The Beginner's Guide to Photography by Dami Anandbazar

Dami Anandbazar

The Beginner’s Guide to Photography

Dami Anandbazar

The Beginner’s Guide to Photography

The camera used in the examples in this guidebook is a Canon 5D Mark II. Most Canon cameras will have similar designs. The instructions may differ with other brands and models.

Table of Contents 1. Introduction

2. Aperture

3. Shutter Speed

4. ISO

5. Aperture Priority

6. Shutter Priority

Table of Contents 1. Introduction

2. Aperture

3. Shutter Speed

4. ISO

5. Aperture Priority

6. Shutter Priority

7. Program Mode

8. Metering Modes

9. AF Points

10. Photo Composition

11. Rules of Thumb

12. Tips for Beginners

13. Index

14. Acknowledgements

7. Program Mode

8. Metering Modes

9. AF Points

10. Photo Composition

11. Rules of Thumb

12. Tips for Beginners

13. Index

14. Acknowledgements

Introduction Simply having an expensive camera does not necessarily make you a good photographer. The process of learning how to take creative pictures is very much a process of

trial and error, and this guide will ease you through that process. Essentially, there are 3 major pillars of photography; Aperture, which dictates the size of the opening in the lens, Shutter Speed, which changes the speed of the cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shutter, and ISO, which controls the sensitivity of the camera to light. Those 3 settings determine the

Introduction Simply having an expensive camera does not necessarily make you a good photographer. The process of learning how to take creative pictures is very much a process of

exposure of the photo, which controls how dark or light the photo will appear1. Along with the three pillars of photography, there are several things to keep at the back of your mind as you familiarize yourself with the concepts of photography. The Rule of Thirds helps you to take a more aesthetically pleasing photo, dictating how the image should be composed by dividing it into 9 equal 1

rectangles.1 Focus is very important in photography. Before taking a picture, you should always have an idea of which parts of your photo you want to focus on, and which parts will be blurry. Know whether or not your background will be in focus, or if it will be blurry, how blurry will it be? Nailing your focus will make your photo look much better, and this guidebook will show

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/a-beginners-guide-to-photography/ (accessed 06 Dec, 2015).

Lighting is one of the most vital aspects of photography. Always be aware of your lighting and surroundings, as you must adjust your camera’s settings accordingly. Some useful tips for lighting include; avoid bright light behind your subject, look out for dark shadows, and beware of things that glare in the light. In essence, photography is lighting, as photography is the art of capturing light reflected from 2

objects into the camera’s lenses. The success of a photo will usually come down to photo composition, which is what you include and leave out of the shot, and how you

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/a-beginners-guide-to-photography/ (accessed 06 Dec, 2015).

objects into the camera’s lenses. The success of a photo will usually come down to photo composition, which is what you include and leave out of the shot, and how you

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/a-beginners-guide-to-photography/ (accessed 06 Dec, 2015).

It will also be helpful to keep in mind the color within your photos. If the main subject of focus is the same color as the background, it can make it difficult for viewers to see the subject, which can be

All the pictures in this guidebook are the works of the author, with the exception of the diagram on page 10.

Aperture Simply put, aperture is the size of the opening in the lens3. When you press on the shutter release button to take a picture, a hole opens in the cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lens which allows light to enter, giving the image sensor a look at the scene which you are about to shoot. The aperture setting controls the size of that hole. The larger the hole, the more light that enters; the smaller the hole, the 3

less light entering the lens. Aperture is measured in f-stops. The diagram above shows how increasing the fstop number affects the size of the hole.3

Darren Rose, Digital Photography School, http://digital-photography-school.com/aperture/ (accessed 15 Nov, 2015).

less light entering the lens. Aperture is measured in f-stops. The diagram above shows how increasing the fstop number affects the size of the hole.3

Darren Rose, Digital Photography School, http://digital-photography-school.com/aperture/ (accessed 15 Nov, 2015).

Switching from one f-stop to the next doubles or halves the size of the aperture. The smaller the number of the f-stop, the bigger the aperture and vice versa4. When you change between apertures, you will see a change in depth of field of the image. Depth of Field, or DOF, is the term for how much of your photo will be in focus. Larger depth of field means most of the shot will be in focus, whereas shallow depth 4

of field means only a small part of the shot will be in focus. Larger apertures result in a shallower depth of field; smaller apertures result in a larger depth of field.4

Darren Rose, Digital Photography School, http://digital-photography-school.com/aperture/ (accessed 15 Nov, 2015).

of field means only a small part of the shot will be in focus. Larger apertures result in a shallower depth of field; smaller apertures result in a larger depth of field.4

Darren Rose, Digital Photography School, http://digital-photography-school.com/aperture/ (accessed 15 Nov, 2015).

