POST WRITTEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TED’S CAMERAS
For many people practicing social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, spending a lot of time at home has its pros and cons. While it can be nice to skip your morning commute and work from the comfort of your own home, social distancing has left many people feeling bored, lonely, or less than inspired. Thankfully, there are plenty of creative indoor activities that can keep you busy and entertained during these uncertain times, including photography. To walk you through 5 photography exercises that can make your time at home a little more enjoyable, we’ve teamed up with the photography experts at Ted’s Cameras. From indoor portrait photography to how to photograph food, discover their boredom-busting photography tips today!
1. REVISIT OLD FAVOURITES
Social distancing is the perfect time to dust off your old hard drive, memory card, or USB stick and revisit photos you’ve taken in the past. Take a trip down memory lane and create a photobook online that tells the story of a cherished holiday memory or life event, or order prints of old snaps online.
Once your prints arrive, experiment with different ways to display photos, including matt boards, collages, and scrapbooking. The last two in particular are a great way to get your kids involved and help get the creative juices flowing.
Top Tip: Have loads of old family images in print or negative form? Now’s the perfect time
2. TRY YOUR HAND AT PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY
Now is a great time to dabble in indoor portrait photography, particularly if you live with family, your partner, or a housemate. Scout your house for well-lit locations that lend themselves to natural light photography, then have your subject pose near a window for warm, flattering portraits.
If your house doesn’t have the best lighting, experiment with portable LED lights or other artificial light sources, such as flashguns, and focus on getting your exposures and composition correct. Swapping out your standard zoom lens for a fast prime lens with a maximum aperture of f1.8 or f1.4 will help you explore shallow depths of field, which are the go-to for many portrait photographers.
3. SHOOT WHAT YOU EAT
Food photography is plenty of fun at the best of times, but is even more so while social distancing, when it can remind you to see the beauty and joy in small, everyday things. After all: Everybody has to eat, so why not turn mealtimes into a source of inspiration? Our top three food photography tips are:
- Plate your food with care, taking into account composition, colour, and white space around the plate. Avoid piling all your food in the middle of your plate – after all, a large part of eating is done with your eyes.
- Look for good lighting, whether this is from a natural light source like an open window, or a flash or other artificial light.
- Use a tripod for steady, shake-free images, particularly if you’re interested in taking perfectly composed bird’s eye images.
Top Tip: Challenge yourself to photographing three meals everyday over the course of your social distancing period, and watch your skills improve with every shot.
4. START A VLOG
Vlogging is a great way to share your passion and interests with the world, and can help you feel connected even if you’re physically isolated. Our number one vlogging tip for aspiring content creators? Plan ahead. Before you start filming you should have a rough idea of what your blog will be about and what you want to cover in the video.
Once you’ve decided on this, refine your unique angle that will help distinguish your content from the thousands of other videos on the web and attract a dedicated audience. Then, it’s time to choose your gear. Remember that audio and visual quality are equally important, and that the best vlogging camera is ultimately one that suits your particular needs and shooting style. As a minimum, look for high-resolution video capture, a tilting LCD screen, and a microphone jack for attaching an external mic.
As your vlogging skills improve, you can consider adding other tools to your arsenal, like tripods, studio lighting, or backdrops.
GET THE WHOLE FAMILY INVOLVED
If you’re isolating with children or teenagers, you’ll likely have the added challenge of keeping them – as well as yourself – entertained around the clock. One way to get around this is to encourage your kids to get involved in your photography hobby, whether this means posing for portraits or joining you in scrapbooking.
Younger kids in particular will love the opportunity to get in front of the camera, while older kids are sure to enjoy looking at old family photos and reminiscing on their childhood.
GET CREATIVE TO KEEP THE BOREDOM AT BAY
While social distancing is less than ideal in many ways, it’s also a vital health precaution that is helping save lives across the globe. Make the most of this opportunity to stay at home with loved ones and keep yourself busy by undertaking creative indoor exercises like the ones on our list. Whether you try them once or repeat them everyday, they’ll give you skills that will last for long beyond the end of this quarantine period.
Want more creative photography tutorials and advice? Visit the Ted’s Cameras blog today!
