Techniques in Photography Every Beginner Should Know

With so many options for beginner photographer nowadays, there is no excuse for not getting at least one good shot with constant practice. However, getting a good photo doesn’t only mean being at the right place and at the right time. There are useful techniques that will help you get optimal photos every time.

Here are some techniques every beginner should know.

• Try black and white shots. The best way to understand how lighting works and affects the subject is to not be distracted by colors. This will let you shift your focus into getting the best angle to see all the details into appreciating how the light, dark, and shadow affects your presentation.

• Experiment with different lighting effects. By lighting, you should also utilize other sources besides natural sunlight. Try taking photos by lighting the subject with candles, lamppost, flashlight, glow sticks, and other sources. You will be amazed how a subject can transform under different lighting conditions. You can also combine different light sources. This is similar to experimenting with different color combinations when painting.

• Use silhouettes to focus on outlines. A silhouette places the subject against a bright background so that the subject is darkened. This works really well when you are outdoors and will allow you think of different ways to use the background instead of focusing solely on the subject.

• Don’t be afraid to try motion blur. If you have a tripod, now is a good time to use motion blur and master the long exposure. It’s also a good practice on getting the timing right with the shutter speed and panning. If you have a willing subject, this can be a fun exercise.

• Master the long exposure. Ever wondered how the pros take photos of moving objects with stunning results? You can find hundreds of examples of waterfalls or any flowing body of water, highway traffic, moving animals, athletes in action, etc. The idea is to let in more light by leaving the shutter open a bit longer. With the modern digital cameras, you can easily see the results without worrying about how much time you will need for the exposure.

• Practice night photography. Your camera settings are different when you are taking photos at night from when you take photos during daytime. The exposure will also depend on what your light source is and how much light is available. This can be tricky, but it is a good way to finally master the settings in your camera.

• Try macro photography if you like close-up photos. If you like showing the details in your subjects, it is easy to take macro photos with modern digital cameras. This is also a good opportunity to learn how to distinguish between the different types of lenses for your next purchase.