Photography is more than just clicking a button; it’s an art form that requires skill, creativity, and a deep understanding of the technical aspects. When it comes to taking good photos, understanding the basics is key. This guide will help you understand the basics of photography and enhance your skills. 

Lighting and Exposure

Proper lighting is the cornerstone of every great photo. Experiment with natural light, you should avoid harsh midday sun, and look for soft, diffused light during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. Understanding exposure, the balance between light and dark areas in a photo, is important. Adjust your camera settings or use exposure compensation to achieve the right balance and avoid overexposed or underexposed shots. There is a scale in your camera that will tell you what the exposure is when taking a photo. The scale will go from –2 to +2, the negatives being underexposed, and the positives being overexposed. The lowest I would go is –1 on that scale and I wouldn’t go higher than 0 as it can get too bright. Having my exposure at -1 is what I like to do because I tend to take darker pictures because I like them more and it is also easier to edit underexposed pictures and make them look good than it is for overexposed pictures. 

Framing

Composition plays a crucial role in photography and is almost as important as lighting. You should frame your subject thoughtfully and using the rule of thirds will help tremendously. Imagine your image divided into a grid of nine equal segments by two vertical and two horizontal lines, that is the rule of thirds. To use the rule of thirds effectively, you should place key elements along the lines in the grid or at their intersections to create a visually appealing composition. There is a setting on most, if not all cameras today, even on your phone, that you can turn on that will show that grid and help you frame your subject better. 

Getting Familiar with your Cameras Settings 

To improve your photo taking skills, you need to familiarize yourself with essential camera settings that give you control over your shots such as your ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed.

ISO measures your camera sensor’s sensitivity to light. You want to use lower ISO settings (100-400) in well-lit environments to maintain image clarity. In low-light conditions you should increase the ISO (800 and above) to capture clear photos without a flash but be cautious as high ISO values may introduce noise. Noise is when your photo has a lot of grainy like textures in it. 

Aperture refers to the size of the lens opening through which light enters the camera. It is measured in f-stops. A lower f-stop (e.g., f/1.8) means a wider aperture, allowing more light in and creating a shallow depth of field and makes the background blurry. Higher f-stops (e.g., f/11) result in a narrower aperture and gets rid of that blurriness in the background, suitable for capturing detailed landscapes with a broader focus range. 

Shutter Speed determines how long your camera’s shutter remains open, controlling the amount of light that reaches the sensor. Faster shutter speeds (1/500 and above) are ideal for freezing fast-moving subjects, while slower speeds (1/30 and below) create a sense of motion. You should use a tripod for stability when using slow shutter speeds to avoid blurry images caused by camera shake. Using lower shutter speeds also allows for more light to come in so you can lower your shutter speed for darker spaces or at night. 

Becoming a better photographer requires a combination of technical expertise, creativity, and continuous practice. By incorporating these basic techniques and fundamentals, honing your creative eye, and practicing, you’ll be well on your way to capturing much better photos. So, grab your camera and explore the world. 

Here is an article to read after you have an understanding of the basics and want to learn how to take even better photos.