01.Photography Basics- A Beginners Photography Guide.

Regardless of your interests, gear, or goals, having a solid foundation of the main concepts of
photography is key to capturing better images and improving your photography. However, things
are not easy when you start off; What are the photography basics? Which are the
fundamental concepts of digital photography? What’s the best way to learn the basic elements? I
was in that position too, and I know that it’s hard. There are plenty of photography basics articles
online, but the information is often incomplete or displayed in a non-logical order. For that
reason, I decided to create this beginner’s photography guide to learning the basics.
This photography basics guide is what I’d have loved to find when I first picked up my camera;
all the important information you need to understand the main photography concepts displayed
in a logical and digestible order. To help you in the process, I also included plenty of examples,
infographics, and photography basics cheat sheets that will make everything easier.
BASIC CONCEPTS OF PHOTOGRAPHY
We’ll dive into each photography concept below but, in a nutshell, these are the main
photography basics:
Exposure
Aperture
Shutter speed
ISO
Exposure triangle
Depth of field
Focal length
Sensor size
Focus
Sharpness
Camera settings
Camera modes
Metering modes
Focus modes & areas
White balance
Histogram
Composition

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Photography gear
Editing
Photography tips for beginners
Below you’ll find all these photography basics explained.
Apart from this information, the best way to learn the basics is to check the specific article that
you’ll find at the end of each photography concept. You can also download this photography
basics guide as a PDF if you’re interested.
I promise that if you follow this beginner’s photography guide, you’ll learn and master all
the photography fundamentals in a flash!
1. EXPOSURE – THE MAIN ELEMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Exposure is the most important photography basic and the first photography concept that you
need to understand.
You’ve probably heard before the expression “photography is painting with light”, and it’s
completely true! Photography is about capturing light, and exposure is so important because it’s
the amount of light collected by your camera.
The photography exposure basics are composed of different elements that we’ll discuss below
like the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. The fundamental thing to understand is the effect of
exposure, which is to capture the image with a determined brightness (this is also called
“Exposure Value”).
Ideally, the image should be correctly exposed, that is, with the perfect amount of brightness
where you can see all the detail in the highlights and the shadows. However, in photography
exposure there’s no right or wrong, and the artistic choice of many photographers is to capture an
underexposed or overexposed image. For now, we’ll focus on the elements to capture a correct
exposure. Exposure basics also has other effects on the final look of the image like the depth of
field, the motion, and the digital noise. We’ll also get into this throughout this photography
basics tutorial. Below, you can see a photography basics infographic with the main effect of
exposure on an image.

Not clear enough? Check out our guide to photography exposure! 

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2. APERTURE – A FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPT IN PHOTOGRAPHY
Aperture is the first concept of the photography exposure basics.
In brief, the aperture works like our pupils; it’s the opening of the camera lens, which controls
the amount of light that goes through the lens to the camera sensor.
This basic photography concept has a direct effect on the exposure; the wider the aperture the
brighter the image will be, and the narrower the aperture the darker it will be. It also plays a
significant role in the depth of field and sharpness of the image.
The max. and min. aperture of the lens is defined by a value known as “F-stop”. The larger the F-
stop number is, the smaller/narrower the aperture and vice versa. This number follows a
sequence like this:

The best aperture camera settings will depend on the light, the subject that you’re shooting, and
the final look that you want in your image.
You can see all the main effects of this exposure setting in the below photography basics cheat
sheet for aperture.

Interested in learning more about aperture with some real examples? Click below and check out
our Guide to photography aperture! 

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3. SHUTTER SPEED – A KEY ELEMENT FOR BEGINNER PHOTOGRAPHY
The second photography fundamental related to exposure basics is the shutter speed.
In short, shutter speed is related to how long the camera shutter is open and capturing light.
This has a significant impact on the exposure; a shorter shutter speed will translate into a darker
image whereas a longer shutter speed will capture a brighter image.
Shutter speed is also a photography fundamental for capturing motion, something vital in some
genres like long exposure photography. It also has an effect on the camera shakiness and
the possibility of shooting handheld vs. the need for using a tripod.
The main way to measure shutter speed is using seconds and fractions of a second following a
sequence like this:

The best shutter speed settings will depend on the available light and the motion that you want to
capture in your subject.
You can see the main effects of this setting in the below photography basics chart related to
shutter speed:

Want to find more information and examples? Check our complete guide to shutter speed! 
4. ISO – A MUST IN ANY BEGINNER’S PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
The last of the exposure photography basics is the ISO.
In short, the ISO works by increasing the light information captured by the camera sensor.

