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Photography Essentials Guide
October 9, 2025 32174b4 Edit this page
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Photography Essentials Guide

Master the fundamentals of photography from basics to advanced techniques

Learn the essential skills and techniques to capture stunning photographs.

Camera Basics

Understanding Exposure Triangle

The three pillars of photography:

Aperture (f-stop)

  • Controls depth of field
  • Lower f-number = wider aperture = more light
  • f/1.8, f/2.8: Shallow depth of field (blurry background)
  • f/8, f/11: Deep depth of field (everything sharp)

Shutter Speed

  • Controls motion blur
  • Fast (1/1000s): Freeze action
  • Slow (1/30s or slower): Motion blur, need tripod
  • Rule: Minimum 1/focal length (50mm lens = 1/50s)

ISO

  • Controls sensor sensitivity
  • ISO 100-400: Bright conditions, low noise
  • ISO 800-1600: Low light, moderate noise
  • ISO 3200+: Very low light, high noise

Exposure Modes 

P - Program Auto
A/Av - Aperture Priority (you set aperture)
S/Tv - Shutter Priority (you set shutter speed)
M - Manual (full control)

Recommended Starting Mode: Aperture Priority (A/Av)

Camera Settings

White Balance

  • Auto: Most situations
  • Daylight: Sunny outdoors (5500K)
  • Cloudy: Overcast (6000K)
  • Tungsten: Indoor lights (3200K)
  • Fluorescent: Office lighting (4000K)

Focus Modes

Single Shot (AF-S/One-Shot)

  • Still subjects
  • Lock focus, then shoot

Continuous (AF-C/AI Servo)

  • Moving subjects
  • Tracks subject continuously

Manual Focus (MF)

  • Precise control
  • Low light situations
  • Macro photography

Metering Modes

  • Evaluative/Matrix: General use
  • Center-weighted: Portrait
  • Spot: Specific area, high contrast

Composition Techniques

Rule of Thirds 

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|  ·  |     |  ·  |
+-----+-----+-----+
|     |     |     |
+-----+-----+-----+
|  ·  |     |  ·  |
+-----+-----+-----+

Place subjects on intersection points for balanced composition.

Leading Lines

Use natural lines to guide viewer’s eye:

  • Roads, paths
  • Rivers, coastlines
  • Fences, railings
  • Architectural elements

Framing

Use environmental elements to frame subject:

  • Doorways and windows
  • Tree branches
  • Arches
  • Natural openings

Symmetry and Patterns

  • Look for repeating elements
  • Break patterns for interest
  • Use reflections

Negative Space

  • Leave empty space around subject
  • Creates minimalist, clean look
  • Emphasizes subject

Lighting

Natural Light

Golden Hour

  • Hour after sunrise
  • Hour before sunset
  • Warm, soft light
  • Long shadows

Blue Hour

  • Just before sunrise
  • Just after sunset
  • Cool, even light
  • City lights on

Midday

  • Harsh overhead light
  • Strong shadows
  • Use shade or reflectors

Direction of Light

Front Lighting

  • Light from camera position
  • Even exposure, flat
  • Good for details

Side Lighting

  • Light from side
  • Creates depth and texture
  • Dramatic shadows

Back Lighting

  • Light behind subject
  • Silhouettes
  • Rim lighting effect

Diffused Light

  • Cloudy days
  • Shade
  • Soft, even lighting

Artificial Light

Flash Photography

  • Bounce flash (ceiling/walls)
  • Avoid direct flash
  • Use diffusers

Continuous Lights

  • LED panels
  • Ring lights
  • Video lights

Portrait Photography

Lens Selection

  • 50mm f/1.8: Budget, natural perspective
  • 85mm f/1.8: Classic portrait lens
  • 35mm f/1.4: Environmental portraits
  • 70-200mm f/2.8: Event, candid

Portrait Settings 

Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/1.8 - f/5.6
ISO: 100-400 (outdoors), 400-1600 (indoors)
Focus: Eyes (always)

Posing Tips

For Subjects:

  • Slightly angle body to camera
  • Shift weight to back foot
  • Relax shoulders
  • Hands with purpose (don’t dangle)

Camera Angles:

  • Eye level for connection
  • Slightly above for slimming
  • Below for power/drama

Common Mistakes

❌ Cutting off at joints
✅ Crop between joints

❌ Dead center composition
✅ Rule of thirds placement

❌ Busy background
✅ Simple, clean background

Landscape Photography

Essential Gear

  • Wide-angle lens (16-35mm)
  • Tripod
  • Polarizing filter
  • ND filter (long exposures)
  • Remote shutter release

Landscape Settings 

Mode: Aperture Priority or Manual
Aperture: f/8 - f/16 (deep depth of field)
ISO: 100-200 (lowest possible)
Focus: 1/3 into scene (hyperfocal distance)

