By Andrew Barnes

It’s been said the only difference between an amateur and a pro photographer is a lot of film.

Assuming the use of an SLR or compact with a zoom range of at least 35 to 70 mm, the following ten tips should improve your shots without burning too much film.

1. Think light not objects.

Most people look at mountains, or a skier, or an elephant and think that’s what they’re photographing. To take better than average photos it’s important to realise that, rather than shooting an object, you are registering on film the light reflecting from and surrounding that object. Photographers who understand light shoot vegetation when it’s overcast so that shadows are minimised and colours are rich. They shoot action in the early morning and late afternoon when the sun is shining directly into the subject. They shoot mountains when lit by evening alpenglow rather than hazy overhead sun. When the sun is overhead, they shoot cliff faces made dramatic by harsh shadows. In a nutshell, improving your photos means varying your subject according to the light rather than being obsessed with recording the objects you see at a particular time.

Be Active

2. Be active.

Outdoor people are usually fit, light on their feet and willing to put their body in difficult places just to see something new yet often lift camera to eye and shoot on first observing a scene. Take time to move around looking for interesting angles; lie on your back, climb a tree or a rock, get under a cornice. In other words, explore!

3. To capture the big picture get closer.

To capture the big picture - get closer

Photographers usually want to show the dramatic entirety of a landscape, clicking merrily away only to be intensely disappointed with the results. Mountain landscapes often look like tiny pointed dots on the horizon (especially when reproduced as a small print) as opposed to a majestic view. Instead of being overwhelmed by the scale of the scene, dominate the photograph with a defining part of it. Pick out the most striking peak, try to get physically closer then zoom in on it. Similarly, icicles, sparkling frost and other snowy detail often looks indistinct and meaningless. Move in and shoot a small section of the scene the result will often be very impressive.

4. Shoot the big picture.

Landscapes are often unimpressive because nothing defines them. Introducing a tree, a person, a lake or a yak to the foreground will often improve a dramatic landscape simply by giving it a sense of scale.

To capture action - get much, much closer

5. To capture action get (much) closer.

For the amateur, trying to convey the sense of action you have been part of can be a frustrating experience. Powder is always deeper and rapids more frightening when being experienced than they ever look in a photograph. The first rule is never compare your shots to a professional. Pro’s work hand in glove with models, shoot twenty times more film and have a vast array of lenses. However, the most important secret easily learnt is to halve the distance you were originally going to shoot from, then halve it again. Action looks way more immediate when it leaps out of the shot. Extra tip: buy a flash and start experimenting with outdoor fill flash.

6. Think up zany ways to shoot.

How many people have taken photos of Cleve Cole Hut on Mt Bogong? Probably thousands. How many people have taken a photo of Cleve Cole Hut using a wide angle lens, camera held above their head, companions in front, while cross country skiing toward it? Not very many. Point is, when it comes time for your friends to wade through 500 photos of your last holiday, it will probably be the zany one’s they really like.

Bully your friends into posing for you

7. Bully your friends.

People invariably want to wander all over the place, ride around a corner before you’re ready to shoot and generally be in all the wrong places at the wrong time. For a few shots every day, force them to cooperate: ask them to walk, run, ski, climb or paddle into a specific spot. Your friends will grumble about being bossed around but love you when they star in the dramatically improved results.

8. Learn how your camera works.

Today’s cameras are marvels of electronics. Most people see a scene, take a snap and are happy when camera and film satisfactorily interpret the desired result. But if you want to take your photography a step further into a realm where the action is sharp and landscapes crisp from a metre to infinity you must understand the correlation between film speed, shutter speed and aperture: purchase a simple book and do a little study.

9. Take photos in bad weather.

Most people put their camera away when it’s windy, raining, snowing or a storm is approaching. The light can be tricky in terms of correct exposure (try metering off a neutrally coloured object), but some epic shots of wild places have been taken when it seems like madness to continue photographing. Of course, you don’t want your expensive electrics to get soaked so shoot a few frames then tuck it away.

10. Final Tip.

Get out of bed early, go to bed late, shoot when you’re dog tired and everyone else is relaxing, take your camera out when you can’t be bothered, spend more money on film, shoot when the light is changing fast, carry your camera everywhere.