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This has a drastic effect on the exposure; the higher the ISO, the brighter the image will be, and
the lower the ISO, the darker the photograph will be.
Apart from exposure, ISO has a major side effect called “digital noise”. As you increase the ISO,
your image will be brighter but will also have more digital noise, which is an important element
related to the quality of the image.
The ISO number is usually measured using “ISO levels”, which follows this sequence:

The main ISO
camera settings will depend on the available light. If you’re shooting in low-light or night
environments, you’ll have to use a higher ISO if you want to capture the right exposure. The
same applies if you want to use a narrow aperture or fast shutter speed and there’s not enough
light. You’ll have to strike a balance with the other photography basics. This might seem
complex but it’s rather easy as you’ll see in the next photography concept.
You can see all the ISO effects in the following photography basics cheat sheet.

Would you like to master ISO? Check out our Guide to ISO in digital photography!
5. EXPOSURE TRIANGLE – THE SECRET TO UNDERSTANDING THE PHOTOGRAPHY
BASICS
Once you understand the photography basics of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, it’s time to put
them all together!
The best way to see how these elements interact with each other is through the exposure triangle.
The exposure triangle is included in most beginning photography guides, and it’s simply an
analogy to explain the effects and interaction of the main photography basics of exposure.
According to this, all three elements must be in balance if you want to capture a correctly
exposed image. So, when you adjust one side of the triangle, you’ll have to adjust one or the two
other sides to strike a balance.

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For instance, if you open your aperture, you’ll have to either reduce the shutter speed or decrease
the ISO to achieve the same amount of brightness (exposure level).
Using the exposure triangle is one of the best basic photography tips for beginners, and once you
understand it, it’s very easy to put it into practice.
To make things easier, below you can find a photography basics cheat sheet with the exposure
triangle analogy.

You can find an in-depth guide full of examples in our exposure triangle guide! 
6. DEPTH OF FIELD – A BASIC CONCEPT IN PHOTOGRAPHY
One of the fundamentals of digital photography is the depth of field.
In short, depth of field is simply the space in the image that is acceptably sharp and in focus.
In photography, we can say that there’s a shallow depth of field when just a narrow portion of
the frame is acceptably sharp, whereas we speak about a large depth of field when a big portion
of the frame is considered to be in focus.
Depth of field is affected by many different factors:
Aperture: The wider the aperture, the shallower the depth of field
Focal length: The longer the focal length, the shallower the depth of field
Focusing distance: The closer the subject to the lens, the shallower the depth of field
Sensor size: The smaller the camera sensor size, the shallower the depth of field (*using the
same focal length).
A good way to calculate the depth of field is by using a depth of field app or calculator. It’ll tell
you the portion of your frame that will be reasonably sharp according to your camera, lens, and
aperture.

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The best way to understand this photography concept is through real examples, which you can
find in our depth of field photography guide. 
7. FOCAL LENGTH – PHOTOGRAPHY LENS BASICS
Focal length is related to the photography lens basics.
It’s a vital photography concept to understand for creating your images and choosing the lenses
that you’ll need in your gear.
The focal length works by describing each lens in terms of millimeters from the optical center of
the lens to the sensor. Depending on how short or long the focal length is, this will have a direct
impact on the field of view of your images and in other aspects like the depth of field.
For example, shorter focal lengths like wide-angle lenses will have a wide-angle of view,
whereas longer focal lengths like telephotos will have a narrower angle of view. The focal length
will also create different effects, like distortion in wide angles of view, and magnification in
narrower angles of view.
All these elements are essential for anyone who is beginning in photography since it will affect
the final look of your subject and image.
You’ll find this photography concept easily explained following the below basic infographic.

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You can also find more info and examples of images taken with different focal lengths in
our focal length guide!
 8. SENSOR SIZE – A GOOD PHOTOGRAPHY FUNDAMENTAL TO LEARN
Another photography fundamental for beginners that often goes overlooked is the camera sensor
size.
The camera sensor size is truly important. There’s not an absolute best sensor size in
photography, but rather different sensor sizes for different photographic needs.
The size used as a reference in digital photography is the classic 35 mm sensor size, also known
as Full-Frame. If the sensor is smaller than this size, it’s said to be “cropped”, and if it’s bigger,
it’s considered “medium format.“ Knowing the different types of sensors, their qualities, and
what they can achieve, is also crucial to taking the pictures that you want.
For example, a basic rule in night photography is to use a sensor with larger pixels, since these
are better at capturing light and will allow you to take a better-quality image with less digital
noise.
The focal length is also important since smaller sensors will offer more reach and greater
magnification for shooting subjects far away like in wildlife or sports.
The depth of field is the last effect of the camera sensors. Using the same field of view, the depth
of field will be narrower in cameras with larger sensors and larger in cameras with cropped
sensors. An example is portrait photography, where photographers usually shoot with larger
sensors to decrease the depth of field and bokeh effect.
As you can see, understanding the sensor size is one of those photography basics that you must
pay attention to.
Below you can see a photography basic cheat sheet with the main types of sensors in the market.

