As you grow older, what you remember inevitably becomes hazy. Your child’s first steps, while so monumental at the time, can sometimes get confused with the first day they crawled.
So why not capture these moments not only for memories, but also for your family and children to look back on? Photos help to strengthen and preserve memories.
Photos are life captured in detail
Now more than ever it is easy to document precious moments through photography. So easy that you sometimes end up with thousands of photos that get lost in a digital cloud, seldom to be seen again.
It is a difficult task to sort through them to see what you really meant to capture. Here are 5 simple tips to capture wonderful memories from Happy Go KL’s cameramama Patricia Krivanek:
1. Slow down and look about
What are the small things that help define your family life? Is it the row of tiny slippers at the door? The pool noodles you step over each time you go to the car?
The bananas on the tree you see on your daily morning walk? Or the mamak sloshing hot milky tea from cup to cup for teh tarik? Mostly it isn’t the big things but the small things that make your life memorable.
Friends, neighbours, your children wet with sweat from playing outside, or something as simple as a cupcake you watch your child enjoy. Often you forget to capture things which are most obvious.
2. How should you tell your story?
Learn to experiment. Take your time and look at your subject from every angle – high, low, near and far. Try an angle that is unconventional.
What you see in the lens is how your photo will turn out. When you take the shot are you peeking through the lens? Are you positioned down low, or right amidst the kids at play?
Perspective is important in what the viewer sees. Take some time and consider the elements you want to recall in your daily life.
It is easy to always take a close up of kids, but try to zoom out and capture the whole scene. Real life is not only the kids but also the mess they create too.
3. The importance of light
Early morning and late afternoon provide short periods of soft lighting in Malaysia. This is perfect for warm tones without too much shadow.
While the midday sun can be harsh in photos it can also create interesting shadows, while clouds help to diffuse the harsh light and create softness. Do make good use of natural window light.
While backlit photos create beautiful light, backlighting can also create a silhouette of the subject. Face the light for a well-lit face or try standing beside a window for half shadow.
For best results, keep experimenting until you understand the possibilities. Mastering light is very important in photography.
4. Practice, practice and practice again
A good photographer always has a camera or phone handy. The best photos don’t always come from the best DSLR camera. They come from the camera you have handy with you, the one you know how to use well.
Don’t discount your phone camera as an option. Many of the newer phone cameras have powerful lenses and the ability to manually adjust settings like exposure and aperture. Learn how to use it till you are familiar with what options you have.
5. Print your photos
Whether it be photo books, art prints or even standard prints, do print your photos so you can share and admire them and even hang them your wall.
Your biggest problem will be sorting the photos to find the ones you want to print. Finally, don’t forget to jump into a photo every now and then to get in the action too.
Happy Go KL is the go-to site for families in the Klang Valley. Our content is written by parents for parents, so you know where to get out and about with your kids in KL and the surrounding region.