How to Start Photography for Beginners

#2. What is Aperture in Photography?

The choice of aperture is one of the most important factors in making a photo look the way you want it to. You can not only determine how much light falls on the sensor with its assistance. It also has a significant impact on the image’s depth of field.

The aperture, like the pupil in our eyes, can be opened to various degrees, allowing different amounts of light to fall on our film or sensor. As a result, the aperture is one of three factors that affect the exposure of a shot, along with exposure time and ISO setting. But it has the most impact: it affects the depth of field.

What this means in practice, how to find the right setting for the corresponding situation and which other factors interact with the aperture, we would like to clarify on this page:

• Learn about Aperture in Photography explained for Beginners

#3. What is Camera Shutter Speed?

What is your camera’s exposure time or shutter speed? What shutter speed is best for which situation? How do I adjust the exposure time?

The shutter speed is specified in seconds. Because you will only have a fraction of a second most of the time, use exposure times of 1/60 or 1/200 second.

Three factors influence exposure time:

• The shutter speed determines how long light is allowed to fall on the image sensor and thus whether there is enough, too much, or too little light for a properly exposed shot.
• A handheld shot can be sharp or blurry depending on the exposure time. The greater the danger, the longer the exposure time.
• Depending on the subject, the shutter speed is required for the statement (do I want to show moving water frozen or flowing).
• Read more about: Camera Shutter Speed Explained for Beginners

#4. What is the ISO value?

The ISO setting affects the image sensor’s light sensitivity. A low ISO value (for example, ISO 100, ISO 120…) indicates that the sensor is sensitive to light.

If you want to photograph a moving object in low light, you should increase the ISO value as well as open the aperture as wide as possible.

However, if the ISO sensitivity is set too high, the photo’s quality will deteriorate. Details are lost, and contrast is reduced.

This is known as “image noise.” The ISO value at which this unfavorable effect appears is determined by the camera model. Image noise in some cameras begins at ISO 800; in high-quality models, you can take photos at significantly higher ISO values with virtually no loss of quality.

• As a beginner you may don’t much about ISO, continue reading: Camera ISO Explained for Beginners 

#6. What is White Balance (WB)?

White balance is the adjustment of a photograph’s color rendering to compensate for color casts caused by the color of the incident light.

To make the final colors appear neutral when a subject is illuminated by warm, yellowish light, the color rendering must be shifted toward cooler, bluish hues.

Because the brain is constantly adjusting the color sensations perceived by the eyes to match known colors, color casts caused by different types of light are stronger than humans recognize.

Every camera attempts to compensate for this to the best of its ability, and, as with exposure, an automatic usually does a pretty good job of it – but not always. You can also get more out of your photos if you know how to intervene when necessary.

• Learn more: Camera White Balance Explained for Beginner

#7. Was ist ein Histogramm?

The Histogramm, which is available in digital photography, is a very interesting tool for evaluating illumination. This provides the photographer with detailed information about the distribution of light in the image.

The Histogramm graphically depicts the distribution of dark and light tone values. Simply put: how bright or dark are the pixels in your image?

The brightness of the tone values is displayed from left to right (X-Achse), and the hue distribution is displayed from top to bottom (Y-Achse).

“The histogram graphically represents the distribution of brightness values – from pure black to medium gray to pure white.”

The dark tone values (“Tiefen”) are shown on the left, and the light tone values (“high-lights”) are shown on the right. Tonwerte of medium brightness can be seen in the center.

If you see a lot of tone values of a certain brightness in a higher area, that area has a lot of tone values.

• Find out more: Camera Histogram Explained for Beginners 

#8. What are camera modes?

This is all about finding the simplest way to make friends with your camera and master it with as little effort as possible. Beginners who want to get started with simple photography.

Camera modes are the various basic operating settings of the camera.

• P (program automatic), A (aperture priority)
• S (speed priority), and M are the most well-known (manual mode).

The aperture number is the priority in A mode. You choose the aperture number, and the camera adjusts the ISO and shutter speed accordingly.

In S mode, on the other hand, the shutter speed is controlled manually while the camera determines the appropriate aperture or ISO value.

Furthermore, many cameras have a variety of scene modes. These are settings for specific situations, such as portraits, landscapes, or sports.

• Read more at: Camera Mode Settings Explained for Beginners

#9. What are the camera focus modes?

What good is the best photography equipment if the final image is blurry? Not because the equipment is faulty. However, this is due to a lack of understanding of how to use the camera focus. 

The sharpness of a photograph is proportional to its focus. Consider it a thin veil that stretches across the entire room at a specific distance from the lens.

The focus can shift the plane of sharpness at will. It should be placed where the viewer’s gaze is expected to wander later in the image.

A photo that is in focus from front to back is not always possible or desirable. The sharp subject should stand out from the blurred background, especially in portraits or animal photos. This is also known as cropping the subject.

• MF / AF-S / AF-C / AF-A focus modes

Almost all modern cameras have multiple autofocus modes:

AF-S – Single autofocus AF-C – Continuous autofocus AF-A – Automatic mode MF – Manual Focus AF-A – Automatic mode

• Discover the Camera Focus Modes explained for Beginners

#11. What is the rule of thirds?

The rule of thirds can be used to make images more harmonious and thus more appealing in photography.

Beginning photographers frequently photograph subjects in the exact center of the frame. This is usually done unconsciously because we want to ensure that everything in the photo is visible.

Objects in the center, on the other hand, are often unoriginal and are labeled as boring, despite the fact that the shot is technically flawless.

This photographic rule is the solution. It is a simple alternative to the golden ratio that can be used to make photo cropping more exciting and interesting.

Keep on reading Rule of Thirds Explained for Beginner Photographers