If you want to learn more about this and see examples taken with different sensors, check
our guide to camera sensor size! 

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9. FOCUS – AN ESSENTIAL CONCEPT TO MASTER
Focusing is one of the most common struggles for anyone beginning in photography.
Briefly, focusing consists of adjusting the lens to find the maximum sharpness, contrast, and
resolution for a chosen subject.
There are two ways to focus in digital photography:
Manual focus: Using your hands to tweak the focus ring until you get to the best focus.
Automatic focus: Using the camera’s and lenses’ internal motors to focus on a given subject.
Using manual focus or autofocus will depend on the type of photography that you do. For
instance, in some genres like macro and night photography, it’s better to use manual focus. Yet,
in other genres, like wildlife or sports, autofocus is faster and will make things easier.
In some genres like landscape photography, you can focus on a specific distance that will help
you achieve the maximum depth of field (or reasonable sharpness). This is called the Hyperfocal
distance and it’s one of the best photography basics to learn.

Talking about cameras, these are very different in terms of their focusing capabilities. Basic
cameras usually have worse focusing capabilities like fewer focus points, and they are less
reliable, while advanced cameras have a better focusing capacity even in low-light situations.
Most digital cameras include different focus modes and areas that we’ll cover in the photography
basic settings below.
This photography basics infographic breaks down the main differences between Manual Focus
vs. Autofocus.

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You can learn how to focus and find 10 tips for focusing in our guide to focusing in
photography. 
10. SHARPNESS – THE VITAL PHOTOGRAPHY BASIC FOR BETTER QUALITY
Sharpness is a basic photography concept that can be more technical than others, but it’s rather
easy to understand.
In a nutshell, sharpness is just how clearly detail is captured and processed in an image.
There are many factors affecting the sharpness of an image, like the sensor resolution, the lens,
and even some photography basics that we already covered like the aperture, shutter speed, and
ISO.
The editing basics and post-processing techniques are also important to achieve more sharpness.
Images usually lack detail when they are taken straight out of camera (something called
“softness” in photography), and you can correct this by using some sharpening software.
Lastly, the viewing distance is another important factor affecting sharpness. By definition, the
perception of sharpness increases as the viewing distance of the image grows. That’s why
billboards have a very small resolution when looked at closely.

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“Soft” vs sharpened image
I highly encourage you to dive more into this photography concept by following our sharpening
article and our guide with 30 tips to take sharper photos. 
11. CAMERA SETTINGS – BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY SETTINGS
Once you understand the basic photography concepts, it’s time to put them into practice using
the main photography settings on camera!
In short, these are the best camera settings for anyone starting in photography:
Aperture: f/1.8-f/5.6 in low light or for a narrower depth of field, and f/8-f/16 for a wider DoF
Shutter Speed: From 30 seconds to 1/4000thof a second depending on the scene
ISO: 100-3200 in entry-level cameras, and 100-6400 in more advanced cameras
Camera Mode: Manual camera mode or Aperture-priority mode
Metering Mode: Matrix/Multi/Evaluative depending on your camera model
Focus Mode: AF-S for stills and AF-C for moving subjects
Focus Area: Single-point for stills and Dynamic/Zone for moving subjects
White Balance: Automatic WB
File Format: Raw File (or JPEG if you don’t want to edit your pictures)
Drive Mode: Single shooting for stills and continuous for moving subjects
Long exposure noise reduction: Off
High ISO noise reduction: Off
Color Space: sRGB
Image stabilization: On when shooting handheld and Off when shooting from a tripod
HDR/DRO: Off

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We have a dedicated guide to basic camera settings for beginners where you can learn all the
above buttons, dials, and functions on your camera.
 
12. CAMERA MODES – THE BASICS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR CAMERA
Understanding camera modes is one of the basics in photography to help you familiarize yourself
with your camera and improve as a photographer.
To put it simply, camera modes are the camera controls that allow the photographer to choose
the main exposure settings for aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
They’re also called “shooting modes,“ and these are the main modes available in most digital
cameras:
Program Camera mode (“P Mode”): Using this mode, the camera automatically sets the shutter
speed and aperture.
Shutter Priority Mode (“Tv/S Mode”): You set the shutter speed and the camera selects the
aperture.
Aperture Priority Mode (“Av/A Mode”): You set the aperture and the camera sets the shutter
speed.
Manual Camera Mode (“M Mode”): You set all the main settings on camera.
Using each mode will depend on your subject and your photographic skills, but generally,
learning when to use the different camera modes is basic photography knowledge.