Shutter Speed Shutter speed is the amount of time that the shutter is open5. One of the three settings which control the exposure of the photo, shutter speed is measured in seconds, although in most cases it is measured in fractions of seconds. The bigger the denominator, the faster the shutter speed. Just like aperture, shutter speeds usually doubles or halves with each setting. 5

So keep in mind, increasing the shutter speed by 1 stop and decreasing the aperture by 1 stop will have a similar effect on exposure. Faster shutter speeds means less light will be allowed to enter the lens, so in order to compensate for less light, you should increase the aperture or ISO sensitivity.5

Darren Rowse, Digital Photography School, http://digital-photography-school.com/shutter-speed/ (accessed 15 Nov, 2015).

With slower shutter speeds, it allows you to adjust the aperture and ISO sensitivity as you wish. However, slow shutter speeds can result in camera shake, where an image appears blurry and unfocused due to movement. A common rule of thumb is to select a shutter speed with a denominator larger than the focal length of the lens to take a photo at the slowest shutter speed without camera 6

Darren Rowse, Digital Photography School, http://digital-photography-school.com/shutter-speed/ (accessed 15 Nov, 2015).

In low light situations, higher shutter speeds are needed to compensate for the lack of light, whereas faster shutter speeds should be used when there is a sufficient and controlled amount of lighting. You might need a tripod with shutter speeds lower than around 1/60, but it usually depends on how steady the hands of the photographer are. Shutter speed can be used in many creative ways,

such as freezing or blurring motion. To freeze motion faster shutter speeds are required while slower shutter speeds will blur the motion.

ISO ISO is the level of sensitivity of your the ISO brings grainy visual camera to light7. ISO is measured in distortion into the photograph, numbers usually from 100 to making it look slightly pixelated.7 around 6400. The lower the ISO number, the less sensitivity, and the higher the ISO number, the more sensitivity. Every camera has what is called a base ISO, the term for the lowest ISO setting the camera has to offer, which produces detailed images with no noise. Bumping up 7

Nasim Mansurov, Photography Life, https://photographylife.com/what-is-iso-in-photography, (accessed 13 Nov, 2015).

ISO numbers start from around 100200 (Base ISO), and usually doubles or halves each time you switch between settings just like aperture and shutter speed. Being twice as sensitive to light means the camera requires half the time it takes to take a photo. To change the ISO, press the button shown on the image to the right and switch the setting using the front dial. The small LCD panel below the ISO 8

button will display which setting you have chosen. You will also be able to see the setting you have chosen by looking through the viewfinder.8

Nasim Mansurov, Photography Life, https://photographylife.com/what-is-iso-in-photography, (accessed 13 Nov, 2015).

button will display which setting you have chosen. You will also be able to see the setting you have chosen by looking through the viewfinder.8

Nasim Mansurov, Photography Life, https://photographylife.com/what-is-iso-in-photography, (accessed 13 Nov, 2015).

When taking photographs in low light situations, bump up the ISO just enough so that there is enough light entering but no noise in the photo. When the lighting is controlled, use the lowest possible ISO setting and adjust the aperture and shutter priority accordingly. Also, if you are using a tripod, you can use the slowest shutter speed and the lowest ISO for the highest quality photo. One very important

thing to keep at the back of your mind is to never trust the display on your camera. Always zoom in a bit to look for unwanted noise, as it usually appears very different on a computer.

Aperture Priority This is a semi-automatic mode which allows you to set the aperture manually and the camera automatically sets the shutter speed9. When you widen the aperture, you allow more light to enter the lens which in turn allows the camera to speed up the shutter speed for the optimal exposure. Changing the aperture setting affects the exposure of the photo, 9

so ISO and shutter speed should also be considered. To use aperture priority mode, switch the dial to “A” or “Av”, and use the front dial to change the aperture setting.9

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/how-when-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/, (accessed 14 Nov, 2015).

so ISO and shutter speed should also be considered. To use aperture priority mode, switch the dial to “A” or “Av”, and use the front dial to change the aperture setting.9

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/how-when-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/, (accessed 14 Nov, 2015).

There are many situations in which using aperture priority can be very useful. 



However there are some situation where you should not use this mode as it could ruin your shot.

If you are trying to put all the emphasis on the subject at the expense of the background detail

Poor light or dark room

Shooting in low light can cause problems with exposure and camera shake. Using To put everything in the frame in aperture priority mode only solves the focus. exposure problem, and as a result you get In controlled lighting situations with camera shake. To a certain degree, you minimal movement, where shutter can fix the exposure but you cannot fix camera shake in photos. However you can speed is not important. fix

There are many situations in which using aperture priority can be very useful. 



However there are some situation where you should not use this mode as it could ruin your shot.

