What is photography?
Let’s start with a big question—what exactly is photography? While artists, scholars, and academics might debate the philosophy of the captured image, the scientific terms are a little more straightforward.
Photography is the art or practice of creating images by capturing light. Yes, we can expand that definition greatly, but in its essence, that is photography. Images are recorded, either electronically by a sensor, or chemically by something like film, and then printed, projected, or recorded.
History of photography and people who shaped it
The earliest surviving photograph created in a camera (that’s a mouthful) was taken in either 1826 or 1827 by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. The image, a view from his window of rooftops across his estate in France, was the culmination of countless experiments with different exposures and chemical agents. This lasting image, taken with a pewter plate, bitumen solution, and around eight hours of exposure, is a far cry from some of the incredible images we see today, but its impact is unmatched.
What type of camera do you need to start photography?
We know as well as anyone that the world of photography comes loaded with a ton of terminology. For a beginner, that can be really intimidating. Plus, there are countless different types of photography you can try. Depending on what you’re into, you might want different gear.
Our advice is to start out with a more general setup, and take the time to discover what you enjoy. From there, you can look to upgrade or supplement your camera. Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re looking for your first camera:
Look for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras
These can be purchased with separate bodies and lenses, which can save you money. The kit lenses are also often good enough to achieve a lot of basic shots you might be looking to create.
Don’t go overboard
There are only so many things that need to be captured at 12 fps, so until you’re ready to specialize, keep it simple!
50 best photos taken on Canon cameras
If you’re still debating, take a look at some examples of the shots our 500px community achieves with different cameras, and get inspired.
What other camera gear and equipment do you need?
The actual camera body is really just the beginning. Utilizing different lenses, gear, and post-processing software is all part of maximizing the potential of your camera. Before you splash the cash on a new camera, make sure you explore all of your options.
Best lenses for different kinds of photography:
While countless trends come and go in the world of photography, good glass endures. Two of the most common zoom lenses are the 18-55mm and the 24-70mm, and either of those lengths is typically enough to handle most everyday photography.
You’re probably sick of us saying this, but the type of lens you need really depends on the type of photos you want to take. Those two zoom lenses will get you off to a good start, but consider a prime lens (that’s a lens that doesn’t zoom) if you’re thinking of taking portraits, for example. Take a look at the list above and evaluate your options.
What is the best photography equipment for beginners?
Photography is a gear heavy profession (or hobby). While there are a lot of superfluous accessories out there, certain gear is going to make your life a lot easier, and help you to take your photographs to another level.
Check out our list of must-haves for beginners:
-A tripod
-A camera bag
-A camera strap
-SD memory cards
-Camera cleaning kit
-Extra batteries
Best photo editing software:
A lot of beginners get demoralized when the images they capture don’t quite come out as they imagined in their mind’s eye. While there is certainly a lot for new photographers to learn, editing photos in post is often the way to take your photos from good to great.
That being said, editing in post is no substitute for good in-camera practice. Sloppy photography can lead to over-corrected, processed looking photos. Think of editing as a way to elevate, not make, your photos.
Adobe Lightroom is a great starting point because it comes with a ton of free tutorials and presets. Once you feel like you’ve maxed out that particular tool, there are plenty of places to go, from other Adobe suite products like Photoshop, to CaptureOne, DxO PhotoLab, and many more.
How to find photography locations:
The camera is purchased, the lenses are clean, your bag is packed… now what? You probably want to find something to photograph. Whether that’s the perfect spot for moody portraits or a dramatic, wide-open vista for some stunning landscape photography, location can make (or break) your shot.
Places to take photographs near me:
Maybe a little obvious, but get out there and start exploring your local spots. That can mean taking a walk outside, talking to your photo-friendly friends about their favorite locations, or checking out 500px community members in your area to see where they captured some of their best images.
It’s important to have goals, right? If you’re fortunate enough to travel, take your new hobby along with you and explore your destination with a photographer’s eye. Getting outside of your comfort zone and seeing something new can be the inspiration you need to kickstart your photography career. Why not check out some of these destinations when you’re planning your next trip?