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You can find more information and examples in our camera modes guide for beginners. 
13. METERING MODES – THE FUNDAMENTAL LIGHTING CONCEPTS
Another photography fundamental for starters is the metering modes.
In short, metering modes are simply the way your camera calculates the available light of the
scene. In photography, this can be done using the built-in exposure meter in camera or
a handheld device.
Understanding how light works in photography is a basic concept that any photographer must
know, and it’s the first step in learning the different ways your camera can calculate the light of
the scene.
These are the basic metering modes to calculate the light in most digital cameras:
Multi/Matrix metering: This mode evaluates the light of the entire scene by dividing the frame
into different zones.
Center-weighted metering: This mode uses the center of the frame to measure the light of the
scene.
Spot metering: Using this mode, the camera uses a single focus point to read the light.
By default, one of the basic photography techniques in any DSLR or mirrorless camera is to
use Multi/Matrix metering, which will be accurate in most situations. However, in some
particular scenarios, you might benefit from using either Center or Spot metering.
You can check out some examples in the below photography basics infographic related to the
main camera metering modes.

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If you want to dive into each specific mode and more examples, check out our dedicated guide to
metering modes! 
14. FOCUS MODES & AREAS – PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS FOR ANY GENRE
You can’t learn the photography basics without understanding how the focus modes and
areas work.
The focus modes help you decide whether you want the camera to lock the focus on a subject or
to keep adjusting the focus as the subject moves across the frame.
The two main focus modes are:
Single Autofocus Mode (AF-S/One-shot AF): The camera locks the focus on a subject and, if the
subject moves, you’ll have to press the focus button again and repeat the process.➜ Best for
stills, landscape, macro, astro, etc.
Continuous Autofocus Mode (AF-C/AI-Servo): After focusing, the camera will track the subject
when it moves within the frame. ➜ Best for action, wildlife, sports, street, etc.

Moving into the focus areas, these will help you set where the camera seeks to focus within a
scene.
To do this, your camera uses different focus points and AI technology. In some genres, using a
specific focus area is fundamental. That’s why the focus areas are one of the wildlife
photography basics and it’s also vital in other genres like sport or street photography.
In a nutshell, these are the main focus areas in photography:

Single Point Area Mode: You can select a single focus point. ➜ Best for landscape, still
portraits, macro, and architecture.
Dynamic Area Mode: If your subject moves, your camera will use several focus points to track
it. ➜ Best for wildlife, sports, and street.

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Auto Area Mode: The camera automatically decides the best focus points. ➜ Best for scenes
where you need to focus on something easy and close to the camera.
This camera basics infographic will give you a better understanding of the different focus areas.

The best way to learn this photography basic is by seeing real examples. You can see plenty in
our Focus Modes & Areas article! 
15. WHITE BALANCE – A MUST IN ANY PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE
White balance is one of those easy to understand photography basics.
Briefly, white balance is a photography concept aimed at capturing accurate colors in your image
without being affected by the color of the light source. White Balance is related to color
temperature, which is measured in “Kelvins” or “K”. The higher the K number, the cooler the
color will be.
In your camera, you’ll have several white balance options:
Automatic white balance (AWB): The camera automatically adjusts the best WB camera setting.
White balance Presets (Semi-Automatic White Balance): The camera includes different preset
modes related to different color temperatures.
White balance manual camera setting (Custom white balance mode): You can manually adjust
the white balance by either creating a custom white balance or setting a specific Kelvin number.
One of the best photography basic tips is to set the white balance to automatic. Thankfully, the
white balance is a setting that you can change in post-processing without affecting the quality of
the image, as long as you shoot in Raw.
I hope this photography basics cheat sheet helps you learn when to use the different white
balance adjustments.

02.White Balance Explained – A Beginner’s Guide

When switching your camera mode to Manual, you’re able to control every aspect of the picture-
taking process. Most only focus on the primary settings, such as shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.

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However, there are several lesser known options that are also worth tweaking! One of which is
White Balance, which will impact how the colors in your photographs turn out. 
What is White Balance? 
To explain what white balance is, we must first define the term Color Temperature. Color
Temperature is defined as the characteristic of visible light. What this means is that color
temperature determines if colors are cold, warm, or neutral depending on the amount of light
present. 
Color temperature is measured in Kelvins (K). Larger Kelvin numbers make colors more blue
and lower Kelvin numbers make colors more yellow. Each light source has a different color
temperature. 