If you are trying to put all the emphasis on the subject at the expense of the background detail

Poor light or dark room

both problems by using aperture priority mode and a tripod, which will give you sharp and clear photos with no camera shake.

Night Landscape Aperture priority mode is useful for landscape shots during the day, but it can be difficult at night due to how unpredictable the lighting can be. For these situations shutter priority or program mode is the better option as you can change the shutter speed as you wish.

both problems by using aperture priority mode and a tripod, which will give you sharp and clear photos with no camera shake.

Aperture tips Very Low Light You may be tempted to use your camera’s built-in flash when you’re shooting in low light situations, but don’t do it! Using the flash can produce very low quality photos, often introducing washed out faces, harsh black shadows, and red-eye. Therefore it is a much better option to use a larger aperture and maybe a higher ISO depending on how dark it is.10

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/how-when-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/, (accessed 14 Nov, 2015).

Macro Images

Capturing Motion Blur in Daytime

When shooting very small objects, the subject can fall out of focus very easily even with a smaller aperture. To capture the most detail, use the smallest aperture available, which means you will need a slower shutter speed to compensate for the lack of light, and quite possibly a tripod as well.11

To capture motion blur during the day, use a smaller aperture. Using a larger aperture will produce overexposed photos, since you need slower shutter speeds to capture motion blur. Using a tripod along with a small aperture will give you that very slight motion blur.11

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/how-when-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/, (accessed 14 Nov, 2015).

Macro Images

Capturing Motion Blur in Daytime

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/how-when-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/, (accessed 14 Nov, 2015).

Busy Backgrounds Busy backgrounds can distract the viewer from the main subject, which makes the photo chaotic, confusing the viewer. For this, use a larger aperture to give the photo a shallow depth of field, which will put the unneeded background out of focus. Set the autofocus mode to One shot, as it is most suitable for subjects which are not moving.

For most landscape photos, you want the entire frame in focus, so the viewer sees it as if they were actually there. Smaller apertures give a larger DOF, focusing on everything in the frame.12 12

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/how-when-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/, (accessed 14 Nov, 2015).

Contextual Background If the background is part of the story you’re trying to tell through your photo, use a smaller aperture to put the background into focus. It’s all about whether the background is too distracting or if it is an important part of the photo.12 Landscapes For most landscape photos, you want the entire frame in focus, so the viewer sees it as if they were actually there. Smaller apertures give a larger DOF, focusing on everything in the frame.12 12

Josh, Expert Photography, http://expertphotography.com/how-when-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/, (accessed 14 Nov, 2015).

Shutter Priority Shutter priority mode allows you to There are different situations where manually set the shutter speed using shutter priority mode can be while the camera automatically very useful. 13 sets the aperture setting . To use  To stop motion, you need to set the this mode, switch the dial to “S” or shutter speed faster than the object. “Tv”. The front dial changes shutter speed.  To blur movement, set the shutter speed slower than the object. 

Under unpredictable lighting conditions.13

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18 Nov, 2015).

Shutter Priority Shutter priority mode allows you to There are different situations where manually set the shutter speed using shutter priority mode can be while the camera automatically very useful. sets the aperture setting13. To use  To stop motion, you need to set the this mode, switch the dial to “S” or shutter speed faster than the object. “Tv”. The front dial changes shutter speed.  To blur movement, set the shutter speed slower than the object. 

Under unpredictable lighting conditions.13

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18 Nov, 2015).

The best shutter speeds for general purpose are usually between 1/80 to 1/125, with 1/80 being the slowest speed to get a quality photo with no camera shake. However, if you have a tripod, you can set your shutter speed to virtually anything, as it gets rid of camera shake.

Shutter speed tips Shooting Stars Using a tripod, you can literally set you shutter speed to several minutes or even hours using bulb mode, which allows you to take pictures for as long as you press the shutter button. Including stars and still objects in the photo will show stars moving across the sky while the static objects stay still.14

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18 Nov, 2015).

Shooting water

Shooting birds in flight

Shooting water at high shutter speeds To freeze the movement of birds while makes the water seem frozen. This will theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re flying, use a shutter speed of just require a shutter speed of 1/500 or faster. around 1/2000. Shooting moving vehicles Use a shutter speed of around 1/1000 to freeze the motion of moving vehicles such as cars and motorcycles. Blurring walking people To blur the movement of people walking, use a shutter speed of 1/4 or so.15

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18 Nov, 2015).

Shooting water

Shooting birds in flight

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18 Nov, 2015).