Composition

Foreground Interest

  • Rocks, flowers, logs
  • Creates depth
  • Leads eye into scene

Horizon Placement

  • Interesting sky? Upper third
  • Interesting ground? Lower third
  • Avoid center unless symmetry

Depth Layers

  • Foreground
  • Middle ground
  • Background

Long Exposures

Neutral Density (ND) Filters:

  • Smooth water
  • Cloud movement
  • Remove people

Settings:

ND Filter: 6-stop or 10-stop
Aperture: f/11
ISO: 100
Shutter: 30 seconds to several minutes
Must use: Tripod + remote shutter

Street Photography

Approach

  • Be respectful
  • Know local laws
  • Candid vs posed
  • Tell stories

Settings 

Mode: Aperture Priority
Aperture: f/5.6 - f/8
ISO: Auto (400-3200)
Focus: Continuous
Shutter: 1/250s minimum

Tips

  • Zone focusing (preset distance)
  • Shoot from hip for candid
  • Look for light and shadows
  • Capture emotions and moments

Macro Photography

Gear

  • Macro lens (1:1 magnification)
  • Extension tubes (budget option)
  • Tripod (essential)
  • Diffused light/reflectors

Settings 

Mode: Manual
Aperture: f/8 - f/16 (need depth)
ISO: 100-400
Focus: Manual (precise control)

Challenges

  • Very shallow depth of field
  • Camera shake amplified
  • Need lots of light
  • Focus stacking for more depth

Post-Processing

Basic Workflow

  1. Import & Organize

    • Rate images (1-5 stars)
    • Flag keepers
    • Create collections

  2. Basic Adjustments

    • Exposure
    • Contrast
    • Highlights/Shadows
    • Whites/Blacks

  3. Color Correction

    • White balance
    • Vibrance (natural)
    • Saturation (use sparingly)

  4. Detail Enhancement

    • Clarity (mid-tones)
    • Sharpening
    • Noise reduction

  5. Local Adjustments

    • Dodge and burn
    • Graduated filters
    • Radial filters

  6. Export

    • Format (JPEG for web)
    • Quality (80-90%)
    • Resolution
    • Sharpening for screen

Software Options

Professional:

  • Adobe Lightroom (industry standard)
  • Adobe Photoshop (advanced editing)
  • Capture One (tethering, color)

Free:

  • GIMP (Photoshop alternative)
  • Darktable (Lightroom alternative)
  • RawTherapee (raw processor)

Mobile:

  • Snapseed
  • VSCO
  • Adobe Lightroom Mobile

Editing Tips

✅ Subtle adjustments
✅ Preserve skin tones
✅ Watch for halos
✅ Maintain natural look

❌ Over-saturation
❌ Over-sharpening
❌ Heavy vignettes
❌ Obvious HDR look

Common Mistakes

Technical

  1. Not shooting RAW

    • More editing flexibility
    • Better quality

  2. Poor focus

    • Always focus on eyes (portraits)
    • Use single focus point
    • Check focus before moving

  3. Blown highlights

    • Watch histogram
    • Expose to the right
    • Use exposure compensation

  4. Camera shake

    • Use proper shutter speed
    • Tripod for slow shutter
    • Image stabilization on

Compositional

  1. Centered subjects

    • Use rule of thirds
    • Create visual interest

  2. Tilted horizons

    • Use grid in viewfinder
    • Fix in post if needed

  3. Cluttered backgrounds

    • Change angle
    • Use wider aperture
    • Move subject

  4. No subject

    • Every photo needs a clear subject
    • Use composition to emphasize

Developing Your Style

Find Inspiration

  • Study masters (Ansel Adams, Henri Cartier-Bresson)
  • Follow photographers on Instagram
  • Visit galleries and museums
  • Join photography communities

Practice Projects

  • 365 Project (photo a day)
  • Weekly themes
  • Recreate famous photos
  • Focus on one genre for month

Building Portfolio

  • Curate ruthlessly (show only best)
  • Consistent style/theme
  • 15-20 strong images > 100 mediocre
  • Update regularly

Gear Recommendations

Beginner Kit

  • Entry-level DSLR or mirrorless
  • Kit lens (18-55mm)
  • 50mm f/1.8 prime
  • Basic tripod
  • Camera bag

Intermediate Kit

  • Mid-range camera body
  • 24-70mm f/2.8
  • 70-200mm f/4
  • Prime lens (35mm or 85mm)
  • Quality tripod
  • Filters (polarizer, ND)

Pro Considerations

  • Weather-sealed bodies
  • Fast aperture zooms (f/2.8)
  • Specialty lenses
  • Lighting equipment
  • Backup gear

Resources

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