Let’s face it – no matter how passionate you are about your job or studies, it can sometimes get a little too monotonous and dull. If you’re devoting all of your attention to your profession, it can be easy to start feeling a little bogged down and like your mind is in a rut. If you want to expand your horizons, taking up an artistic hobby is the way to get your creative juices flowing again.
If traditional art isn’t your thing, you don’t need to fret. In today’s modern age, there are a ton of ways you can express yourself more abstractly, apart from picking up a paintbrush. Photography is thus one of the best hobbies you can take on. You’ll be surprised at how much of a different perspective you can put on everyday life by altering your lens and shifting focus. However, photography is also a pretty technical skill to learn, and if you want to excel, keep reading below for the best tips for beginners.
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Have some reference photos
Before you start, you might not have the best idea of composition, linearity, and other factors influencing a photograph. You might feel that a certain picture will turn out great, only for it to look average and badly composed. Looking at some reference work can thus be a great way to get a clearer idea of what works and what doesn’t.
Reference photos from some of the best photographers can help you figure out how to adjust your photos better. Apart from the general composition, you can also learn about factors such as exposure, white balance, saturation, and ISO and how to alter them to bring your vision to life. If you’re looking for a platform where you can find stunning photographs of any genre, websites with stock photos are a great place to start. Stock photographs are free to access and cover many genres, such as design and architecture, fashion, beauty, wildlife, portraits, and more.
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Hold your camera properly
One of the biggest mistakes people encounter when stepping into photography is having blurry, shaky pictures. You might feel like you’ve adjusted everything properly, only for your pictures to appear messy. The issue might not be in your settings but in your technique. It might seem inconsequential, but how you hold your camera can have a huge impact on the final photograph.
Holding your camera too far away from your body can make the final result extremely shaky. Instead, consider holding the camera with both hands close to your body for greater stability. Getting a tripod can be an excellent option if you still have issues. Although investing in equipment can be pricey, if you plan on taking your hobby seriously, it’s not something you’ll regret. However, if a tripod isn’t possible, consider leaning on something for extra support or adopting a wide stance to ensure you don’t shake to get the clearest photographs.
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Learn about the exposure triangle
Photography can be a pretty technical hobby and requires an in-depth understanding of the camera, editing software, and other technical aspects. Trying to master all these when just starting can be tough and make you feel like you’ve bitten off more than you can swallow. However, starting small can help you master the basics before you move on to more advanced skills.
The exposure triangle is one of the most basic aspects of photography you need to master to ensure all your pictures are sharp and well-lit. The exposure triangle includes shutter speed, aperture, and ISO; balancing these three factors can help you get the best photographs. Shutter speed affects how blurry your pictures are and how much light enters your camera. Similarly, aperture – indicated by the f-number – refers to how much light gets through to your camera’s sensor. ISO also indicates light sensitivity. Adjusting these settings to your shooting environment can help you produce the best photographs.
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Don’t be afraid to experiment
When starting with photography, it’s better to experiment with various subjects and genres to determine what appeals to you most and what you’re best at. You might feel like you need to settle down and focus on a certain genre pretty soon, but that isn’t the case. The more you experiment, the easier it’ll be to develop your unique and personal style.
Nature can be one of the best places to start when it comes to photography. There are many vivid, vibrant colors, complex subjects, and opportunities to adjust your exposure. Perfecting nature photography can be a great way to develop skills you can apply across all genres. Also, portraits and fashion photography allow you to focus on movement and figure out how to capture striking moments with your lens. Flitting between different areas can let you find your style and grow immensely as a photographer.
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Figure out some basic processing
If you’re new to photography, you might feel like pro photographers get the perfect shot the minute the shutter clicks. However, this assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. Creating the perfect photo takes as much work post-shooting as setting up the shot. Processing is vital to perfecting your shots and can help you breathe new life into pictures that can seem average.
Of course, having the right angles and composition is important to ensure your processing can be effective. Processing software has become incredibly complex and powerful over the years and can help you edit out things such as noise, exposure, and shakiness and can help you amplify colors, edit angles, and change perspectives. It can be challenging to grasp all these factors. However, figuring out how to fix exposure, noise, and depth are some of the most basic processing aspects and are easy to learn. With the right software, you can transform your photographs into something unbelievable.
Conclusion
When you’re new, photography can seem like a daunting hobby that’ll take years to perfect. However, following these tips can help you get on the right track and hone your skills quickly. Like all artistic endeavors, in photography, it’s important to go with your gut feeling and do what makes you feel good. These tips can help you merge your artistic vision with real-life skills to create stunning content.