Photography Basics for Beginners
February 03, 2023
As a photographer or aspiring photographer, one of the most important tools in your daily life is your camera. In this blog, we'll share tips for getting the most out of your camera and composing stunning photos. From understanding your camera's manual settings to utilising accessories like flash and tripods, we’ll cover everything you need to know to improve your photography.
So grab your camera, and continue to read our tips for you!
1. Play with the Shutter Speed
Modifying the shutter speed is a key component of exposure and one way to control how dark or bright an image is. A fast shutter speed limits the amount of light that reaches the sensor or film, which is particularly helpful when shooting in very bright light or when you want to shoot with your aperture wide open for a shallow depth of field. Alternatively, when shooting with a slow shutter speed, the shutter remains open for longer, capturing more light and resulting in a brighter image.
Photo by Rahul Shah (Pexels)
Playing with the shutter speed allows you to produce various artistic effects and tell different stories with the same scene. Fast shutter speeds freeze objects and elements in motion while obtaining sharp, clear photos - perfect for action, wildlife, and sports photography. In contrast, slow shutter speeds deliberately capture blur to indicate motion in subjects or elements, giving them life and movement - perfect for flowing water, clouds, or even people on a busy street. How fast or slow a shutter speed is, is relative to the movement in your image. But by experimenting with shutter speed, you can convey a wide range of moods and emotions in your photos, from tranquillity to drama.
Digital Camera with Fast Shutter Speed
2. Change your Aperture
Understanding how aperture choice affects a photo is the best thing you can do to advance your photography. Not only is it crucial for obtaining correct exposure, but it also determines how much of your scene will be in focus. The aperture is the opening in your lens that regulates the quantity of light entering the camera and reaching the recording medium (sensor or film), much like the pupil of an eye.
The size of an aperture is indicated by its f-stop. Small f-stop numbers (like f/1.2) refer to large aperture openings that let in a lot of light. At the other end of the scale are large f-stop numbers (like f/22), representing a small aperture opening that restricts the light entering the lens. The language around apertures and f-stops can seem confusing and contradictory at first. The key thing to remember is as the aperture opens up and gets larger (or wider), the f-stop number gets smaller, and as the aperture is closed down and gets smaller (or narrower), the f-stop number gets higher.
Small Aperture vs Large Aperture
Small Aperture (large f-stop number) - will give you a greater depth of field, keeping both the foreground and background in focus. Often used in landscape, architecture, and macro photography, where you want to keep everything in focus and give the impression that the scene continues indefinitely.
Photo by Sameera Madusanka (Pexels)
Large Aperture (small f-stop number) - will give you a shallow depth of field, keeping only the subject in focus and blurring the foreground and background. Great for portraits, wildlife, and still-life photography, where you want to draw attention to the subject and isolate it from the rest of the scene.
Photo by Pixabay
Note: You may have heard the term “fast lens” - this refers to a lens with a large maximum aperture that allows more light to reach the camera’s sensor or film quickly. Perfect for shooting in low light conditions and with faster shutter speeds.
3. Understanding the ISO
ISO is the third element influencing exposure, and understanding how it will affect your photo is essential for maximising the quality of your images. ISO works with the aperture and shutter speed to regulate how much light reaches the recording medium. Together, these three elements form the exposure triangle; as one increases, another must decrease to keep the exposure the same.
In the case of digital cameras, ISO refers to how sensitive the sensor is to light. You can adjust the sensitivity of your camera to light by increasing or decreasing the ISO value. Higher ISOs (such as ISO 6400) make the sensor more responsive to light and, therefore, great for shooting in low-light settings. However, utilising a high ISO may also degrade the quality of your image. With increasing ISO value, there will be increased noise in the photo, particularly in the shadows. It is crucial to strike the ideal balance between exposure and noise for maximal image quality. All cameras perform differently in low light, with some handling higher ISOs with less noise. Understanding your camera's capabilities will help you find that balance.
In contrast, a low ISO (such as ISO 100) can produce a cleaner, sharper image with less noise, making it perfect for shooting in bright light. Setting your camera to a lower ISO will force you to select a wider aperture, slower shutter speed, or both. You can often get around this using a tripod in some scenarios, such as landscape and architectural photography.
Once you understand how ISO, aperture, and shutter speed interact to affect exposure, you'll be able to choose camera settings that produce better pictures in any lighting situation.
4. Learn your Camera's Manual Mode
Using your camera in manual mode is where full creative control over your photography happens. In manual mode, you decide which aperture, shutter speed, and ISO combination will best convey the story you wish to tell with your image.
Learning to use your camera in manual mode takes time and practice. There will be plenty of missed and failed images along the way; these can be your greatest tool for learning. Analyse them and ask yourself why it didn’t work, and adjust those settings accordingly next time. Pick up your camera and use it in manual mode as much as possible; if you do, changing the aperture and shutter speed will become instinctual before you know it.
Photo by Elviss Railijs Bitāns (Pexels)
By experimenting with your camera settings, you'll be able to select which elements will be in and out of focus, expose images to your own preference and decide on the best way to solve any lighting issues, which all leads to imaginative and unique photos professionally executed.
Best Digital Camera for Beginners
5. Keep an Eye on the Background
When composing your shot, look at the background and see how it affects the overall image. A cluttered or distracting environment can take away from the main subject and make the photo less intriguing. On the other hand, a simple and clean background can enhance the main subject and create a more visually pleasing picture.
