5 Ways To Take Interesting Photos
Whether you’re a professional photographer or someone who uses their phone camera every now and then, taking interesting photos is fun!
You don’t need much to take photos that you love. Sometimes you don’t even need to leave your room. You can take photos out your window or even of yourself, such as of your shadow on the wall.
That’s why professional fine art photographers can take interesting photos using any camera.
It’s not the camera but your technique. Of course, a great camera helps a lot, but anyone can push a button. Taking interesting photos requires a little more effort.
Let’s go through 5 simple ways of taking interesting photos. Who knows, maybe these photos are good enough for you to print out and put into a frame, or use as a background on your computer or phone, or even good enough to sell.
Use Movement
What are abstract photos? When we think abstract, we might think of something that is unclear.
One way to take interesting abstract photos is by moving your camera.
Intentional camera movement (ICM) means moving your camera to produce an abstract photo. This is one way of showing a typical person, place or thing in an unusual way.
If you have a phone camera or a basic camera, try moving your camera while taking the photo. It may produce an interesting image, like the one below!
Simple lines of this sky flower made for a soothing image.
To take an ICM image: Use low to very low ISO (depending on how dark the environment is).
Aperture should be high. f18 was used in this photo. This will determine how much light enters your lens.
Shutter speed should be low, such as 1/15 a second or even down to 1 second. This will create beautiful lines or ‘brushstrokes’ in the photo.
“Angel Wings” copyrighted by Luke Levi.
Settings: ISO 100. f18. 1/4 second.
2. Get Close
There’s an entirely different world up close. And I don’t just mean microscopically. You don’t have to get that close, but any closeness brings out details.
Phone cameras these days are excellent. You can see a lot of detail with a new iPhone 14 or a Galaxy. If you have an older phone, using a macro lens can work wonderfully.
Using a lens you can attach to your phone is handy and fun, such as the Xenvo Pro Lens. Clip the lens to your phone and you’ll be ready to shoot macro photos. It’s easy!
If you want more clarity and closeness, macro lenses are the best. B&H, Amazon, Best Buy and many other stores have a large variety to choose from.
I took this using the Xenvo Pro Lens with an iPhone 8.
I took this photo with a Sigma 105mm macro lens.
3. Try Black and White
Black and white photos are classic. You can find many beautiful limited edition photos on 1stdibs and auction houses, such as Phillips. That’s because black and white is popular and used by many photographers appealing to the demographic that buys limited edition photos.
Ansel Adams is one such photographer that specialized in black and white photography. Of course, black and white was the standard due to the technological limitations. But some choose black and white due to the aesthetic, among other personal reasons.
Should a red rose be black and white? You decide.
"African-American mechanics work on PBY at NAS Seattle, WA, Alvin V. Morrison, AMM 3/c, doing overhaul.", 04/27/1944
Source: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
4. Get Far
Similar to up close photos, changing distance shifts the perspective and makes for a great shot.
Some people use drones for distance photos, but that’s not necessary. Sometimes taking photos from the top of a hill or mountain or even focusing on the water near your shoes can create a unique image. You can take a photo out of a plane or on a bridge above a beautiful river or valley.
There are many ways to play with distance, just like up close. If you take faraway photos and have a camera, remember to use an aperture of about f11 or higher.
Aperture will vary, but I find f11 to be right for many photos. Play around with it and you’ll take improved distance shots!
Photo by Ximonic (Simo Räsänen). It depicts mountains in Norway. The details, especially of the water, islands, mountains and clouds create a wonderful panoramic picture.
5. Adjust Exposure
The last way to take interesting photos is to experiment with shutter speed. A long shutter, such as of the ocean, will create an image that looks almost ghostly or dream-like.
What do you feel when looking at the next photo?
A long exposure could mean seconds, minutes or even hours.
Photo by Lies Thru a Lens. (Creative Commons) The author said he wanted to make the waves look like “milk.”
A landscape shot might mean a shutter speed of 1/60 while a long exposure could mean an exposure of 30 seconds.
Play around with settings, perspective and colors.
You’ll be surprised how great a photo can get when you experiment with your camera.
Affiliate note: This post used Amazon affiliate links. I make a small commission if you purchase from the links. Thank you! - Luke Levi