Edited by Rebecca Kesler
Did you know that it’s likely that 2 to 3 trillion photographs will be shared this year alone?! It was estimated that, in 2017, 1,200 billion photographs were taken on just phones. Yet does the average person know how to use their camera to produce the perfect shot? Do you use a traditional film camera (SLR), just point, click and hope for the best whilst wishing you had a digital camera (DSLR)? Or maybe you have a DSLR and there are too many buttons on the mode dial and you just don't know where to begin. Fear not, for you too can learn to take better pictures. Follow along monthly, learning great tips for beginners, adults and children, on photographing masterpieces.
In the coming series, we’ll learn about lighting and avoiding over/under exposure, which is the amount of light caught by a recording material traditional film or digital sensors, while capturing better-quality images. An overexposed photo absorbs too much light creating washed-out images (e.g. on a sunny day). Timing - what time of day to snap, light meters, using your eyes and editing software making your outdoor pictures clearer.
Realise how to set your camera into manual mode (M), tweaking the cameras settings, including controlling the aperture value (AV - the aperture is the hole between the shutter and recording material that allows light through), the shutter speed (the mechanism controlling the light exposure to the viewfinder or recording material) and ISO (which controls the sensor sensitivity when capturing light) to produce better pictures. Unearth the TV mode that adjusts the aperture automatically whilst you control the shutter speed. Maybe you’re unsure if the flash will overexpose your photo.
If you’re just stumped on cameras to buy, we’ll discuss first-time camera buying through asking you what you enjoy snapping. Maybe you’re a budding landscape photographer or want to photograph weddings. Find out how outdoor and indoor photography differs. Learn whether you should stick with prime lenses, go for zoom lenses and the advantages and disadvantages of photographing with your phone. Discover if a traditional camera’s right for you.
Maybe you know the camera’s logistics but struggle with photo layout. Do you ever wonder what the lines mean on screen when partially pressing the shutter button and how this relates to great portraiture? Learn about the golden ratio so everyone’s in the picture, no heads are chopped, and the plant’s arranged correctly behind. Discover how not to capture the moment, how to picture pose making photography precious, enjoyable for all the family. After all, photographs are captured memories for the future.