Panning

Light Trails

This technique is where you move the camera from one side to the other following a moving object which results in a sharp subject and blurred background. Set the ISO to around 100, to get the best quality photo. This works best in low-light environments, as bright environments cause overexposed photos. This will need a shutter speed of around 1/30 to 1/60. Use the Al Servo autofocus mode, as it is designed for the purpose of tracking moving subjects.15

To capture the light trails of cars as they pass by the frame, use a shutter speed of around 10 seconds to a couple minutes depending on traffic. Use an aperture of about f/8 and set your ISO at 200. To ensure that there is no camera shake when you take the picture, use a tripod. If the photo is underexposed, bump up the ISO or increase the shutter speed. Try to use manual focus rather than autofocus, as autofocus may struggle with the lack of contrast.15

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18 Nov, 2015).

Panning

Light Trails

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18 Nov, 2015).

Milky water effect To give the waterfall a silky look, set the shutter speed to around 1-3 seconds, or to higher speeds to make it seem frozen.16

Mastering shutter speed and photography in general always requires lots of practice, trial, and error so stay patient. To practice setting the right shutter speed, try taking photos of moving cars.16

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18

Milky water effect To give the waterfall a silky look, set the shutter speed to around 1-3 seconds, or to higher speeds to make it seem frozen.16

Mastering shutter speed and photography in general always requires lots of practice, trial, and error so stay patient. To practice setting the right shutter speed, try taking photos of moving cars.16

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18

Program Mode Program mode is a semi-automatic include: mode which sets the aperture and  When autofocus isn’t choosing the shutter speed automatically for subject you want. what it deems most appropriate,  When auto-mode is jacking up the but allows you to change them as ISO more than necessary. you wish to improve the quality of  When the subject is either too light 17 the photos . On all dSLR cameras, or dark. program mode will be represented  Generally when your photos aren’t by a “P” on the main dial. coming out the way you want it.17 The situations to use program mode 17

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-program-mode/, (accessed 20 Nov, 2015).

Program Mode Program mode is a semi-automatic include: mode which sets the aperture and  When autofocus isn’t choosing the shutter speed automatically for subject you want. what it deems most appropriate,  When auto-mode is jacking up the but allows you to change them as ISO more than necessary. you wish to improve the quality of  When the subject is either too light the photos17. On all dSLR cameras, or dark. program mode will be represented  Generally when your photos aren’t by a “P” on the main dial. coming out the way you want it.17 The situations to use program mode 17

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-program-mode/, (accessed 20 Nov, 2015).

When you use auto mode to take photos, most cameras jack up the ISO when you shoot in low light. The reason for this is because most cameras set the ISO sensitivity high enough that the shutter speed does not need to be dropped too low, as it could cause motion blur. However, increasing the ISO to much can introduce unwanted noise to the images. You can solve this by using a tripod and program mode, allowing

you to manually set the ISO and lower the shutter speed. Remember to always use the lowest ISO setting when you use a tripod, unless you want special effects. To use program mode, switch the main dial to “P”. After that, look through your viewfinder as if you’re about to take a picture and gently press on the shutter release button.18 You should hear

Lori Grunin, CNET, http://www.cnet.com/how-to/dslr-tips-for-beginners-how-to-use-aperture-priority-mode/ (accessed 18 Nov, 2015).

a soft click, indicating the camera has focused on an object and has set the aperture and shutter speed automatically. The chosen aperture and shutter speed should appear on the LCD panel. To switch between different aperture and shutter speed combinations, use the front dial. Spinning the front dial to the left will lower the shutter speed, introducing motion blur, whereas spinning it to the right will increase

the aperture which results in a more shallow depth of field. Keep in mind, the number on the right is the aperture and the number on the left in the LCD panel is the shutter speed.

Metering Modes Metering is the term for how your camera chooses the optimal shutter speed and aperture, based upon the amount of light that enters and the sensitivity of the sensor1. When the scene you shooting is unevenly lit, cameras can struggle to determine the correct exposure of the photo. Most cameras take in to account the light levels of the entire frame by default, to determine an 19

exposure that produces a photo with balanced bright and dark areas. In situations where the default does not work, other options are available.19

Nasim Mansurov, PhotographyLife, https://photographylife.com/understanding-metering-modes, (accessed 5 Dec, 2015).

exposure that produces a photo with balanced bright and dark areas. In situations where the default does not work, other options are available.19

Nasim Mansurov, PhotographyLife, https://photographylife.com/understanding-metering-modes, (accessed 5 Dec, 2015).

The 3 most common metering upper left of the LCD panel and use modes which most dSLR cameras the front dial to switch between should have are; Overall/Evaluative Metering, Center-Weighted Metering, and Spot Metering. Different manufacturers and models will have differing ways to change the metering mode, so make sure to read the user manual of your camera. To change the metering mode on a Canon 5D Mark II, press the button to the 20

Nasim Mansurov, PhotographyLife, https://photographylife.com/ understanding-metering-modes, (accessed 5 Dec, 2015).

