There are now just seven weeks left to submit your entry for this year’s Abu Dhabi Through Your Eyes competition. Fancy a pop at the Dhs30,000 prize? We spoke to Gulf Photo Plus’s Mohamed Sumji to get his top five tips for taking a potential award winner.
1 Get the right kit
While it’s true that even the cheapest cameras can capture a great picture if the moment’s right, you’ll up your chances of brilliance by spending a little money. ‘A mid-range zoom lens that comes with most DSLR camera kits is fine,’ reckons Mohamed. ‘Just make sure the shutter speed is fast enough, since that’s often the difference between a great image and a snapshot.’ But you’re not good to go just yet.
‘A good tripod is essential. Avoid buying a bundle with a cheap one included, since it won’t keep your camera steady enough for a good long-exposure and could end up breaking it if it falls apart.’
2 Frame it right
Ever notice how the eyes in paintings seem to follow you around a room? It’s all down to the rule of thirds, which is also one of the most basic and effective principles of photography. ‘Imagine a grid of nine squares over your picture and aim to put the focal points on those lines,’ says Mohamed. ‘You’ll find it makes for a much more balanced, cohesive image.’ So, if you’re shooting a landscape, aim for two-thirds sky and one third land, or vice-versa.
3 Twiddle your knobs
Most modern cameras come with more buttons and dials than you’d expect from your average space station. But, as Mohamed explains, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. ‘In auto mode the camera makes all the decisions for you. Turn the dial around to P for program mode, which allows you to change your depth of field and your shutter speed.’ The result? More freedom to be creative with your shots, without the risk of over-exposing. ‘P mode also means images are saved as bigger, more detailed “raw” files rather than lower-quality Jpegs’, he adds. ‘This preserves the integrity of the image if you have to tweak it in post-production.’
4 Nail the colours
The judges are big on landscapes, and sunsets are particularly popular. But if you find yours always look a little washed out, help is at hand. ‘There’s a function called white balance on all SLR cameras and on some more advanced point-and-shoots,’ says Mohamed. ‘When you’re shooting a sunset, change it to “tungsten” (it might be called “incandescent” on your camera, but will be denoted by a little light bulb symbol). It gives you really electric blue skies, and adds a lot of punch to your image. Conversely, early in the morning, if you change it to “fluorescent”, you get a vivid, purple-looking sky.’ Cool, no? It’s all down to the different light properties, apparently.
5 Go easy on the post-production
Modern technology’s a wonderful thing, but, according to Mohamed, it’s best not to get carried away when it comes to your pictures. ‘I’ve seen so many great images spoiled by people who’ve applied too many post-processing filters,’ he says. ‘People tend to add stuff such as sepia colours, or over-sharpen their images simply because they can. A bit of colour correction is fine, but gimmicky effects usually make an image look worse.’ Pockets not deep enough for PhotoShop? Download free imaging software like Picasa or GIMP instead.
Entry for Abu Dhabi Through Your Eyes 2010 closes on December 31. An exhibition of last year’s winners is currently touring the city, stopping at Khalidiyah Mall, Nov 23-Dec 3, and Marina Mall, Dec 19-29.