Digital and mirrorless cameras use their sensors to measure the light emitting from the colors
red, green, and blue (RGB). Cameras tend to apply the same color temperature across the entire
image, which push colors away from their natural state and into inaccurate colors. 
In layman terms, white balance adjusts colors so that they look more natural, or accurate to the
scene. White balance gets rid of something known as a Color Cast. Color Casts are visible tints
in an image. For example, a blue color cast makes every color look very cold and blue-ish. In
order to reduce color cast, white balance adjusts the temperature to bring colors back to their
natural state. 
For many, the easiest way to wrap your head around how white balance works is as such: every
color has some white in it. Depending on the type of white you mix in, the color will change. 
For example, if you use a bright stark white, the color will be pretty rich and true. If your white
is more of an off-white, like, a blue-ish white- the color will be different and cold. Keep in mind
that this isn’t really how white balance in a camera works, but it’s a good way to mentally
process it and simplify the understanding. 
What are the Different Types of White Balance? 

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Your camera will have some white balance options preset. These are the most common white
balance presets that are found universally among camera brands: 
Auto White Balance

This is when the camera attempts to select the proper white balance based on what its internal
sensor is reading. Although this does work a lot of the time, it will not be accurate all the time as
cameras are not intelligent, they rely on an internal program. 
Daylight/Sunny

This is intended for bright days and adds a bit of a warmer effect on your photographs. 
Cloudy/Overcast

Clouds act as a diffuser over the sun and can cast images to be a bit on the blue side. This preset
counteracts the blue by warming images up a bit. 
Shade

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Shade causes colors to look even more blue than clouds- so this setting will add even more
warmth!
Flash

This white balance is intended for artificial light, it combats any color casts that may arise out of
using flashes, strobes, and speedlites. 
Fluorescent

Probably the least liked type of lighting for photographers, fluorescent lights turn your subject
green or blue-ish and very sickly colors. This white balance brings back a natural look to your
images. 
Tungsten/Incandescent

These lights are fairly common in indoor settings. These lights are very warm, so the white
balance setting will counteract by cooling the colors down. 
What About Custom White Balance? 
If none of the presets are working for your present situation, you can always make a custom
white balance! This requires a bit more effort than manually changing other settings in a camera.
This is because when making a custom white balance, you need a frame of reference. 

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First, find something that you would consider pure white. This can be anything from a white
square, a piece of paper, or an actual object. Some photographers actually buy white balance
cards (a set of cards that feature white and various shades of gray) for this exact reason. 

Then, click on your custom white balance option (this name may change between camera
brands). Next, aim your camera at this white reference point. Press the shutter button like you
would take a picture. The camera will scan the color temperature of the light that hits the sensor
and store this information, adjusting the white balance based on the item you used for reference. 
How Does White Balance Affect Your Editing? 
White balance’s biggest application is saving you time and energy in the editing room. White
balance’s core purpose is to ensure that colors are accurate- having the proper white balance
applied to your images will reduce the need to adjust the white balance in post processing. 
Although programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Lightroom have batch processing
available (batch processing is when you apply the same edit to a multitude of image
automatically), you may find that the same adjustments may not work for every image.
Therefore, you’ll still have to manually sit there and check each photograph (counteracting the
purpose of batch processing). 
Another problem is that a severely improper white balance may make recovering the colors close
to impossible. The damage may be irreversible! 
What White Balance Should You Use and When? 
What white balance you use depends on the lighting at your photo shoot. 
For certain lighting situations, such as fluorescents, you already know that you need to change to
this preset. 

For those more complicated, it’s a good idea to take a photograph with your camera and then
look at it. Based on what you see, you can determine if your white balance needs adjustment or if
it is just right! 

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For lighting situations that feature different kinds of light, such as a nightscape, prioritize what
part of the image you want colored in what way. Do you want the main lighting to be more blue?
More yellow? Warmer? Colder? Adjust based on your aesthetic.
Conclusion
The goal as a photographer is to get the image to look as close to finished as possible directly in
the camera so that you don’t need to hassle yourself with excessive editing. Understanding white
balance helps reduce your editing time because your colors will be accurate! 
16. HISTOGRAM – UNDERSTAND THE EXPOSURE BASICS
The histogram is a photography concept that most people beginning in photography find
daunting. It looks like complex mathematics but, believe me, it’s very easy to understand and
one of the most useful tools in your camera.
In a few words, the histogram is just a graphic representation of the exposure levels within an
image. Using the histogram, you’ll be able to see a more accurate representation of the highlights
and shadows of your image.
Reading the histogram is one of the basics in digital photography and will help you see if your
image is correctly exposed or under/overexposed.
This photography basics infographic will help you understand how to read the histogram.