Overall Metering The default mode of most cameras, the camera assesses everything in the frame, averaging the lighting in every zone to decide on an exposure.

Center-Weighted Metering In this mode, the camera assesses lighting from several different metering zones around the frame, but focuses most of the metering on the center of the frame. This mode can be useful for shooting under tricky lighting conditions.

Overall Metering The default mode of most cameras, the camera assesses everything in the frame, averaging the lighting in every zone to decide on an exposure.

Spot Metering When using this mode, the camera focuses its metering on a very small area in the frame. Rather than assessing information from all the metering zones, it focuses on one and ignores the others. This mode can be useful for tricky lighting conditions and when the scene is much brighter or darker than your photoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s subject.

Autofocus Points Using autofocus (or AF) points to your advantage can solve many common problems photographers encounter. Your camera analyzes information from the nine autofocus points, then chooses what to focus on. It then locks onto the closest object which coincides with one of the focus points. This may work if you want to focus on the closest object to the camera,

but often times it will cause troubles. A more reliable method is to manually select one of the focus point you want to use, called singlepoint autofocus.21 To change the AF point you want to use, click on the grid button to the top-right of the rear of your camera, and then either use the front dial or the joystick to switch

Jeff Meyer, Digital Camera World, http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/02/07/af-points-how-to-take-control-ofautofocus-to-get-the-shots-you-want/, (accessed 11 Dec, 2015)

between AF points. The focus point you have chosen will appear on your cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LCD panel and in the viewfinder. Afterwards, you can click on the AF-ON button while looking through the viewfinder to see which point you chose. The AF point you have chosen will briefly be highlighted in red once you press the AF-ON button. Change the AF mode by pressing on the AF-Drive button.22 22

Jeff Meyer, Digital Camera World, http:// www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/02/07/af-points-how-to-take-control-ofautofocus-to-get-the-shots-you-want/, (accessed 11 Dec, 2015)

You can change the camera’s This allows you to change the AF method of changing the AF point to point by simply moving the joystick make it easier for yourself. in the direction of the focus point,  Press on the “menu” button to the without clicking on the grid button first. To use all AF points again, hit top left of the preview display. the grid button.23  Go to the second to last section, named “custom functions”. 

Select C. Fn. III: Autofocus/Drive



On page 3 under “AF point selection method” select 1. Multi-controller direct.

Jeff Meyer, Digital Camera World, http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/02/07/af-points-how-to-take-control-ofautofocus-to-get-the-shots-you-want/, (accessed 11 Dec, 2015)

Select C. Fn. III: Autofocus/Drive



On page 3 under “AF point selection method” select 1. Multi-controller direct.

Jeff Meyer, Digital Camera World, http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/02/07/af-points-how-to-take-control-ofautofocus-to-get-the-shots-you-want/, (accessed 11 Dec, 2015)

Focus Point Tips

Central AF Point

The focus point at the center is the most accurate of all, therefore it’s useful for The default auto select can be the ideal shooting under dull or very bright lighting, option for when you need to react quickly where other AF point might not be able to so that you don’t miss a good shot. It’s focus properly. also great for tracking movement. Auto Select

Upper AF Point

When shooting a landscape and you want to focus on the distant scenery at the expense of the foreground, use the focus point at the very top.

Focus Point Tips

Central AF Point

Upper AF Point When shooting a landscape and you want to focus on the distant scenery at the expense of the foreground, use the focus point at the very top.

Using the AF points at the far left or right can be helpful when the subject is placed at either end of the frame, or when you want to focus slightly more on the foreground.

Diagonal AF points Generally, portraits look best when the subject is placed slightly off the center of the frame. When taking a portrait of someone, choose one of the diagonal AF points and place it right on top of either of the personâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes. Edge AF points Using the AF points at the far left or right can be helpful when the subject is placed at either end of the frame, or when you want to focus slightly more on the foreground.

Photo Composition Essentially, photo composition determines how successful a photo will be. It is what you include in the frame of your shot, and how you arrange them1. It can be difficult for beginners to decide on what they want to include in their photos, so here are some rules of photo composition.

Fill the Frame

Simply put, the less empty space filling the frame, the better the shot will look. It can sometimes be difficult to decide how much of the frame your subject should fill, and many photographers make the mistake of leaving too much empty space. When the subject is too small, it confuses the viewers as to what they should be looking at, which makes for a rather bad photo.24

Jeff Meyer, Digital Camera World, http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/04/12/10-rules-of-photo-composition-and-why-they-work/, (accessed 8 Dec, 2015).

Fill the Frame

Jeff Meyer, Digital Camera World, http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2012/04/12/10-rules-of-photo-composition-and-why-they-work/, (accessed 8 Dec, 2015).