Photo by Robert Forever Ago (Pexels)
Creative use of foreground and background elements will give your images a sense of depth and dimension and create balance. An in-focus background can provide context and scale, whereas an out-of-focus background can effectively bring all attention to the subject.
Additionally, paying attention to the background will help you avoid undesirable items like poles, cables, and garbage bins damaging your shot. Simply taking a step to the side can be the difference between capturing a beautiful, clean portrait with all attention on the model or one with a pole or tree sticking out of their head.
6. Applying the Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a useful technique, and a great place to start that may help you develop your understanding of composition. This principle involves dividing your frame into three parts, horizontally and vertically, and placing your subject at one of the intersecting points. Doing so often produces a more balanced and elegant image that directs the viewer's attention to the focal point. The rule of thirds is one of the most well-known compositional guides that is easy to apply, yet it may significantly enhance the impact of your photographs. Strategically off-centering your subject can help to avoid repeatedly producing a stagnant and dull pictures.
The rule of thirds may not always apply in your everyday photography, but by doing this practice, you can create eye-catching and dynamic photos, and improve your photography. And once you have spent time learning and applying compositional ‘rules’, you can set about breaking them intentionally.
7. Experiment with Different Angles
Experimenting with different angles is one of the most effective techniques for developing your own photographic style. This technique is a great approach to adding more creativity and emotion to your photos. You’ll capture more unique images and avoid taking photographs that mirror what has been done before.
Different Types of Angles that can improve your Photography
Instead of always shooting from eye level, try these alternative perspectives for evoking various emotions in your imagery.
Low Angle Photography
Shooting from a low angle can make your subject appear more dominant and powerful; it can also emphasise the background and give a sense of scale to the image.
Photo by Nachelle Nocom (Pexels)
High Angle Photography
Shooting from a high angle can make your subject appear more vulnerable, or it can establish the scale or grandeur of a scene, depending on the context of the photo.
Photo by Igor Korzh (Pexels)
Creative Angle Photography
By experimenting with unusual angles, you can convey the idea of movement and infuse your photos with dynamic energy, making them more engaging and captivating to the viewer.
Photo by Rafael Santos (Pexels)
A snapshot taken straight on might give a feeling of steadiness and stillness, but a photo taken diagonally can add energy and movement to the image. Playing with the lines in your composition is an effective technique in drawing your viewer’s attention to the subject. Also known as leading lines, these may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, and even curved and can be anything from trees to a spiraling staircase.
It's also worth moving around your subject to see how the light is falling from different perspectives, as eye-catching shadows and highlights will further enhance the drama and depth of a picture.
8. Try Continuous Shooting Mode
When the action is fast, a simple strategy to help you get the best shot is to switch your camera to Continuous Shooting Mode. Also known as sport or burst mode, it enables you to capture several photos quickly, one after the other, while holding down the shutter button. This mode is ideal for catching quick-moving action like sports, wildlife, or vehicles.
Burst shooting improves your chances of capturing the ideal moment, whether it's a winning goal or the emotion on an athlete’s face. Additionally, it can be beneficial when photographing large group portraits as it increases your chances of getting a shot where everyone’s eyes are open.
When starting out, it may be tempting to just shoot everything in Continuous Mode to increase the likelihood of nailing the shot. But burst shooting should be used mindfully when the occasion arises. Your camera’s default drive mode is Single Shot, which is best for most situations. Shooting just one frame at a time allows you to create more thoughtful compositions and remain connected with your subject and the scene.
Important Note:
Doing burst shots can be demanding on your camera's battery and storage, so make sure to have a fully charged battery and enough storage space before taking burst shots.
9. Use a Tripod
A tripod is a valuable tool for any photographer. By stabilising your camera and lens with a tripod, you can eliminate the camera shake that often occurs when shooting with long lenses or slow shutter speeds and nail sharp pictures even in dim light. Using a tripod encourages you to take your time and compose thoughtfully, enabling several frames of the same scene or object to be captured without the camera moving - perfect for focus stacking or stitching panoramas.
Photo by Photomix Company (Pexels)
Additionally, a tripod is ideal for long-exposure, time-lapse, and video recording since it enables you to maintain camera stability and produce smooth footage. They are also helpful in astrophotography as they ensure your camera remains still while the exposure is being made. And perfect for dawn and dusk landscape photography as it allows you to take pin-sharp pictures with slower shutter speeds.
Most Viewed Tripods in CameraPro
10. Right use of Flash
Strategic use of flash lighting can vastly improve your photos. In its most straightforward application, a portable speedlight can be your best friend for taking pictures in dim light to brighten your subject, reduce shadows, and freeze action. They can be used indoors or outside, mounted directly to your camera’s hot shoe, or fired remotely.
Photo by Jacob Sierra (Pexels)
However, flash can also be applied creatively to build depth with shadows and highlights and enhance textures within the scene. You can add a feeling of drama, warmth, or intimacy to your photographs by changing the distance and direction of the flash.
Flash may be used in many ways, just like any tool, so exploring and discovering what works best for your situation is important. Next time you're out taking pictures, grab your speedlight and experiment with bouncing it off different surfaces and directing it at your subject from various angles. Discover how it might improve your shots with a dash of drama and originality.
We hope you found our blog post about photography and camera tips educational and enjoyable. Photography is both a science and an art form requiring you to learn your tools and practice with light and composition. Be open to experimentation and taking chances with your images; your photography will exponentially improve when you do. And please share your stunning photographs with us and the rest of the world
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