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I also created a specific article where I talk about the best histogram and show real examples of
histograms in photography. You can check it out below.
17. COMPOSITION – AN INDISPENSABLE PHOTOGRAPHY BASIC
Beyond photography settings, gear, and other technical aspects, if you want your pictures to
speak for themselves, one of the photography basics to master is the composition.
Composition is the language of photography, and using different compositional elements and
rules, you’ll be able to capture and shape your visual message. When you compose your image,
you have to arrange the elements of the scene to make them attractive to the viewer. This will
also help you represent your visual message in the most harmonious and impactful way.
Composition can be broken down into different parts:
Rules: Like the photography basic rule of thirds, the golden triangle, the rule of space, the golden
spiral, the rule of odds, etc.
Elements: Like leading lines, curves, geometric shapes, colors, etc.
Techniques: Like symmetry, balance, repetition, patterns, scale, etc.
All these fundamentals are basic photography knowledge that you must learn if you want to
capture the best possible images according to your vision.

The best way to learn composition is by studying basic photography books on composition and

studying another good photographer’s or artist’s work.
You can start by checking our guide with the 25 photography composition basics.
18. PHOTOGRAPHY GEAR – CAMERA AND LENS BASICS
Just as a carpenter uses a hammer, the camera, lenses, and other gear are your main tools to
create images.
Basic photography gear includes the following elements:
Digital cameras: The basic is a digital camera, and preferably it’s a DSLR or mirrorless camera
with interchangeable lenses. (You can see the different types in our DSLR vs. mirrorless guide).
When you shoot in low-light, like when photographing the Milky Way, certain camera models
will help you get better results. You can see different models in our guide to cameras for Milky
way photography.

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Lenses: They are as equally important as cameras to shoot quality images.
The photography lens basics include a wide range from fish-eye lenses of 7-8 mm to super-
telephoto lenses like 600-800 mm.
The type of lens and focal length will depend entirely on the type of photography that you’re
doing. In most scenarios, your images will be in the range from 14-400 mm.
The brightness of the lens is also crucial. Lenses with a large aperture, like f/1.8 or f/2.8, are
usually aimed at shooting portraits and low-light photography like astrophotography. These are
called “fast lenses”. You can see some of these in our article on the best lenses for night
photography.
Tripods: A sturdy tripod is essential in some genres like long-exposure photography, Milky Way
photography, Northern Lights photography, and other photographic situations.
Lens filters: These types of filters will allow you to create long exposures and to achieve creative
effects in your images. There are many different types and models that you can take a look at in
our guide to camera lens filters.
Others: There are many other pieces of gear like camera bags, SD cards, batteries, etc., and
others that you might need depending on your shooting, like flashesand external
lights, photography gloves, star trackers, etc.

This basic photography concept deserves its own article, which you can find below.
19. EDITING – PHOTOGRAPHY EDITING BASICS
One of the last photography basics consists of the final editing and processing of our images.
The photography editing basics are about striking a balance in the exposure between the
highlights and the shadows, sharpening the image, managing the color, and generally fine-tuning
the final image.
Some photographers also use post-processing to create artistic effects that can represent their
vision. This, of course, depends on your personal taste, but editing and processing
are photography fundamentals that you need to know to have well-rounded images.
For anyone beginning in photography, I always recommend checking editing video tutorials
online from photographers they like and admire. It’s one of the best ways to be engaged
in learning the editing basics.

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Editing and processing is a fundamental step to make the most of your image
20. PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS FOR BEGINNERS – THE ULTIMATE TIPS FOR BEGINNING
IN PHOTOGRAPHY
We couldn’t finish this photography concepts guide without a few photography basics tips and
tricks for beginners.
Understand how light in photography works
Get started in photography by shooting in Raw
Don’t be afraid of the camera’s manual mode
Learn how to properly hold your camera
Be aware of the importance of a tripod when you start in photography
Take your time to zoom in on your images to find mistakes
Study and look at as many photographs as possible
Ask for feedback from other photographers
Take your camera with you as much as you can
Focus on the process, not the results

I explain these and 15 more photography basic tips in our article on the best 25 tips for
beginners!
CONCLUSION
Learning the photography basics can look like an uphill task. There are too many photography
concepts to understand, and so much information can be overwhelming at first.
However, I’m sure that using this beginner’s photography guide will make the process easier for
you. My advice is to learn the main photography fundamentals one by one. Understand the
theory, check the examples, and most importantly, try to put them into practice!

