Want to get into photography but don’t know where to start? I have come up with some tips and tricks for you to learn. I started really getting into photography my junior year when I took photography one and two. Now, I’m not an expert, but I do know a little bit about photography even though I am still learning new things every day. I do recommend if you want to learn more about photography, photoshop, and editing to take the photography class offered at the high school.
The first thing you will need in order to get started is obviously a camera. Any camera will do. You do not need the most expensive camera or the newest one. I personally use a Canon eos t6. You first have to get to know the vocabulary and terms that come with it. The very first thing I have to say is to only try or do photography if you have a passion for it.
The vocabulary can be confusing at times but when you learn it, it’s easy to understand. The first word to learn would be Aperture. Aperture is the size of the opening in the lens. In an easier term think light. Aperture is how much light you want to allow in. A smaller aperture lets in less light and a bigger aperture lets in more light. Aperture is also measured in f-stops. So a small f-stop would be f/1.8, which is a wide opening. A larger f-stop would be f/22, which is narrow. This is just one of the three basic camera settings. Exposure determines how light or how dark an image is. Exposure is controlled through aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. On a canon camera, from what I have, it is abbreviated as an “A” or “AV”
ISO is the second basic setting. It determines how sensitive the camera is to light. A lower ISO – for example, an ISO of 100 – means the camera isn’t as sensitive to the light. When the ISO is low it is great for shooting outside when it’s brighter. A higher ISO – for example, 3200 – means the camera is very sensitive to light. So, you would use a higher ISO to shoot in the evening or at a darker setting. ISO is balanced with aperture and shutter speed.
Shutter speed is the third basic setting. It is a part of the camera that opens and closes to let the light in. Shutter speed uses fractions to display the seconds. For example, 1/200s or 1”. The longer the shutter stays open, the more light it allows in. If something is moving while you’re taking the picture, it will appear blurry. On a camera “TV” would be what you are looking for to get shutter speed.
Those are the basics that you would need to know to at least get started. Another thing to start to get into photography is editing. Photoshop is a great editing tool for editing photos. Although Photoshop does cost money, there are some other free apps or websites to use to get started. Photography is unique, and you get to use your own style. There are lots of different things you can use photography for. No matter what, just have fun with it!