Based on the number of people who seem to try to take the same photo over and over it seems people don’t understand how to take photographs this way. There are so many failed attempts that we thought we’d put together some tips on how to take these photos properly.

Get close
The closer you are the better your jumping photo will look. The subject will look as though they are much higher in the air and the effect will be more pronounced. In this photo I was using a wide angle lens and I was quite close.

Get low
The same applies here, the lower you are the better your jumping photo will look. Again, the subject will look like they are much higher in the air and the overall effect will be more energetic.

Use a flash
If you can, use a flash to help freeze the action. Using the flash adds more light and makes it much easier for your camera to shoot an image that isn’t blurry. If no flash was used in this image it simply would not have worked at all. This photo was taken inside a massive tree.

Learn your camera’s timing
If your camera is not a DSLR there may be a delay between pressing the shutter and when the photo is actually taken. The trick is the learn the delay between when you push the button and when the photo is shot. Most point and shoot cameras have some kind of delay because of their auto-focus system. Once you have this delay mastered your jumping photos will be dramatically improved.

Do the countdown
Tell your subjects that you will countdown from three and say jump in order to get the timing right. So you’d say something like 3,2,1,JUMP! You may have to do this a few times to get the timing right. Interestingly many people say things like “ready? go!” or “ok, JUMP!” which clearly doesn’t work.

Shoot Portrait not Landscape
If you shoot your image in portrait as opposed to landscape you’ll exaggerate the height of the jump. You’ll also have a better chance of catching the action given it’s quite an up and down… Also, be sure to include some of the floor or ground in the image to show more height.

Strike a Pose
Tell the person you’re photography to do a funny ‘move’ or ‘pose’ when they’re in the air. It will make for a more dynamic image.

There are even websites dedicated to jumping photos:

http://justjumpingphotos.com

http://www.jumpingphotos.com

I took all the photos in this post and had lots of fun doing it. We hope you enjoy taking your jumping pictures as well.

Sometimes learning photography can be a little dull and scientific. Apertures, f-stops and ISOs can get a little too technical and tedious sometimes. We’ve tried to make our online photography class fun and engaging but even with our class the details of learning photography can be a little dry sometimes. Given that, we’re put together this post about fun things you can do with Photography if you’re just getting started or if you’re the next Cartier Brasson.

Be the party photographer.

Throwing a party? Or is your friend throwing a party? Sign yourself up as the ‘professional’ photographer for the night and document the evening. Just be careful about posting too much debauchery on Facebook et al. Take it kinda seriously, and tell everyone you’re the “official” photographer. If you don’t have a speedlite go out and get one. If you’re a cheapskate buy one that can be returned if you must. The point is to have fun and get some good party shots.

Buy a lomo or a Holga.

The look these intentionally flaw laden cameras create is really fun. The fish eye lomos are especially fun. They have ridiculously wide angle lenses on them. So wide that they’ll capture a person head to toe when the camera is just a few inches from their nose. Scan these photos and give them to your friends so they can use them on Facebook. Better yet, have prints made and make a collage of them on your wall.

Buy a polaroid camera.

Go ahead and buy yourself a polaroid camera and spend the day walking around with it. You only have a certain number of shots to take so make em count. Then post the good ones up in your house / apartment.

We’ll be posting more of these “fun with photography” posts in the future. In the meantime let’s lighten up a little as photographers sometimes. Remember to have fun and create great images at the same time!

Photos by thelastminute and squeakymarmot.

http://twitter.com/photographyicon

This is a handy video that explores the concept of depth of field in photography. We go through concepts like this in our online photography course.