If you are brand new to the art of photography, then you may just be at the “point and click” part of the craft. The good news is that every master photographer started out just where you are.
Put the information in this article to work for you as you take your first steps in this craft.
Start Small
If you are new to the craft of photography, there’s no reason to run out and spend hundreds of dollars on new cameras and equipment. If you’re going to be doing this as a profession, then let your first few contracts pay for your new equipment. If you’re just looking at this as a hobby, start out with some basic equipment until you learn what you are doing — and you decide whether or not this is something you really want to pursue. Then you can spend the big bucks on a camera.
Be Prepared
Keep your camera with you wherever you go. Even if you’re just going to work for the day, put the camera in your car and keep it there, in case the opportunity comes to take pictures. If you are out and about on a sunny Saturday afternoon, keep the camera with you so that you can practice your craft. The only way you are going to learn how to take pictures the right way is through practice, practice, practice. Without your camera, it is difficult to get the sort of practice that you need to excel.
Vary Your Subjects
Take pictures of a number of different subjects. Even if you really like trees, take exposures of animals, people playing in a park, portraits, buildings — anything that catches your eye. The challenges of taking pictures of different settings will help you become a better photographer in a shorter amount of time. The variety will help you get an eye for the rare beauty in different settings that differentiates the great photographer from the hobbyist.
Clean Your Lens
Keep your camera’s lens clean. This does not mean that you should get out the Windex and fire away; there are special lens cleaners that are available if you develop a degree of buildup on your glass. However, by using a soft cloth, you should be able to avoid damage to your lens. This keeps your images coming through clear and clean to the innards of your camera, which means that your pictures will be better.
Experiment with Sunlight
The sunlight can be difficult for photographers, because the infusion of light can lead to overexposure, and the shadows that objects cast can make other parts get lighting that is too iffy for you to get a full picture. Challenge yourself in different light settings so that you improve in the art of photography. There are a number of classes and online tutorials and books that you can use to get yourself ready for difficult sunlight exposures.
Experiment with Filters
There are a number of different filters that you can use over the entire lens, or over just a part of it. This has a significant effect on the quality of the image that appears when you take the picture. It changes the color, the focus, and even the texture of the eventual picture.
The best part of taking pictures is experimenting in a number of different settings. Remember, photography is an art, and artists let their craft wander in a number of different directions. Stay true to your own desires and make photography that will be enduring and beautiful to the next generations.
This article has taken you through some of the basics of the art of photography. If you follow these tips, you will be on your way to snapping pics like an established professional before you know it.
