Photography Basics: A Beginner's Photography Guide to Start
Photography is full of confusing terminology and complex numbers for the uninitiated, which can be a little confusing for newcomers. If you’re just starting out, here’s an introductory guide to the basics you need to have and know before you dive into the wonderful world of photography.
Photography is more than just getting the best gear and going out into the world to take pictures (unless you have a little time to learn and a lot of money) – there are many aspects of photography that can impact the experience of taking pictures.
Choosing the right camera and lens for your photography is probably the first important step to taking great photos, but equally important are editing software, basic photography techniques and concepts, learning from others, and getting involved in the photography community.
So let’s explore photography basics - what you need to know when you’re just starting out in photography.
Understanding Camera Lenses Basics
The most important part of the photography process, the camera is arguably the most important piece of basic hardware you can own.
Without a camera body to capture the light and shadows of a scene, we can’t create an image.
The most common types of digital cameras are smartphones, compact cameras, bridge cameras, DSLRs, and mirrorless cameras. The differences between devices lie in size, shape, build quality, and price.
Understanding Your Smartphone Camera
The advent of smartphones with built-in camera functions has marked the explosion of photography – almost everyone now has a smartphone in their pocket at any given time, making photography an indispensable part of everyday life.
Although the initial image quality was significantly lower than that of professional cameras in the early days, advances in software and hardware have allowed today's smartphones to surpass even the quality and capabilities of low-end digital cameras.
In particular, the highest-end Smartphones use AI to take photos in low light conditions and create a bokeh effect in portrait photography, something that conventional compact cameras cannot do.
Another advantage of Smartphone photography is the variety of photography and photo editing apps on both iPhone and Android, including both paid and free apps, that help you take your photos to the next level.
If you already own a smartphone with a built-in camera, there is no need to upgrade to a new smartphone or buy a professional camera (if you just want to experiment with photography and explore the art). As the saying goes: “The best camera is the one you are using.”
What is a compact camera?
If you want to move beyond your smartphone and enter the world of professional cameras, compact cameras (also known as point-and-shoot cameras) are often the right choice in terms of price and compactness.
They are all-in-ones with a fixed zoom lens that cannot be detached. They are cheap but often have smaller sensors with poor dynamic range and limited settings like aperture and shutter speed, some of which are fully automatic.
A good example of a compact camera to start with is the Sony ZV-1. It uses a 1-inch sensor capable of 20.1MP stills and 4K UHD 30p video, along with a swivel screen that is useful for video blogging or photography.
What is a bridge camera?
Bridge cameras are a hybrid of a compact camera and a DSLR, with a similar form factor to a traditional DSLR. They often feature superior optics and a more impressive zoom range than compact cameras.
Bridge cameras also offer more manual settings. One of the standout contenders right now is the Nikon COOLPIX P1000, which boasts an incredible 125X optical zoom that lets you get even closer to the moon.
What is a DSLR Camera?
DSLRs (short for Digital Single Lens Reflex) have become one of the most popular types of digital cameras in the world over the past two decades. There is a wide range of DSLRs, from entry-level models to full-fledged professional cameras that combine power and speed.
While they vary in features and price points, they all offer interchangeable lenses, fully customizable settings, and menu options. Their high-end versions are still widely used in the professional photography community.
One of our favorite entry-level DSLRs is the Nikon D7500, which offers a premium feel at a reasonable price. For high-end performance, the Canon 5D Mark IV is an excellent choice, with a robust design, weather-sealing, and a versatile 30.4MP full-frame sensor that’s perfect for photographers and enthusiasts alike.
What is a Mirrorless Camera?
Mirrorless cameras are quickly becoming the new standard in the digital camera market. They perform as well or even better than DSLRs and have a slimmer design that makes them much more compact.
The in-body image stabilization is commonly found in mirrorless devices. Improved shooting modes mean they are great for content creators who want to shoot stills and videos.
To create a smaller size, manufacturers have ditched the mechanical viewfinders found in DSLRs and replaced them with small screens (called electronic viewfinders (EVFs)) that take signals directly from the image sensor.
Check out the Sony Alpha a7R IV, a camera that enters the Medium Format market with 61MP images. Alternatively, the Sony Alpha a7R III is a good choice, which, despite being a few years old, is packed with smart tools and features that should satisfy any photographer.
Of course, the above is just a starting point.
Other factors to consider when choosing a camera include weatherproofing to protect the camera sensor and internal components from water or dust and connectivity.
Some cameras have the ability to connect to smart devices via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi and even have the ability to transfer images and videos this way.
Once you have chosen your camera type and model, follow the step-by-step guide to setting up your camera for the first time to ensure a great experience when you start creating with your camera.
Why would you choose interchangeable lenses?
Once you have decided on a DSLR or Mirrorless camera, it is likely that you will want to upgrade or change lenses at some point. Sometimes, kit lenses (which come with the camera body in a package) are a good place to start, especially for beginners. They are often zoom lenses designed for everyday use, including both wide-angle and telephoto capabilities.
However, with prime lenses, although they only have a single focal length, their advantage is a large aperture, which helps with low-light photography or creating shallow depth of field effects such as f/1.8 or even wider.
Kit zoom lenses are also good for beginners, but their cheap manufacturing process often results in a lack of optical refinement and Chromatic Aberrations around contrasting edges. As a result, high-end zoom lenses, although more expensive, offer better optical clarity. Expensive zoom lenses often have wider maximum apertures that have been tuned to reduce chromatic aberration. They contain better lens coatings to reduce flare and ghosting and are waterproof to protect them from the elements.
Introduction to Photo Editing Software
After you’ve taken a series of photos, post-processing is a basic and important part of photography, getting them ready for sharing online or printing.
