By Emma Murphy
Authentic moments are those small, genuine, and unposed instances that capture the essence of a person or a place. They’re the decisive moments that leave a lasting impression. That split second when the right action or expression happens, uninterrupted by the photographer’s presence but perfectly captured as an image.
As a photographer, it’s your job to be prepared to capture these moments when they occur. This moment can be elusive, but if you learn how to work with it, you can capture some amazing photographs. In this article, we will explore the concept of authenticity and give you tips on how to capture it in your own photos.
Capturing authenticity takes some experience in planning and timing, but it’s worth it when you get the perfect shot. Regardless of what type of photo you’re trying to take, here are a few timeless tips to inspire you.
Always be Prepared
Life is full of distractions that can keep you from being fully present at the moment. The key to capturing authentic moments in photography is always being present and prepared.
How many times have you seen a beautiful scene and wished you had your camera with you? One way to be always prepared is to keep your camera with you at all times and be ready to shoot when something catches your eye. This may seem like an obvious solution, but it’s often the simplest things that we overlook. If your camera is always within reach, you’ll be more likely to use it when an opportunity arises. Make sure you always have your batteries charged and a spare memory card in your bag!
Second, practice awareness of your surroundings and the potential photo opportunities they present. Authentic moments often happen spontaneously and without warning. By being aware of your surroundings, you’ll be in a better position to capture them when they do occur. Pay attention to detail and look for patterns or rhythms in the scene you’re photographing.
An authentic moment can be a split-second event, such as a child blowing out candles on a birthday cake, or a unique moment like the happy tears of a father walking his daughter down the aisle. If you photograph events, you might notice there are always some funny moments and facial expressions which occur during certain points. Try to keep a mental record of when these are most likely to occur. By doing this, you’ll be better prepared to anticipate the action and be prepared to capture the moment when it happens.
Know Your Equipment
If you want to be able to take great photos, then it’s important to have good equipment. This doesn’t mean you need to invest a fortune to start taking authentic photos. But if you are really serious about moving forward with your photography, you’ll need a camera which can focus manually. A decent DSLR camera and a prime lens should do the trick.
What you really want to invest in is some time to get to know your camera and what it can do.
The more you understand your equipment and how it works, the better photographer you will be. If you are comfortable with your gear, you won’t get flustered and miss that magic moment in photography. Every beginner photographer will have stories about missing the best shot because they were fiddling with their settings. Get ahead of the curve by practising before that big event.
One way to get to grips with camera settings is to understand exposure. The exposure triangle refers to the three main factors that affect the exposure of a photograph: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
Aperture controls the amount of light that enters the camera, shutter speed determines how long the sensor is exposed to light, and ISO determines the sensor’s sensitivity to light. By playing around with different settings for each of these factors, photographers can create photos that are truly authentic and representative of the moments they are trying to capture.
For example, a high aperture setting will result in a shallow depth of field, making the background appear blurry. Using a high ISO setting will make the image appear brighter but also introduce more noise. A narrower aperture will result in a greater depth of field, which is ideal for photos that include multiple subjects or complex scenery. A slower shutter speed will capture more light, but it will also create a blurrier image. This can be used to great effect if you are trying to capture a sense of movement in your photo. A faster shutter speed, on the other hand, will freeze the action and result in a sharper image. This is ideal for capturing decisive moments or candid expressions. As you can see there are a lot of factors to play with!
By understanding and experimenting with the exposure, you can create more authentic photographs that capture the essence of your subject matter. Experiment with each of these settings and take lots of photos so you can start to develop a feel for what works best for each situation.
Avoid All Forms of Artifice
Capturing authentic moments in photography is not about chasing the perfect shot. It’s about being present in the moment and allowing yourself to be open to what unfolds before you. By simply observing life as it happens, you will find that the most beautiful and genuine photos are the ones that come – without any planning or staging.
To start taking the most authentic photos, make sure everything in the scene is authentic. And by that, I mean minimal equipment and zero interference!
Posing, props, smiling for the camera, artificial lighting…get rid of them! If it’s not something you do naturally when there is no camera present, it won’t look authentic when you take the shot. So next time you go out shooting, leave your tripod at home, relax, and let the magic happen. You can consider re-introducing these elements later on, but to practice taking authentic shots you need to start au natural!
Conclusion
Capturing authentic moments in photography is all about being in the moment yourself and letting your natural reactions show through. When you’re able to let go and just enjoy the experience, magic happens in front of your lens. With preparation and a little bit of luck, you’ll be able to capture some truly remarkable shots. Authentic moments make for some of the best photos – so always be prepared! The world is a beautiful place, and you have a unique perspective that can add beauty to others’ lives.