Camera zoom: how to get great photos with your zoom

Almost all cameras on the market are equipped with some kind of zoom function. The irony of this gift of modern technology is that the camera zoom is almost always used incorrectly or not at all. Many beginning photographers consider zoom to be "far away" and never understand the impact that properly zooming can have on their images. With that in mind, here are some great ways to use your zoom or function lens the next time you go out to shoot:

Crop, Crop, Crop

In a perfect world, no piece of photography software would have to come with a "crop" function. If you don't know the term "cropping", it refers to removing all the extra things in the image that the photographer should have avoided when taking the picture. Instead of cropping the background debris later, use your camera's zoom and fill the frame with only the important parts of the image. Pictures of family reunions are infamous for this, as most photographers do not fill the frame with the subject and instead take a photo consisting primarily of the background.

One step back

No camera lens reflects the real subject with 100% accuracy. There is a little distortion in every type of lens, and this can and should inform your decisions with the zoom of your camera. For example, taking portraits with a slightly farther zoom lens will give you much better results than putting the camera directly on someone's face. Try it out the next time you take a portrait-style photo. Take some close up and then zoom in on some and see which one your subject likes best.

Very well, spy on your loved ones

If you have a powerful camera zoom or a large lens, it may be time to try being smart. Obviously, it's not a good idea to invade the privacy of your friends and family, but candid photos are a great way to capture the people you care about as natural beings. When you're away with the camera, people tend to feel more comfortable and act "normal", so you'll end up capturing some great images that you might otherwise have missed zoom background images.

A zoom is not just a tool to use when you are away. Use it to enhance your composition, make your subject feel comfortable, and steal moments you never could have captured. A zoom-capable lens is a wonderful tool to help you on your quest to become a great photographer, so have fun finding new and creative ways to use it. You will love the results.