How to Take Quality Tumblr Pictures
Make sure you have a steady internet connection., Acquire a camera., Make sure you have a way to upload photos., Find editing software that fits your needs., Decide on your subject., If you’re using a phone, avoid the zoom feature., Make sure your...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Make sure you have a steady internet connection.
You'll need to be able to get online to access Tumblr and upload your picture. -
Step 2: Acquire a camera.
This can be a phone, a tablet, a point-and-shoot digital camera, or a professional-grade DSLR camera with advanced settings.
You should pick whatever falls within your comfort zone and stick to it.
If you want a dedicated camera, read up on your options before choosing one. , You'll need to transfer them to your computer for the editing and uploading process.
If you have a phone or tablet, you can connect to the internet and upload your photos either to the Tumblr app directly, or to the cloud (iCloud or Google Drive).
If you have a dedicated camera, you'll need a USB cable.
These normally come with new cameras.
You can also buy one at any store that sells cameras or their accessories, or you can buy one online.
You can also remove a camera's memory card and plug it into your computer if your computer has an SD slot. , All Windows and Apple computers come with basic editing capabilities in their respective photo applications, while you can purchase more advanced programs like Photoshop from online.
Instagram is a great free alternative available for iOS, Android, and Windows phones and tablets.
It includes some basic editing features such as filters and lighting adjustments.
After editing, you can save Instagram photos to your phone or computer.
Photoshop is as cheap as $9.99/month, and it provides more than enough tools to extensively edit your photos., To ensure the greatest possible quality, should focus on one specific subject.
Tumblr pictures tend to focus on a single subject in a simple setting, such as a solitary chess piece on a board or a single tree against a backdrop of grass. , Digital zoom only enlarges the picture on your screen, which leads to pixelation.
If you need a close-up shot, simply move closer to your subject. , Unless you’re shooting a sunrise/sunset or a similar scene, your subject should always be illuminated, not backlit.
When shooting indoors, experiment with your subject placement.
Repositioning your subject to be frontlit—illuminated by light from behind you—rather than backlit will increase your photo’s quality immensely. , You should be as still as possible; motion will blur your picture. , The rule of thirds is a photography technique where you mentally separate your picture into a three-by-three grid, then position important elements of the picture to intersect the grid lines.
This technique is deemed more pleasing to the eye than placing a subject in the middle of the screen.For example, if you were shooting a picture of a coast line, the bottom third of the photo would probably be the sand, the middle third would be the ocean, and the top third would be the sky.
You can enable a three-by-three grid for most phones' screens in the “Camera” section of the “Settings” menu., A blurry or darkened subject is very difficult to fix while editing. , Your subject and any areas you deem important should be the main focus of your picture, keeping in mind the rule of thirds. , The areas surrounding your subject are also important, since they emphasize the scale and setting of your subject.
Though your subject should be the most in focus, it shouldn’t be the only thing in the frame. , You should take several shots from the same angle, then switch to a different angle and take more.
This will ensure that at least one of your photos achieves your desired result.
If you're using a phone, try holding it in one hand while taking the picture with the other.
This will increase your stability, which impacts the quality of the photo. , Almost all digital cameras have an LCD screen on the back that will allow you to view your picture immediately after taking it. , It's better to take too many pictures than too few.
After you're satisfied with your pictures, you can move on to editing and uploading them! , If you shot on a phone, you can upload the pictures to iCloud or Google Drive, or you can email them to yourself.
You can then download from your cloud service.
If you shot on a camera, connect the small end of your camera’s USB cable to the camera and the large end to your computer.
Follow the on-screen instructions to download your photos. , Some criteria to keep in mind are stability of the image, the rule of thirds, and the overall aesthetic appeal.
Once you've found your photo, you may proceed to edit it.
You should make a copy of this picture to act as a backup. , How you do this will vary depending on your picture’s composition and your editing software choice, but you should adjust features such as:
Contrast, which determines the amount of difference between light colors and dark colors.
A photo with low contrast will appear dull, while high contrast will have bright colors and black shadows.
Saturation, which is the amount of color in your picture (black-and-white photos have zero saturation).
Highlights, which dictate how bright the light sections in your photo are. , Brightness, sharpness, and the green/blue/red settings are all standard in photo editing software--explore the different settings to see what effects they have on your picture.
You can always start over if you make a mistake. , Filters are common on sites and apps such as Instagram.
They add a specific color theme to your photo without adjusting any composition settings.
For example, some filters wash out all of the bright colors, while others emphasize them. , Once you save it, your picture is ready for Tumblr! ,, Make sure you log into the account to which you’d like to upload your picture. , This should be located at the top of the page.,, You have successfully created and posted a quality Tumblr picture! You can also add text or a description to your photo from this step. -
Step 3: Make sure you have a way to upload photos.
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Step 4: Find editing software that fits your needs.
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Step 5: Decide on your subject.
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Step 6: If you’re using a phone
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Step 7: avoid the zoom feature.
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Step 8: Make sure your light is always behind you and in front of your subject.
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Step 9: Hold your camera or phone steady.
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Step 10: Use the rule of thirds.
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Step 11: Make sure your subject is in focus.
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Step 12: Emphasize the important aspects of your picture.
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Step 13: Don’t discount negative space.