Editing can be as simple as adding a Filter to change the style of a photo, or it can be as complex as adjusting the Hue, Tint, Tone, and Shade. Even layer-based collages are part of the process, where images can be edited, cropped, or completely adjusted to create a completely different version of the original.
Regardless of your preference, picking up some basic editing skills is a good way to make a photo stand out from the crowd. But to do that, you’ll need good photo editing software.
There are many editing software available on both desktop and mobile platforms. Some popular ones include Mosyne, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom (and Classic).
Mosyne
Mosyne.ai is a brand that provides AI photo editing tools including AI Remove Background, AI Inpainting, AI Upscaling, and other AI tools and functions. With its cutting-edge technology, Mosyne.ai effortlessly enhances images, providing an ideal solution for both individuals and businesses looking to elevate image quality through seamless upscaling and advanced editing features.
Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom
Probably the most popular photo editing software, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom are industry-standard editing software. The unique is that they are used by both professional photographers and those new to editing.
Photoshop is a layer-based photo editing software and can be used for all types of editing images such as Manipulation, Retouching, even Illustrations, Digital Painting, Graphic Design, or Animation.
However, Lightroom is an optimal color editing software, used on both desktop and mobile platforms such as iPads, smartphones.
Remember that Lightroom Classic is similar to Lightroom, except that it stores data locally on your hard drive (instead of storing it in the cloud like Lightroom) and comes with more detailed editing tools.
Basic Photography Techniques For Beginners
If you are new to photography, first get familiar with the Exposure Triangle. The connection between aperture, shutter speed, and ISO is important for all photos, understanding it will be beneficial in the next lessons. We won’t go into this in-depth in this article, but we will discuss some techniques that can be used by controlling the settings in the Exposure Triangle.
Isolate the Subject
Let’s consider a common example when shooting an outdoor portrait in a busy location. There are cars, billboards, trees, and all sorts of other distracting elements in the frame, but you can’t move to another location to take the photo – what do you do?
By opening the aperture to its maximum, which blurs the background, you’ll create a narrower depth of field, meaning that only a thin portion of the environment is in focus.
Shoot a portrait at f/11 and then at f/2.8. You’ll see the difference, which helps to isolate the subject from the distracting background, bringing the focus to the main subject.
In Low Light
As darkness falls and the sun fades, or as we step into dark places during the day, we immediately notice the difference in brightness when taking photos. Low light can have a big impact on getting a good photo.
Sometimes it’s tempting to raise the ISO to make the camera more sensitive to low light or open the aperture wide to let as much light as possible into the image sensor. But this can introduce more noise and reduce the depth of field. The only thing left to maintain image quality is to change the shutter speed. When this happens, a whole world of creative effects comes into play.
Try going out and shooting on the streets after the sun has set and you’ll need a long shutter speed, lasting a few seconds, to get a photo that’s bright enough to see clearly. When combined with a Stop-Down Aperture, the lights of passing vehicles become long streaks of light, painting the street as they move during the exposure. The same thing happens with Astrophotography — expose long enough and the entire night sky becomes streaks of light, flickering as the earth rotates.
Basic composition in photography
While some experienced photographers will shake their heads at the mention of these basic compositions in photography, most photographers use them every day, subconsciously. Some of you may have heard them before, but it’s worth getting to grips with.
Rule of Thirds
The Rule of Thirds is a method of dividing a photo into nine equal parts. By drawing imaginary lines across the frame, we now have areas within the frame where the subject can be placed. The four points where the lines intersect will usually be the subject's placement points.
Leading Lines
The Rule of Thirds can be used in conjunction with other methods, such as using the Leading Line. A leading line can be a symbol or a visual representation of a path that wanders through the frame, which can lead the eye to important aspects of the photo.
Rule of Space
The Rule of Space states that when taking portraits, it is important to remember to leave space for a subject to look at. For example, if the subject is looking out of the frame at something, frame them so that there is more space in front of them, in the direction of their eyes, than behind their head.
Learn photography on the Internet
Once you have the basic equipment and knowledge of photography, you can use the Internet as an endless source of learning and inspiration.
Learn Photography Online
Online platforms like Lightroom Academy provide a modern way to learn basic photography techniques and are updated regularly.
For tips and tutorials on all types of photography techniques, YouTube, Tiktok are full of experienced photographers. You can sign up for free lessons.
Get Inspired By Others
One of the best ways to expand your horizons and spark your creativity is to look at the work of more experienced photographers. There are many platforms where you can share and view photos, but some of the best photo-sharing sites and services include Instagram, 500px, Behance, Flickr, and VSCO.
One thing you can try is to find a photo you like and make an effort to replicate it as closely as possible. Of course, for learning purposes, do not post it as your own original idea. This can help you practice and see how to approach and edit photos in different ways. As you become more familiar with those techniques, you can apply them to your work that you can proudly share with the world.
If you find a photographer you admire, try reaching out – you may strike up a friendship over your shared interest in photography. You may even find someone willing to be a mentor as you progress in your knowledge and skills.
Finally, perhaps the most important tip is: When you are just starting out, you are always enthusiastic, but after you start to struggle and feel like you lack creative ideas, be patient, stay focused, and always have your camera with you, even when you are not inspired to take photos.
Malcolm Gladwell’s famous “10,000-hour rule” popularized in his best-selling book, Outliers, states that it takes 10,000 hours of practice before someone can perfect a particular skill, and the same is true for photography. Keep taking photos. Never give up. You will eventually become the photographer you want to be.
Conclusion
So, that’s it for beginners in photography. Of course, the list we have compiled here is just the beginning of getting started in photography, and the world of photography is vast and ever-expanding. There are new techniques to learn, and new gear to experiment with that opens up a whole new, exciting world for even the most experienced photographer. But everything covered here is the essentials to get you started on your photography journey and hopefully point you in the right direction.