I have been shooting photography for about 2 years, and for most of that time i was unable to produce stunning pictures. In this topic i will try to express the main key elements for good photography.
This will include composition, aperture and some settings that will help you create better images. This guide is based at beginners, and may not include "professional" advice, but it is things that have really helped me,
To start:
The rule of 3.
composition is 9 tenths of the law in photography. And although it seems simple. for a long long time i would centre the main subject, which does not create the correct atmosphere of an image nor does it justify the main subject itself. the rule of 3 is simple. image a grid 2 lines horizontally and two lines vertically to create a grid with 3 columns of equally shaped squares. where the points meet are where your main subject should sit. this will create good composition. use the image below as an example.
Now onto aperture.
this is something i also did not truly understand for a long time, it is important for depth of field. i suggest any beginner to research the effects of aperture and what different settings will do, as it can be the key for good pictures. The wider the aperture the shallower the depth of field. so for example a lens with f2.8 will have a very shallow depth of field, this can be used to emphasise a close subject. when i take shots now i always experiment with a different aperture setting, rather than just taking one image and i suggest any beginner to do the same.
Now onto shutter speed.
Another thing i didn't really understand for a long time, when used at low light a long shutter speed can brighten up an image and create dramatic effects. a low shutter speed also creates fantastic results when used to shot moving water, like seas and rivers as it makes them seem misty, which creates a moody effect, so at low light for example sunset and sunrise you can create dark and moody photography. shorter shutter speeds are for fast paced shots, like sports and wildlife. a low iso and long exposure at night can create fantastic images. find some where dark like a field with no artificial light that has a good veiw, use a torch to focus on a point then set your camera to bulb (this means you choose how long to expose - rather than 30 secs) hold it down depending on how dark it is for any time between 30 secs and ten minutes!!!! there is a formula to calculate the time in which you should have the shutter open for, but it is complicated to explain to any new slr user. if you feel you understand the aspects of photography explained here but do not know how to work out the time, then pm me and i will be happy to help
Some advice:
i would suggest to any new slr user to avoid automatic settings as they will not develop your skills.
i would also like to point out that i did not comment on several other important points such as iso and white balance, and would express to beginners to research what these are and learn how to adjust their settings on their cameras.
READ YOUR CAMERA MANUAL. sounds stupid but when i got my first camera a nikon d40x it took me about a year to work out how to change all my settings, and work out what they do.
I would also like to express that buying new or expensive cameras will not help your photography
Buy a set of nd grad filters as they are fantastic for landscape photography
I just wrote this briefly to help out any new photographers in here, because the advice here i wish i read when i first started out.
This post was edited by qwnwy on Mar 5 2010 02:09pm