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Step 14: Take your picture with your camera of choice.
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Step 15: Look at your photos after you've taken them to see if you like them.
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Step 16: If needed
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Step 17: take more pictures.
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Step 18: Upload your pictures to a computer.
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Step 19: Go through your pictures to find your favorite.
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Step 20: Edit your picture as you please.
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Step 21: Experiment with other features.
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Step 22: Add a filter if you want a quick edit.
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Step 23: Review your edits before saving your picture.
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Step 24: Open Tumblr in a browser of your choice.
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Step 25: Sign into Tumblr if you aren’t already signed in.
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Step 26: From your dashboard
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Step 27: click the icon that says “Photo”.
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Step 28: Click the “Upload Photos” option.
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Step 29: Select your edited photo for upload
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Step 30: then press “Post”.
Detailed Guide
You'll need to be able to get online to access Tumblr and upload your picture.
This can be a phone, a tablet, a point-and-shoot digital camera, or a professional-grade DSLR camera with advanced settings.
You should pick whatever falls within your comfort zone and stick to it.
If you want a dedicated camera, read up on your options before choosing one. , You'll need to transfer them to your computer for the editing and uploading process.
If you have a phone or tablet, you can connect to the internet and upload your photos either to the Tumblr app directly, or to the cloud (iCloud or Google Drive).
If you have a dedicated camera, you'll need a USB cable.
These normally come with new cameras.
You can also buy one at any store that sells cameras or their accessories, or you can buy one online.
You can also remove a camera's memory card and plug it into your computer if your computer has an SD slot. , All Windows and Apple computers come with basic editing capabilities in their respective photo applications, while you can purchase more advanced programs like Photoshop from online.
Instagram is a great free alternative available for iOS, Android, and Windows phones and tablets.
It includes some basic editing features such as filters and lighting adjustments.
After editing, you can save Instagram photos to your phone or computer.
Photoshop is as cheap as $9.99/month, and it provides more than enough tools to extensively edit your photos., To ensure the greatest possible quality, should focus on one specific subject.
Tumblr pictures tend to focus on a single subject in a simple setting, such as a solitary chess piece on a board or a single tree against a backdrop of grass. , Digital zoom only enlarges the picture on your screen, which leads to pixelation.
If you need a close-up shot, simply move closer to your subject. , Unless you’re shooting a sunrise/sunset or a similar scene, your subject should always be illuminated, not backlit.
When shooting indoors, experiment with your subject placement.
Repositioning your subject to be frontlit—illuminated by light from behind you—rather than backlit will increase your photo’s quality immensely. , You should be as still as possible; motion will blur your picture. , The rule of thirds is a photography technique where you mentally separate your picture into a three-by-three grid, then position important elements of the picture to intersect the grid lines.
This technique is deemed more pleasing to the eye than placing a subject in the middle of the screen.For example, if you were shooting a picture of a coast line, the bottom third of the photo would probably be the sand, the middle third would be the ocean, and the top third would be the sky.
You can enable a three-by-three grid for most phones' screens in the “Camera” section of the “Settings” menu., A blurry or darkened subject is very difficult to fix while editing. , Your subject and any areas you deem important should be the main focus of your picture, keeping in mind the rule of thirds. , The areas surrounding your subject are also important, since they emphasize the scale and setting of your subject.
Though your subject should be the most in focus, it shouldn’t be the only thing in the frame. , You should take several shots from the same angle, then switch to a different angle and take more.
This will ensure that at least one of your photos achieves your desired result.
If you're using a phone, try holding it in one hand while taking the picture with the other.
This will increase your stability, which impacts the quality of the photo. , Almost all digital cameras have an LCD screen on the back that will allow you to view your picture immediately after taking it. , It's better to take too many pictures than too few.
After you're satisfied with your pictures, you can move on to editing and uploading them! , If you shot on a phone, you can upload the pictures to iCloud or Google Drive, or you can email them to yourself.
You can then download from your cloud service.
If you shot on a camera, connect the small end of your camera’s USB cable to the camera and the large end to your computer.
Follow the on-screen instructions to download your photos. , Some criteria to keep in mind are stability of the image, the rule of thirds, and the overall aesthetic appeal.
Once you've found your photo, you may proceed to edit it.
You should make a copy of this picture to act as a backup. , How you do this will vary depending on your picture’s composition and your editing software choice, but you should adjust features such as:
Contrast, which determines the amount of difference between light colors and dark colors.
A photo with low contrast will appear dull, while high contrast will have bright colors and black shadows.
Saturation, which is the amount of color in your picture (black-and-white photos have zero saturation).
Highlights, which dictate how bright the light sections in your photo are. , Brightness, sharpness, and the green/blue/red settings are all standard in photo editing software--explore the different settings to see what effects they have on your picture.
You can always start over if you make a mistake. , Filters are common on sites and apps such as Instagram.
They add a specific color theme to your photo without adjusting any composition settings.
For example, some filters wash out all of the bright colors, while others emphasize them. , Once you save it, your picture is ready for Tumblr! ,, Make sure you log into the account to which you’d like to upload your picture. , This should be located at the top of the page.,, You have successfully created and posted a quality Tumblr picture! You can also add text or a description to your photo from this step.
About the Author
Michael Ford
Writer and educator with a focus on practical cooking knowledge.
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