Now it’s time to hit that button and take some photos. Without completely overwhelming you, there are a few key concepts we think you’ll want to grasp. Trust us, you’re always going to need them.
What is shutter speed?
Shutter speed is the speed at which your shutter opens and lets light onto your film or sensor. Sounds simple, no? Not so fast. The faster your shutter speed, the less light allowed onto the sensor, and the less motion captured in your shot. Inversely, slower speeds mean more light, and more motion captured.
Shutter speed is measured in fractions of a second. You’ll see shutter speed expressed the same way you would any fraction, like 1/250 (very fast) or ½ (pretty slow). Most modern DSLRs have a pretty broad range of shutter speeds, with your average DSLR able to handle speeds from 1/4000 all the way up to around 30 seconds.
Shutter speed isn’t just related to the amount of motion in your photos, however. More light also means (surprise, surprise) brighter photos, and the same is true for shorter exposures. Shutter speed is far from the only factor in the brightness of your photographs, however. To fully understand that, you’ll also need to know about aperture and ISO.
What is aperture in photography?
Aperture is the diaphragm mechanism of your lens that controls the amount of light that reaches the sensor. Think of it like the pupil of your eye, which expands and contracts to control the amount of light that reaches your retina. The larger the opening, the more light that is allowed in, and by the same token, the smaller the opening, the less light that is allowed in.
When we define aperture, we use stops, marked on your camera as f numbers. You might see them written or expressed with or without a slash, like this: f/2.8 or f2.8. The larger the number, the smaller the opening.
Aperture has a huge impact on the brightness of your photographs, but it also impacts your depth of field. The larger the aperture or opening, the shallower your depth of focus, meaning you’ll see a lot of blur in the background and the foreground of your image.
What is ISO in photography?
ISO is essentially a camera setting that allows you to increase the brightness of your images. Initially developed to create a standard for film exposure, digital camera developers adopted ISO to standardize sensor exposures. The feature allows you to get a little bit more flexible with your aperture and shutter speeds, giving you a little wiggle room to play with.
ISO is expressed as a number, typically somewhere between 100, which would be considered low, and 6400, which is high. While it can be seen as a bit of a saving grace, cranking your ISO to overcompensate for a dark image will result in grain.
How to get razor-sharp photos:
There’s no sense in taking all that time prepping your settings if you aren’t going to get sharp results. 500px contributor Jimmy McIntyre is on hand to give you the lowdown on getting razor-sharp images, every time.
How to read a photograph:
While this might seem like an obvious question, we took a deep dive into the psychology that goes into reading an image. Check out these cool insights and keep them in mind the next time you line up a shot.
What is the rule of thirds?
One of the first composition concepts many new photographers learn is the rule of thirds. But what exactly is it? First proposed by the painter and engraver John Thomas Smith in 1797, the rule of thirds is, at its simplest, a way to give each of the elements in an image the proper visual weight.
Imagine dividing your frame into nine equal quadrants, like a tic-tac-toe board. This grid creates three equal vertical columns, and also four different points in which lines intersect. Placing your image on one of those points, according to the rule of thirds, adds visual intrigue to your image. Resist the urge to slap your subject in the middle of the frame, and start to experiment!
Photography color theory:
Color theory pertains to the relationship between colors in visual images. The simplest way to express this relationship is through a very familiar object—the color wheel. While that simple visualization can make it seem simple, the interplay between colors can bring your photographs to life.
Complementary colors:
While a monochromatic palette uses the same or neighboring colors on the wheel, complementary colors bring two colors from opposite sides of the wheel to add contrast. That contrast is what will really make your photographs pop.
You can then expand this into what we call split-complementary colors. Instead of choosing a base color and then the color opposite it on the wheel, you would choose the two colors on either side of the directly complementary one. While less dramatic in its contrasts, this is a fantastic way to invite dynamism and harmony into your shots.
