A picture is worth a thousand words. Photography is a very powerful visual medium that can capture various emotions: happiness, anguish, desperation, courage, inspiration, and so on. An image can freeze time, forge a revolution, and stir action. In other words, a photo communicates a message that’s seen by our eyes and felt in our hearts.
But, a good photo doesn’t happen by accident. It takes a great eye, angle, and timing, among other elements to conjure an impactful and sometimes historic snapshot.
Whether you’re a photography enthusiast or just want to take shots occasionally to kill time, take heed of these pointers to get better at shooting photos:
Photography has evolved and taken many forms. There’s wildlife and nature, scientific, underwater, aerial, sports, documentary, street, and fashion photography among many other forms. Each has its own established style and intricacies and preferred types of camera set ups.
Before you reach that level, start with the fundamentals, such as becoming familiar the following terms:
Despite the different types of cameras in the market today, each model will contain these factors that you can adjust based on your preference and the shooting conditions.
To know what your camera is capable of and how you can maximise its potential, read the manual or explore the functions of your machine. Don’t be afraid to experiment on its various features.
The lens is perhaps the most critical part of the camera, so photographers don’t have second thoughts about investing in pricey ones. Because there are many types of photography, there are also various types of camera lenses. Your choice of lens will depend on the shooting environment and desired output.
These days, most cameras have auto pre-adjusted settings that you have to choose depending on the shooting environment. Learn how the ISO, aperture, white balance, and shutter speed are adjusted. Input your own default setting and adjust as necessary.
Now that you know some of the basic photography terms, it’s time to briefly find out what makes a good photo.
There’s no right or wrong way to do it. Getting a good photo depends on how the photographer plays up with these elements to make it work.
Being good at composition takes time. While some photographers eventually get good at it through experience alone, it doesn’t hurt to tap online and offline resources to absorb the theories which you can apply on your next photo session.
It takes a lot of patience and trial-and-error to be good at anything, photography included. While some skills take years to master, your passion to be great at your craft is always there. Explore all angles and viewpoints to know what works best for a specific scene, and let your peers and colleagues critique your work.
There’s no one-size fits all or an overarching advice for getting good images. It’s all about learning the basics, being familiar with your camera, exploring what works and what doesn’t, and learning more skills along the way.
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