Photography Techniques for Beginners
Despite all the changes digital technology has meant for photography, it is as big a hobby as ever. The immediacy of digital cameras gives instant feedback to the beginning photographer, and the convenience of editing on the computer saves the trouble and expense of building a home darkroom. Photographic technique, however, has remained constant. Understanding your camera and how it captures light is important to gain control of your photographic system.
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Basics of Exposure
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Modern cameras have powerful automatic modes, so much so that today's photographer can set and forget the camera's settings and rely on algorithms to handle exposure calculations. The savvy beginner will seek to learn how exposure works and how shutter speeds and aperture settings interrelate because such knowledge serves as a base for technique and controlling the results the camera can give.
Focus and Depth of Field
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Emphasis can be placed in a photograph based on what is sharp and what is out of focus. A landscape, for instance, may require the entire image to be reasonably sharp while a flower may be best displayed with the background blurred. Experiment with different planes of focus using the same scene and viewpoint. Try some photos to keep everything in focus and try some with only a single object in focus.
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Panning
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Holding the camera itself is often overlooked. Rather than hands on either side of the camera, the left hand should support the lens so the camera doesn't pivot up and down in your hands. Manual focus cameras require this grip for operation and auto focus cameras do not, but it is stable and allows for smooth panning, a key technique to follow action. Take photos of cars or bikes passing in front of you and learn to anticipate action. Panning can keep the subject in focus while the background blurs, suggesting motion and speed.
Using Light
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What sets apart photographs from snapshots is how light is used. Direction, intensity, shadows and highlights all impact the resulting composition. Many people take light for granted, particularly when shooting outdoors. Observing and using daylight can be a tricky skill to master. Pro photographers have a rule of thumb about not shooting between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., because the sun is high, and contrasty and doesn't make for interesting illumination.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
