Photography techniques

Photography techniques

Camera Basics

• Understand the three pillars of exposure: Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO.
• Aperture controls the depth of field and the amount of light entering the camera.
• Shutter speed controls the duration of the exposure and ability to freeze or blur motion.
• ISO controls the sensitivity of the camera to light.

Composition Techniques

• Know the Rule of Thirds. Place subjects along the lines or at their intersections to create balance.
• Use leading lines to direct the viewer’s eye through the photo.
• Understand framing. Use elements within the photograph to frame the main subject.
• Experiment with symmetry and patterns, as they can make a photo visually engaging.
• Use depth of field to focus on your subject and blur the background and foreground.

Lighting Techniques

• Understand natural light and its variations during different times of the day.
• Understand artificial light, and how to use studio lights, flash, and continuous lights.
• Know the basic lighting patterns in portrait photography: Rembrandt, butterfly, loop, and split.
• Understand the concept of high-key and low-key lighting for creating mood in photos.

Post-Production Techniques

• Learn the basics of photo-editing software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop.
• Understand RAW file format and its advantages for post-processing.
• Learn non-destructive editing methods to preserve the original image data.
• Understand colour grading and how to use it to create mood and convey a narrative.

Special Techniques

• Learn long exposure for capturing movement, like light trails or smooth water.
• Understand how to create a bokeh effect, a beautiful blur in the background of the photo.
• Learn panning to capture movement and speed.
• Understand HDR (High Dynamic Range) technique to balance the light and dark areas in photos.
• Learn how to use drones for aerial photography.

Remember to keep experimenting and practising these techniques to develop your own photographic style.