OnTap Magazine

ontapmag.co.za | Autumn 2019 | 57 TOP TEN This isn’t really a tip but I would like to add it as a final word: don’t let getting the perfect shot distract you from enjoying your beer. It gets warm, you knock the glass over, you’re running late. Sometimes the beer doesn’t need a photo. Be ok with that. Now sit back, sip and know that all is right in the world with a beer in your hand. GET COMPETITIVE Sometimes the only way to get better is to be beaten by those better than you. Then you can learn from what they’ve done and kick their ass the next time. Good ‘beertography’ takes time, so commit to it. You might find you win beer vouchers, or maybe even camera equipment, or just make some new mates. Whichever way, you win. 6 INVOLVE FOOD You know those beer munchies? Use them to your advantage. Beer and a burger? Check. Beer and cake? Check. Beer and anything? Check. Suggest food pairings, cook with beer, and document as you go. Your followers might even make their own suggestions and challenge you to do things you haven’t thought of before. 7 DEVELOP A SIGNATURE I’m not saying go out and hire an expensive designer to hook you up with a logo. What I’m saying is, make it easy for people to identify you as the photographer even if your name isn’t attached to it. For me, it’s the “Hope” tattoo on my left arm. Yours could be using the same glass every time, or taking it in the same place every time. Find it, use it. 8 USE THE LOCATION I always make sure I have a beer in my bag so if I see a cool spot, I can whip it out and take the shot. I’ve caught a number of my favourite shots “by chance”. But I set up my chance by having beer with me. If you’re on a bush holiday, work it. If you’re walking through the city, shoot it! If you’re at home on the couch, whip it out (the phone, I mean). 9 INVEST IN GOOD EQUIPMENT Most beertographers have a smart phone that can take (almost) as good a photo as an SLR. It’s great because it makes the “hobby” accessible to more people. But if you have a camera or can afford to invest in one, it’s definitely worth it. The improvement from my first pictures (about five years ago) to now is astounding. I first shot with an iPhone 5, then a 6, then I bought my Nikon. It’s up to you. 10 HAVE FUN It seems like an obvious one, but I’m the first one to take myself too seriously. I once too a photo of a beer called “Old Crabby” surrounded by tampons because… you know… PMS… Needless to say it has since been removed from my profile but I had a good laugh at it a year or so after. Then pressed delete. Beer brings people together and good memories are made. Take photos that make you remember the good times. 2 PAY ATTENTION TO DETAIL Let’s talk basics: is your horizon line straight or do you have an ocean sitting at 35 degrees? Is your glass dirtied with finger prints? The small things make the biggest difference. If you take a photo and see that you missed a spot, there’s a great app called Snapseed that lets you “fix” small things like that. Ideally though, shoot it right the first time. 3 PLAY WITH COLOUR What colour is the label on your favourite beer? Green? Look for some greenery. Orange? Maybe there’s a red wall in your neighborhood. Or try a little contrast: a blue label in front of a yellow door. These are basic examples, but find things that complement the colour of your photo all round. Fun fact: blues and greens get the highest engagement (i.e. likes and comments) when used in photos. 4 FRAME IT Another detail that people often conveniently ignore is how the beer is framed. I've seen some beers look like they've been decapitated in photographs - no neck, no head, no bottom. Your profile picture wouldn't have half a face so why do that to a beer? Make sure you see the whole beer/glass when shooting it. (With the exception of a deliberate halving, but otherwise it just looks lazy). 5 SHOW THAT LOVELY FACE People connect with people. We’ve become so obsessed with our phones and screens that sometimes we forget who is actually looking at what we post. Besides, you probably look your happiest when you’re drinking beer anyway… THE FINAL WORD 1 DON’T BE AFRAID TO DELETE Let’s be honest, there’ll always be another beer. So don’t be afraid to delete photos that actually aren’t that great. If you’re building an online beer persona, do you really want subpar images floating around? I’m guilty of this too - I’ve put some real crap out there because I just want to post something. THE CRAFT OF CAPTURING THE ART