As a photographer, keeping your camera with you at all times is the best thing you can do. Because you're not committing each shot to film, you can take hundreds of pictures before your battery runs out - that's the beauty of digital photography. There are a few basic principles which all photographers need to get to grips with, but, ultimately, your photos should be a creative expression of the way you see the world around you.
Composition is central to any photograph. When you're framing a shot, always remember the 'rule of thirds' - imagine the scene is made up of 9 equal squares, and use the points at which they intersect as a guide for where to position objects of interest. In general, non-symmetrical photos will look more dynamic, but there are certain instances where symmetry can be used to great effect (architectural shots, for example).
Getting the exposure right is the next step. Exposure is the amount of light that reaches the camera's sensor, which is dependent on shutter speed and aperture. A longer shutter speed means a brighter image, whilst a slower shutter speed will give you darker results. Long exposures will introduce motion blur to your shots, and may also necessitate a tripod. A high aperture value means a smaller opening through which light can reach the sensor, and vice versa. This can also be used to regulate exposure.
Depth of field is also affected by aperture. Depth of field refers to the parts of the image that are in focus, and the sense of depth this creates. To keep only the foreground in focus, a low aperture is needed, whilst a high aperture will allow you to keep objects in the distance in focus as well.
Something that is a little harder to teach is timing. Spotting what makes a good photo, and being there to capture it, is all about instinct. You may have a natural photographer's eye, but the key is practice.
Composition is central to any photograph. When you're framing a shot, always remember the 'rule of thirds' - imagine the scene is made up of 9 equal squares, and use the points at which they intersect as a guide for where to position objects of interest. In general, non-symmetrical photos will look more dynamic, but there are certain instances where symmetry can be used to great effect (architectural shots, for example).
Getting the exposure right is the next step. Exposure is the amount of light that reaches the camera's sensor, which is dependent on shutter speed and aperture. A longer shutter speed means a brighter image, whilst a slower shutter speed will give you darker results. Long exposures will introduce motion blur to your shots, and may also necessitate a tripod. A high aperture value means a smaller opening through which light can reach the sensor, and vice versa. This can also be used to regulate exposure.
Depth of field is also affected by aperture. Depth of field refers to the parts of the image that are in focus, and the sense of depth this creates. To keep only the foreground in focus, a low aperture is needed, whilst a high aperture will allow you to keep objects in the distance in focus as well.
Something that is a little harder to teach is timing. Spotting what makes a good photo, and being there to capture it, is all about instinct. You may have a natural photographer's eye, but the key is practice.
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