Avoid the Middle

Putting the subject of your photo at the dead center of the frame is a very common mistake photographers make. Move your subject slightly more to one side of the frame, and balance it out with contrasting colors to avoid taking rather boring and uninteresting 3. pictures.

Leading Lines

One way of telling if a photo is badly composed is if the viewerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes

Avoid the Middle

Leading Lines

One way of telling if a photo is badly composed is if the viewerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eyes

scene with no center of attention. Lines can be utilized to direct the eyes of the viewer to the subject, controlling how their eyes move around the photo. Curved lines can lead eyes around the frame to the subject, while also giving a sense of depth and perspective. 4.

lines will give it a calm feel. On the other hand, diagonal lines can give a sense of uncertainty and drama, making the photo more interesting to look at.

Use Diagonals

In a picture, vertical lines will suggest stability, whereas horizontal

lines will give it a calm feel. On the other hand, diagonal lines can give a sense of uncertainty and drama, making the photo more interesting to look at.

Use Diagonals

In a picture, vertical lines will suggest stability, whereas horizontal

Space to Move

Although photographs themselves don’t move, they can portray a strong sense of movement nonetheless. If your subject is moving, make sure it has space in the frame to move into. It gives off a feeling of unease when there is no space to move into. Likewise with portraits, the person’s gaze should have some room to move into. So for these types of shots, it’s a good

idea to always have a bit more room in front of your subject than behind it.

Space to Move

idea to always have a bit more room in front of your subject than behind it.

Backgrounds

Before you take any photo, you must always look at your background first. If you think your background to be unnecessary, you can control it even though you most likely won’t be able to remove it completely. You can either adjust your position to get a background you would like, or you can use a larger aperture to throw it out of focus.

Break the Rules

The saying goes, “Rules are meant to be broken”. These rules are simply tips for you to improve the quality of your shots. Breaking the rules can bring interesting new special effects, but you must first know the rules and deliberately break them. For every composition rule that has been made, there is a picture out there proving it wrong.

Backgrounds

Break the Rules

Rules of Thumb Certain rules of thumb can be very useful to keep at the back of your mind when you shoot, to make sure your photos come out the way you want it to. 1.

Sunny 16

Shutter: 1/ISO Full Moon: f/11 Half Moon: f/8 Quarter Moon: f/5.6

Camera Shake

Shutter Speed: 1/focal length of lens.

During bright or sunny days, aperture should be f/16 and shutter speed 1/ISO.

Flash Range

Double the distance, 4x the ISO

Moony 11

Rules of Thumb Certain rules of thumb can be very useful to keep at the back of your mind when you shoot, to make sure your photos come out the way you want it to. 1.

Sunny 16

During bright or sunny days, aperture should be f/16 and shutter speed 1/ISO.

Shutter: 1/ISO Full Moon: f/11 Half Moon: f/8 Quarter Moon: f/5.6

Camera Shake

Shutter Speed: 1/focal length of lens.

Flash Range

Double the distance, 4x the ISO

Moony 11

Stopping Action

If the movement is perpendicular to the lens, use a shutter speed 2 stops faster than the movement. Use 1 stop faster if the action is at a 45-degree angle to the lens.

Take your metering from the area just above the sun and use it for your exposure. Decrease the aperture by one stop to give it the effect of a photo taken half and hour later.

Shutter Speed with Flash

Use 1/60 shutter speed all the time.

Depth of Field

For maximum DOF use f/16 and for minimum DOF use f/2. 25

Focus

Focus on the eyes if your subject has them.

Sunsets

9. Doubt

Peter Liu, Swiss Army Nerd, http://peterliu47.com/12-photography-rules-of-thumb/, (accessed 11 Jan, 2015).

Stopping Action

If the movement is perpendicular to the lens, use a shutter speed 2 stops faster than the movement. Use 1 stop faster if the action is at a 45-degree angle to the lens.

Take your metering from the area just above the sun and use it for your exposure. Decrease the aperture by one stop to give it the effect of a photo taken half and hour later.

Shutter Speed with Flash

Use 1/60 shutter speed all the time.

Depth of Field

For maximum DOF use f/16 and for minimum DOF use f/2. 25

Focus

Focus on the eyes if your subject has them.

Sunsets

9. Doubt

Peter Liu, Swiss Army Nerd, http://peterliu47.com/12-photography-rules-of-thumb/, (accessed 11 Jan, 2015).

Tips for Beginners Beginner photographers can often feel lost without a sense of direction as they familiarize themselves with their camera. So here are some tips to follow if you ever feel hopeless or if you’re struggling to take good photos. 1) Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

there didn't immediately start taking great photos. Photography needs practice just like everything else.

Look at the background first

The quality of the background can either make or break your photo. Beware of things that draw attention away from your subject, such as colorful and bright objects or other elements that distract the audience.

