Forbes’ list of “Six Ways To Get Better Photos From Your DSLR” is a great entry point for photographers and videographers alike to start improving their shots.

Similar to last week’s article “5 DIY Lighting Techniques for Beginner Shooters”, these tips are all aimed at photographers. However many of them could easily be adapted to shooting video as well. Without further ado:

Six Ways To Get Better Photos From Your DSLR

So you’ve gone out and purchased that shiny new DSLR or high-end mirrorless camera. The one whose sales brochure promises it will free you to create amazing images. Yet your photos don’t seem much better than what you were getting with your point-and-shoot, or your phone, for that matter. The truth is that there’s no magic bullet for turning out inspiring photographs. While today’s enthusiast cameras can indeed produce remarkable results, a camera is only as good as the person standing behind it. Here are some tried and true photo tips that can lead you to better images. They’re based on principles nearly as old as photography. So you don’t need the most technologically advanced gear to practice them. You can use these tips with any camera that has manual exposure controls, the ability to swap lenses, and a flash port.

Shoot in great light

Noon is a great time for lunch, but not so hot for taking photos outdoors. The sun is at its highest point overhead, casting harsh light that often leads to blown out skies in landscapes or  unflattering hot spots in portraits. Photographers have long known that the best light for shooting outdoors occurs around dawn and dusk, the so-called golden hours. Early in the morning you get a soft cooler light that offers even illumination. Late in the day, as the sun sets, you get a warm light coupled with long shadows that add depth and dimension to your image. So the next time you’re on vacation, use your sightseeing time to scout locations, saving some time about an hour or so before sunset to revisit some of your favorites and photograph them in flattering light.

Blur the background

One of the most effective ways to make any subject stand out against a busy background is to shoot at a wide aperture. Doing so narrows the portion of the scene that is in sharp focus, an area described as depth of field. Here, your DSLR or large-sensor mirrorless camera will have a huge advantage over point-and-shoot cameras or smartphones. That’s because the larger the camera sensor, the narrower you can make your depth of field. When you shoot at a very wide aperture, the background blurs into a creamy abstract pattern of colors, making your subject pop. The wider the aperture, the more dramatic the result, so go as wide as your lens allows.

For the rest of Forbes’ photography tips, be sure to visit www.Forbes.com