Depth of field:
Depth of field is the term we use to describe the level of focus in a photograph. An image with a wide depth of field makes for photos with a greater portion of the frame in focus. A shallow depth of field, on the other hand, means that a smaller slice of the frame is sharp. You can use different depths of field to bring attention to different elements of your photo. Perhaps you want to focus on a single subject with a shallow depth of field, or capture a populated landscape with a wide depth of field.
You can control your depth of field in several ways. You can control your distance from your subject, or your subject’s distance from the background you’re shooting against. You can also use your aperture, as we mentioned earlier—the lower the f stop, the shallower the depth of field.
Balance:
To understand balance, it’s important to grasp a concept called “visual weight”. Visual weight is another way of describing the amount of attention a particular element of your photograph attracts. When arranging the elements of your photo, you’ll want to think about where they’re placed, and what that does to the balance of your image.
That’s not to say the goal is necessarily to keep an image balanced. You can use imbalance to add dramatic tension to a shot. Think carefully about the kind of shot you want to achieve, and how you’re arranging the subjects by their weight.
Composition and editing:
Once the photos are snapped, it’s time to start editing. Your post-production workflow is a key part of getting the shot you pictured in your mind’s eye. Here are some useful insights to start you on your post-processing journey.
Double exposures:
A double exposure combines multiple shots into a final image. Double exposures are often used to create surreal, ethereal images, and with our handy guide, you’ll be bringing those dreamlike ideas to life in no time.
Time stack photo tutorial:
Time stacking takes the idea of a time-lapse photograph and combines it with the same bricolage techniques of the double exposure. This video tutorial will teach you how 500px community member Matt Molloy creates his incredible, impressionistic images using post-production tools.
Luminosity masks in digital blending:
Luminosity masks are a way to make selections from various exposures based on their luminosity value. In short, digital photographs often feature a high dynamic range because the photographer has blended several different exposures into one image. This allows you to expose for different elements on the photograph, and then combine those exposures into one dynamic image.
Digital blending tutorial:
Proper digital blending can make a world of difference—it’s the difference between a gorgeous, dynamic image and one of the photos people pull up to tell you how terrible HDR photography is. 500px contributor Jimmy McIntyre kindly put together this rundown on successfully blending multiple images into one cohesive, beautiful looking shot.
Color profiles and file formats:
To keep a long story short, your images may appear different based on the browser, compression, storage, and display of your photographs. Read the above article to learn more about the choices 500px has made to deliver you a top-quality photography platform from start to finish.
Types of photography:
Once you’ve got a grasp of the basics, you’ll find a nearly infinite number of types of photography to explore. Some of these might require more specific gear, settings, or other specialized equipment, whereas others you can dive right into and start getting a feel for.
Portrait photography Tips:
This is one of, if not the most, popular photography styles. While the camera on your phone has made just about everyone capable of taking decent quality portraits, a great piece of portraiture is hard to deny, and never goes out of style.
With enough hard work and skill, you could make a career shooting anything from engagement photos to editorial shoots for magazines focusing on portrait photography. Your understanding of depth of field, lighting, and framing will be put to the test when you attempt to bring out the best of your subjects.
Backlit photography:
Sometimes, going against convention can produce some exciting results. Meet 500px contributor Pedro Quintela, and discover why he loves shooting a backlit subject. Read his handy guide and get a load of these beautiful shots.
Self-portrait ideas:
While the selfie has really come to define the self-portrait, these examples show you that with a little outside the box thinking, there are really no limits to what you can achieve. Long exposures, clever editing tricks, or even just a unique location can take your self-portraits to another level.
Couples photography:
There’s no shortage of couples looking to capture their love for one another in the perfect photograph. Even if your images don’t go viral like last year’s Target photoshoot, the world of couples photography is a great business to get involved in if you’re looking to take your hobby pro.
For more visit: https://iso.500px.com/a-beginners-guide-to-photography/