The best professional photographers out

there didn't immediately start taking great photos. Photography needs practice just like everything else.

Look at the background first

The best professional photographers out

Keep the beep

The beep you hear when your camera focuses can make it much more enjoyable for you as well as those around you when taking pictures.

Wait for the right light

Shooting under soft and diffused light can reduce the contrast and reveal detail in a photo, while bright but overcast weather is great for outdoor portraits and macro photos.

Don’t stress about the quality 6) of your camera

At the end of the day, the quality of a photo will always come down to the 7) photographer and the composition of the photo, so there’s no need to buy the most 8) expensive camera that you can find.

A photo is either a ‘hell yes’ or ‘no’ Try to take atleast a photo per day Adding clarity, vignette, and

Keep the beep

The beep you hear when your camera focuses can make it much more enjoyable for you as well as those around you when taking pictures.

Wait for the right light

Shooting under soft and diffused light can reduce the contrast and reveal detail in a photo, while bright but overcast weather is great for outdoor portraits and macro photos.

Don’t stress about the quality 6) of your camera

A photo is either a ‘hell yes’ or ‘no’ Try to take atleast a photo per day Adding clarity, vignette, and

make a photo better. 9) Buy books, not gear 10) The bigger your camera, the less likely you are to carry it around with you everyday, meaning you will shoot less photos.

You will need to be patient as you learn to take photographs. Photography can often times be incredibly frustrating, and some days you will feel like quitting photography. But as you gain more experience, the photos will come a lot easier.

11) Always have backups (lens, battery, etc.) when travelling and taking photos. 12) Be patient.

make a photo better. 9) Buy books, not gear 10) The bigger your camera, the less likely you are to carry it around with you everyday, meaning you will shoot less photos.

11) Always have backups (lens, battery, etc.) when travelling and taking photos. 12) Be patient.

Index aperture

6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 33, 34, 47, 48, 50

autofocus

24, 29, 31, 38

AF mode

Al Servo

Bulb mode

Camera shake

13, 20, 21, 27, 29, 48

Color

Exposure Focus

7, 12, 19, 20, 34, 36, 49 7, 9, 11, 20, 23, 24, 25, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 47, 49

Index aperture

6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 33, 34, 47, 48, 50

autofocus

24, 29, 31, 38

AF mode

Al Servo

Bulb mode

Camera shake

13, 20, 21, 27, 29, 48

Color

Exposure Focus

7, 12, 19, 20, 34, 36, 49 7, 9, 11, 20, 23, 24, 25, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 47, 49

ISO

7, 9, 11, 20, 23, 24, 25, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 47, 49

Lighting

8, 14, 18, 20, 21, 26, 36, 37, 41

LCD panel

17, 33, 35, 39

Metering

35, 36, 37, 49

Noise

16, 18, 32

One Shot AF

photo composition

8, 43

Rule of Thirds

single-point autofocus shutter speed

38 6, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 48, 49

ISO

7, 9, 11, 20, 23, 24, 25, 29, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 47, 49

Lighting

8, 14, 18, 20, 21, 26, 36, 37, 41

LCD panel

17, 33, 35, 39

Metering

35, 36, 37, 49

Noise

16, 18, 32

One Shot AF

photo composition

8, 43

Rule of Thirds

single-point autofocus shutter speed

38 6, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 48, 49

Acknowledgements Thank you toâ&#x20AC;Ś Mr. Raja Sen For guiding me through this project and assisting me when I needed help.

All my models! Teo Kitahara Bigot Tengis Battur Tsommo Zorigtbaatar Misheel Enkhbayar Temuujin Munkhbat Buyanaa Boldbaatar Nyamrinchin Amarsaihan Samanda Anandbazar

Acknowledgements Thank you toâ&#x20AC;Ś Mr. Raja Sen

For guiding me through this project and assisting me when I needed help.

All my models! Teo Kitahara Bigot Tengis Battur Tsommo Zorigtbaatar Misheel Enkhbayar Temuujin Munkhbat Buyanaa Boldbaatar Nyamrinchin Amarsaihan Samanda Anandbazar

Sources "Back to Basics - Shutter Speed." DIY Photography. DIYPhotography, 28 Aug. 2007. Web. 18 Nov.

"A Beginner's Guide To Photography." Expert Photography. ExpertPhotography, 06 Nov. 2011.

"A Beginner’s Guide to Using Aperture Priority Mode." Light Stalking. LightStalking, 14 June 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

"Camera Exposure: Aperture, ISO & Shutter Speed." CambridgeInColour. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015.

"DSLR Tips for Beginners: How to Use Aperture-priority Mode." CNET. CNET, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.