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I hope that this photography basics tutorial along with all the infographics and specific articles
will help you along the way. Remember that you can also download our photography basics PDF
guide so you can check it out anywhere in the future 😉
My last tip for anyone beginning in photography is not to be shy, so if you have any questions,
feel free to leave them in the comments!

03.Composition in Photography: A Complete (and Modern) Guide

If you’re looking to learn about composition in photography, you’ve come to the right place.In
this article, I’ll cover what composition is, and I’ll explain how to use it to make your images
eye-catching and unique.So whether you’re a beginner photographer learning the basics or a
more experienced shooter who wants to improve, read on to find out some of the most effective
composition tools, concepts, and guidelines available!
What is composition in photography?
Composition in photography refers to the position of elements inside the frame and how they
interact with each other.
Ultimately, composition is about the visual structure of your image.
Why is composition important?
The composition of your photograph impacts the way it’s perceived by others. When you choose
what to fit inside the frame and what you leave out, where to position each element and so on,
you’re capturing a scene with your unique vision.
That’s why it’s important to carefully compose your photos!
Basic techniques and concepts for composition in photography
We are instinctively attracted to images with a good composition.
Why?
Because we find them harmonious or interesting!However, we are not as naturally skilled at
creating stunning compositions.That’s why photographers have developed basic compositional
guidelines and concepts that can quickly improve photo compositions – without requiring years
of experience.
The rule of thirds

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You’ve probably heard about the rule of thirds – or at the very least, you’ve seen it. That’s
because most cameras, including the one on your smartphone, have a rule of thirds grid overlay.
The rule of thirds grid is formed by four lines – two vertical and two horizontal – placed at an
equal distance from each other and the photo edges (so the frame is divided into thirds).
Like this:

But what actually is the rule of thirds?

It’s a guideline stating that you should position compositional elements along your gridlines –
and that the focal point of your composition should sit at one of the gridline intersection points.
You can follow this rule in both portrait and landscape orientation, and it works for all types of
photography. For example, if you are doing a full-body portrait, you should often place the
subject toward one of the gridlines and not in the center.
And when you’re photographing a landscape, you should put the horizon toward the top or
bottom third of the image and never in the middle.
Note that the rule of thirds is a guideline, not a true rule. Once you’ve mastered it, I recommend
trying to violate it with other concepts – such as symmetry, or with even more complex
techniques such as the golden ratio (discussed below).
Leading lines
Leading lines direct the viewer through the image, like this:

When you read a text in English, you automatically start at the top left. Then you continue
toward the right until the end of the line.
The same thing happens in photography. When we see an image, we also “read” it. Your eye
goes from one element to the next – in order to view details and understand the story that’s being
told.

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That’s where the leading lines come into play: They guide the eye through the image.
Leading lines can be present or implied, and they can be straight or curved. For example, a
leading line can be a curvy road getting lost in the mountains. This will compel viewers to follow
the road, pulling them into the image.
Texture

Texture is often overlooked as an element of the composition. You can use it to create contrast
between two elements – one that is smooth and one that is rough, for example.
You can also use texture to create interesting shapes and leading lines, or to add interest to an
otherwise dull subject.
To work with textures, you need to consider the type and direction of the light. A hard light that
comes from the side will emphasize the texture. A soft light coming from the front flattens the
surface.
Color

Color is a key consideration for composition in photography. There are so many color harmonies
that you have endless possibilities!
You can use complementary colors to create contrast and make your subject stand out. And you
can bring together apparently unrelated elements that are united via a color scheme.
A good way to learn and understand color palettes is Adobe Color. You can use this tool even if
you don’t have an Adobe subscription.
Simply select a color wheel with different color harmony rules, such as monochromatic,
complementary, etc. You can also upload a photograph to extract the color scheme or gradient.
And to stay updated, you can browse trends based on Adobe Stock and Behance.

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My favorite tool in Adobe Color is Explore, where you can input a concept or a mood and see
the colors that represent it (with multiple examples from the visual arts).
Shape

As photographers, we’re used to thinking of ways to add depth to a two-dimensional surface.

