Photography Basics

When you read the words, "photography basics", what exactly does it mean to you?

For most people, it means to just "snap" a photo. For a creative photographer, it means to have a creatively correct photo. A creative photo is a careful combination of ISO, shutter speed and aperture.

Once you know how and when to manipulate these three sides of the "photo triangle", you are well on your way to create beautiful photos.

All digital cameras, especially SLR cameras, have very sophisticated technology inside of them.

This is why you pay a lot of money to play with a hunk of metal, plastic and glass!

This technology is so sophisticated and precise that it can take measurements and do calculations within nanoseconds.

Digital cameras promise to "do everything" with minimal intervention from you. So why are you disappointed with most of the results of these cameras?

Even though these cameras produce a "correct" photograph, more often than not, they do not capture your vision.

Shutter, Aperture, ISO

Photography basics include several items for your consideration but the most important are the relationships between shutter, aperture and ISO.

Think of each of these as three sides to a photographic triangle. Any changes you make to one will affect the triangle.

• What is aperture?
• What is shutter speed?
• What is ISO?

Your SLR camera will automatically measure light and will give you a "perfect" triangle but perhaps this is not what you want...

A photo is the creative balance of these three components.

• Do you want your photo to tell a story?
• Do you want your photo to evoke a dreamy feel?
• Do you want your photo to have impact?

Love your camera. Love yourself. Love your photos.

Related Reading

• Which mode do I shoot in?
• What ISO is the best?