation.

In the early stages, mastering your camera settings requires a slow and methodical approach. Each setting must be remembered and understood to set up your camera correctly. With repetition, these steps will become second nature, ingrained in your muscle memory so that you won’t forget any crucial details.

For example, you can begin setting the settings by focusing on white balance, then adjust the ISO and shutter speed if shooting in shutter priority mode. Avoid falling into the common trap of forgetting to check the white balance; with consistent practice, it will become an automatic part of your routine. As you navigate through each step, envision yourself as a painter, carefully selecting the right colors and textures to create a masterpiece image.

11. LEARN WATERFALL PHOTOGRAPHY & MILKY WATER EFFECTS TECHNIQUES

Discover the art of photographing waterfalls and capturing stunning milky water effects. This technique, known as long-exposure photography, requires a sturdy tripod to achieve the perfect shot. You can add a dynamic look to your photos using blur techniques, especially when shooting cascading waters. It’s essential to master these skills before embarking on any travels to ensure that you capture every moment in its full glory. Don’t let the excitement of a new location prevent you from getting the perfect shot – make sure you have all the necessary techniques down beforehand so you don’t miss out on capturing the beauty of a place you may never visit again.

Beginner photography techniques banner. Pamela Goodyer’s bright dynamic photos

EXTRA EYES PHOTO TOURS – TAKE LESSONS

GOLDEN HOUR BEFORE SUNSET

RICH DYNAMIC COLORS – EDITS

SHOOT AWAY FROM THE SUN

You must have a tripod.
You most likely will need a neutral-density filter unless it is late dusk or nighttime.
Even if you are a beginner, you can easily do this manually
Your ISO will be the lowest it will go.
Your aperture will be as high as it will go to block light (ex: F-22)
Your shutter speed will be set by looking at the built-in exposure meter.

SEE OUR WATERFALL PHOTOGRAPHY SIMPLIFIED PAGE

12. EDITING

How you edit matters. Take a course in photo editing to learn the basic and not—so—basic techniques necessary for post-shoot success.

Unleashing the true beauty of a photo is an art that you can master through the skill of editing. With a plethora of filters at your disposal, you have the power to infuse your photography with energy and create dazzling effects. As you flip through this magazine’s pages, note that almost every image has been curated to perfection through the magic of editing.

A simple tweak of the saturation or meticulous fine-tuning of details can transform an ordinary image into a stunning masterpiece bursting with life and vibrancy. As you unlock editing secrets, your photos will come alive in ways you never thought possible.

13. TAKE A LESSON WITH A HIGHLY EXPERIENCED PHOTOGRAPHER

If you want to fast-track your ability to create dynamic, jaw-dropping, spine-chilling photography, take a lesson from someone who has mastered it. Look at their work, their style and abilities. Pamela Goodyer, a renowned photographer and owner of this magazine, teaches in person in New Jersey on nights, weekends, and Zoom.

CHECK OUT LESSONS AND PHOTO TOURS HERE

14. GO ON A PHOTO TOUR

Do you yearn to elevate your photography skills and become an award-winning photographer in record time? Imagine spending a week at Pamela Goodyer’s company, absorbing all of her knowledge and expertise. She holds the key to uncovering the most captivating photography spots. As you flip through the pages of this magazine, you’ll quickly realize the depth of her understanding and keen eye for stunning locations. THE LINK IS IN #12.

15. BE CONFIDENT

At the core of your being lies a wellspring of creativity waiting to be tapped into. Embrace it through moments of stillness and self-reflection, allowing yourself to connect with a higher power that will guide your artistic expression. Believe in yourself and exude confidence, for these qualities will radiate through your work and captivate others with the depth of your artistry. Embrace the beauty within and let it shine through every digital brush stroke, for everything you do is a masterpiece waiting to be discovered.

SEE SOME DYNAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY IN THESE ARTICLES