Photography for beginners might be challenging. Like every other art, it requires time and patience to become a master of it. Photography is an art that describes the capturing of light through a camera to create a photo or an image, usually through a film or digital sensor.
Do you desire to harness this power of photography and discover how to capture the best photographs? Topteny magazine discusses ten photography tips for beginners you can apply to any style of photography to begin your career in photography and immediately create a lasting impression on your family and friends.
1 Use the camera you have
It is easy for you to be less motivated as a novice with a DLSR (Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera) when you notice other photographers using more beautiful cameras with large lenses at an event organized by your local community. Don’t be intimated. Accept this challenge to produce the best photos using the camera you have. Decide only to upgrade your camera when you achieve confidence in your goals-like getting positive reviews for a photo you posted on Instagram or Facebook; or issued in a newspaper or magazine.
2 Get used to your camera
Learn all you can about the camera you have; it is the fastest means of improving your skills in photography. Study the manual that comes with your DSLR. Search online, e.g., YouTube, for tutorials on how to use the model of your camera.
3 Switch to Program Mode from Automatic Mode
Using Automatic Mode in shooting your photos as a beginner is not advisable. To be creative and have better control of your camera, you have to quit Automatic Mode. Automatic Mode selects every camera setting you need to shoot a photo. All you have to do is focus and shoot.
Switching to Program Mode enables you to modify and understand camera settings like ISO, Focal Point Selection, and Exposure Compensation, allowing you to change how your photographs look significantly.
4 Increase the value of the camera’s ISO
ISO in photography is an indication of how sensitive a camera sensor is. A low ISO value makes your camera sensor less sensitive to light. A high ISO value makes the camera sensor to be more light-sensitive. This helps in a darker environment, e.g., when indoors.
When reading various photography tips for beginners posted online, most photographers recommend using low ISO values when taking photos because they prevent their photographs from being blurry. This also means a slow shutter speed which makes the image blurred. Therefore, it is recommended you keep your ISO value slightly high because of blurry photos. Also, taking more photo shots in different light conditions will let you know the ISO value you can tolerate.
5 Light can affect your shot
Light is an important aspect of photography. Consider the source of the light when you are taking photos. You should avoid shooting at midday because of minimal contrasts and shadows. The light reflections might not be pleasant in an image. Try shooting before sunset and after sunrise.
6 Place your camera on a support
Camera shake is a common cause of blurred images. It occurs when you can’t hold the camera still while taking photographs at a shutter speed of lesser than ten milliseconds in minimal light situations, e.g., indoor events. Supporting your camera using a tripod is perfect to avoid taking blurred photos.
A tripod ensures the camera is completely still when taking shots. You might observe blur times when the object is in motion. In this case, adjust the ISO value of your camera as discussed earlier. Increasing the ISO value increases the shutter speed. This helps to freeze the object’s movement.
7 Change your shooting angle
You must add certain creativity to your photographs less your photos will look average most times. Changing your shooting angle gives your photos a more striking look. For example, bending your knees, climbing a hill, and lying flat on the ground.
8 Be inspired!
The best work of most professional photographers, including artists, is inspired by an event or someone. Find inspiration to make your photographs unique and creative.
9 Take more photos
Spending more with your camera improves makes you more familiar with the camera and its settings. Always move around with your camera. Always!! Keep taking shots and enjoy yourself.
10 Composition is fundamental
This list of photography tips for beginners will not be complete if “composition” is not discussed. In photography, it means combining different parts or sections of an image from a whole. You must study, research and train the eyes to know what a good composition is. Photography is visual art. You need to understand how “objects” are placed in an image.
As a beginner, the first compositional rule you will learn is the “rule of thirds.” It is simple and effective and can be applied to all types of photography.
Conclusion
As a beginner, you have to be inspired to put all these photography tips to use and achieve your goal of becoming an expert in photography. Photography for beginners requires composition. A rule that is easy and effective. Study these tips and practice; you will excel as a photographer with patience and motivation.
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