August 27, 2025 | 01:12 am
The cameras on mobile devices today allow everyone to capture various interesting moments, even though digital cameras still exist for hobbyists and professional photographers. The photos produced by both types of cameras can be used for documentation, for storing important moments as memories, or for professional purposes. These photos can also be considered as art, for entertainment, and can even be entered into photography competitions.
So, how can we ensure that the photos we take are not only interesting but also tell a story and convey a message, and even meet the criteria for winning a photo competition?
Kompas photographer and Mata Waktu activist, Danu Kusworo, shared a number of tips and tricks on how to improve the quality of photos and win various photography competitions. "Anything we photograph may seem ordinary to us, but it can turn out to be good, become an idea, and inspire others," he said during the Photography Workshop & Inspirational Talk: Unify Movement, Continue to Make an Impact in Solo, Central Java, on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
Objects that may seem ordinary, according to Danu, could be extraordinary to others. Therefore, he advised that anyone should not hesitate to express themselves through photography. However, he also said that one should pay attention to the message intended to be conveyed by the photo. "Don't let this message go unspoken, get distorted, or even be interpreted differently by those enjoying it," he said.
There are two things to consider in photography by the public, namely creating moments and capturing moments. Although these two things are different, according to him, both can be done. Capturing moments is trained with keenness combined with a visual database. Meanwhile, creating moments can be done as long as one does not get trapped in something unnatural. "Creating moments, for example, for the Astra Photo Competition, understand its visual boundaries. Think again whether the moment to be created might occur in real life. That's our filter," he said.
Next is providing information and symbols in the photo that are easily understood by others. Danu added that a photographer should also work with planning. For example, if one wants to capture interesting things in Solo, determine the place or object to be photographed.
However, a photographer can also find interesting objects or even more interesting ones that were not planned. "And to determine whether the object is interesting or not, this is something we have to train. But at least we can base it on the fact that everything is new, everything is unknown to others," he said.
Danu reminded that every photo is history. The eyes and the lens are different visuals. A good photographer even already has a "photo" before taking the photo. "Update your skills. And now is the era of reading photos, not just looking at them," he said.
Here are some tricks and tips for taking photos from Danu Kusworo:
1. Take close-up photos for clarity and detail.
2. Look for unusual angles. Don't just stand still, but explore angles.
3. Avoid striking poses, such as deliberate and unnatural poses.
4. Be careful with distractions that disrupt the subject in the photo.
5. Do not exploit and respect the privacy of the photo's subject.
6. Conduct field research beforehand.
7. Focus on the photo subject to be highlighted.
Prior to this, Astra has once again held the Astra Photo Competition and the Astra Journalist Awards (LFA & APA) 2025. Registration for participants has been open since June 18, 2025, and will be closed until November 18, 2025. For registration and more information, visit astra.co.id.
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