Sources "Back to Basics - Shutter Speed." DIY Photography. DIYPhotography, 28 Aug. 2007. Web. 18 Nov.

"A Beginner's Guide To Photography." Expert Photography. ExpertPhotography, 06 Nov. 2011.

"A Beginner’s Guide to Using Aperture Priority Mode." Light Stalking. LightStalking, 14 June 2011. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

"Camera Exposure: Aperture, ISO & Shutter Speed." CambridgeInColour. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Nov. 2015.

"DSLR Tips for Beginners: How to Use Aperture-priority Mode." CNET. CNET, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015.

"FAQ: What Is Noise in a Digital Photograph?" Adorama. AdoramaCamera, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2015. "Focusing Quick Tip: Single Point AF Methods." Digital Photography School. Digital Photography School, 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2015. "How & When to Use Aperture Priority Mode." Expert Photography. ExpertPhotography, 15 Mar. 2012. Web. 14 Nov. 2015. "How To Choose an Aperture to Control Depth of Field." Digital Photo Secrets. Digital Photo Secrets, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.

"How to Photograph Light Trails of Cars." Digital Camera World. Digital Camera World, 12 Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Jan. 2016. "How to Use Program Mode." CNET. CNET, n.d. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.

"How to Use Program Mode to Set Your ISO." Digital Photography School. DigitalTrends, 07 Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2015. "How to Use Shutter-priority Mode." CNET. CNET, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

"How to Use Program Mode to Set Your ISO." Digital Photography School. DigitalTrends, 07 Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2015.

"How to Use Shutter-priority Mode." CNET. CNET, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Kim, Eric. "Eric Kim Blog." Eric Kim Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2015. LeChat, Filonia. "How Do I Set up a Book in Word or Publisher?" Small Business. SmallBusiness, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015. Liu, Peter. "12 Photography Rules Of Thumb." Peter Liu. N.p., 01 Nov. 2009. Web. 11 Jan. 2016.

"Introduction to Aperture." Digital Photography School Introduction to Aperture in Digital Photography Comments. Digital Photography School, 23 Aug. 2006. Web. 15 Nov. 2015. "Introduction to Metering Modes." Digital Photography School. Future Publishing Limited, 09 June 2009. Web. 05 Dec. 2015. "Introduction to Photography." About.com Tech. About.com, n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2015. "Introduction to Shutter Speed." Digital Photography School. Digital Photography School, 07 Aug. 2006. Web. 15 Nov. 2015. Kim, Eric. "Eric Kim Blog." Eric Kim Blog. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2015. LeChat, Filonia. "How Do I Set up a Book in Word or Publisher?" Small Business. SmallBusiness, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015. Liu, Peter. "12 Photography Rules Of Thumb." Peter Liu. N.p., 01 Nov. 2009. Web. 11 Jan. 2016.

"Master Your Camera's Autofocus: Which AF Points to Use and When to Use Them." Digital Camera World. Digital Camera World, 07 Feb. 2013. Web. 11 Dec. 2015. "Photography 101: Introduction to Aperture." Shutterstoppers RSS. Shutterstoppers, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. "Photography 101: Introduction to Shutter Speed." Shutterstoppers RSS. Shutterstoppers, n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2015. "10 Best Photography Tips for Beginners." Digital Camera World. Future Publishing Limited, 23 Dec. 2014. Web. 03 Dec. 2015. "10 Rules of Photo Composition." Digital Camera World. Digital Camera World, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2015. "Understanding ISO - A Beginner's Guide." Photography Life. PhotographyLife, 15 Dec. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. "Understanding Metering and Metering Modes." Photography Life. N.p., 04 Feb. 2010. Web. 5 Dec. 2015. "Using Camera Shutter Speed Creatively." Cambridge in Colour. CambridgeinColour, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015. "What Is ISO? A Cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sensitivity to Light Explained, and How to Use It." Digital Trends. DigitalTrends, 31 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. Zavos, Dimitrios. Diagram of Aperture. Digital image. Zavos Photography. Zenfolio, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.

Dec. 2015. "10 Rules of Photo Composition." Digital Camera World. Digital Camera World, 12 Apr. 2012. Web. 08 Dec. 2015. "Understanding ISO - A Beginner's Guide." Photography Life. PhotographyLife, 15 Dec. 2009. Web. 13 Nov. 2015. "Understanding Metering and Metering Modes." Photography Life. N.p., 04 Feb. 2010. Web. 5 Dec. 2015. "Using Camera Shutter Speed Creatively." Cambridge in Colour. CambridgeinColour, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2015. "What Is ISO? A Cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sensitivity to Light Explained, and How to Use It." Digital Trends. DigitalTrends, 31 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2015. Zavos, Dimitrios. Diagram of Aperture. Digital image. Zavos Photography. Zenfolio, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.