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The Basics of Photography

Photography evolved from a complex process of using light-sensitive materials and cameras to a form of art and expression over time. Its fundamentals have become relatively simple to master and are accessible to almost everyone through the use of digital cameras and cameras phones.

What Is Photography?

Photography is the art and process of creating still images and recording motion photos by using light-sensitive materials such as film or digital media. The act of taking a photograph is called “exposure”. In digital photography, the image is captured and stored electronically as a digital image file.

On Camera Settings

To achieve the ideal photograph, one must be familiar with the various settings on the camera. These settings include:

• • Aperture: The size of the lens opening. A larger aperture (smaller f-number) results in less depth of field but more light is allowed to enter.

• • Shutter Speed: The amount of time the shutter remains open. A slower shutter speed results in more light but can introduce motion blur.

• • ISO: The camera sensitivity to light. Higher ISOs result in a brighter photo but too high of an ISO can introduce more digital noise.

• • White Balance: The colors of the light. Different colors of light can affect the colors of the photograph.

Taking Your Photographic Journey

Getting the ideal photograph requires a bit of practice and experimentation. Start by trying out different settings on your camera and see how it affects the look of the photo. Learning how to properly use the camera settings will give you the freedom to take better photos and express yourself in a more creative way.

Happy snapping!