Because of that, it’s easy to overlook the importance of shapes. Yet when you’re composing your
images, you can use shapes to establish a careful arrangement.
Think of a cake being photographed from the top; that’s a circle. If you cut out a slice, then
you’re adding a triangle to the composition.
Every shape gives a different feel to our photographs. For example, squares convey stability,
while circles make you think of movement and energy.
That’s why posing a group for a corporate portrait usually means forming squares or rectangles,
whereas family portraits are often posed in triangles or dynamic shapes.
A good way to practice shape-based composition is by using shadows or shooting silhouettes.
That way, you take out any three-dimensionality and focus only on the shape of objects.
Symmetry
Symmetry is defined as something that is exactly the same on both sides, such as a mountain
peak or a tree trunk.
And it can work great in art – as long as you use it carefully.
Note that, in art, a scene is rarely 100 percent symmetrical. Instead, you’ll end up with scenes
that are almost symmetrical and are well-balanced on both sides.
Like this lake photo:

The trees and water aren’t perfectly symmetrical, but they’re close, and the overall scene has a
feeling of balance.
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Take a portrait as another example. If you photograph a face perfectly centered in the frame,
your image will be symmetric. It won’t matter if the subject has a birthmark on one of their
cheeks, or that one of their eyes is slightly lower than the other – the symmetry will dominate.
One of the reasons we find symmetry so appealing is because we often find it in nature. And
psychologically speaking, symmetry offers a sense of order that makes us feel at ease.
(A great way to play with symmetry in your photography is by shooting reflections or patterns!)
Contrast

Another important concept that can enhance your composition is contrast.

Since we are talking about photography, the first thing that comes to mind is contrasting light,
such as low key photography. Here, you capture a very dark image where only a small detail is
highlighted (which makes for a highly dramatic result).
However, tonal contrast is not the only type of contrast you can use to improve your
compositions. You can also use color contrast (as discussed earlier), juxtaposition,
and conceptual contrast (which pairs opposite ideas or aesthetics).
Advanced composition in photography
Once you’ve mastered the basics of composition, it’s time to challenge yourself and move on to
more advanced techniques.
Here are some of the most popular tools to consider:
The rule of space
The rule of space tells you to leave space in front of the subject, especially if it’s a moving
subject. The idea is that the viewer needs enough room to imagine the subject carrying on the
action that it’s performing.For example, if a duck is paddling away, you would put significant
space in front, like this:

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And according to the rule of space, if you photograph a person who’s running to the right, you
should place them on the left side of the frame (and vice versa). But remember that there’s an
exception to every rule, especially when it comes to composition. So if you want to add tension
or intrigue the viewer, try violating the rule of space! The complicated thing about composition
is that you must choose to apply or break the rules depending on the message you want your
image to convey.
The rule of odds

The rule of odds is based on the principle that people find it more interesting to see odd numbers.
While even numbers show stability and work well for symmetric compositions, odd numbers
allow the eye to flow through the image. So according to the rule of odds, you should
include odd numbers of items in your compositions. I recommend you use this rule when it fits
the situation, much like you would with shapes. If you want a dynamic composition, you use
triangles, diagonal lines, and odd numbers. And if you prefer stability, you can choose straight
lines, squares, and even numbers. In any case, the important thing is to use the rules to your
advantage and take control of your compositions. When you’re shooting food or products, it’s
often easier to follow the rule of odds. But following the rule of odds isn’t as easy when you’re
photographing a family of four; you can’t just decide to exclude one of them! (Though when
you’re facing this situation, you can arrange the group so the viewer sees one plus three instead
of four.)
Triangular composition
In the first part of the article, I talked about using shapes to compose your images.
But did you know that the most popular shape in composition is the triangle?You can create
triangles with poses in portraits, mountains in a landscape, or a church tower on your
travels.However, if you want to up your game a bit more, you can use golden triangles. This
composition technique divides the frame first with a line that connects one corner with the
opposite one, then adds two smaller lines coming out from each of the remaining corners.
Like this:

Ideally, you would place the most important elements of the composition where the lines
intersect. To achieve this, you may have to tilt your camera; this is called a Dutch angle (aka the
Dutch tilt, German tilt, or Batman angle). That’s why it’s not always possible to use the golden
triangle guideline (or, at least, it’s not always the best choice!).

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The golden ratio
The golden ratio is a mathematical term that was later applied to art and eventually photography.
It equates to 1.618, and there are two ways it can be applied to photographic composition: As a
grid or as a spiral.
The golden grid (aka the Phi Grid)
The Phi Grid divides the frame into nine blocks, just like the rules of thirds. However, this grid
doesn’t follow a 1:1:1 ratio – which means the blocks are not the same size. Instead, the grid is
1:0.618:1, so you get smaller blocks toward the center, like this:

This composition tends to be more natural, as the golden ratio is also found in nature. It also has
a better reputation than the rule of thirds, which many consider to be amateurish – a first step that
should be quickly outgrown for more complex techniques.
The golden spiral (aka the Fibonacci spiral)
For this composition tool, you should follow a spiral whose growth factor is the golden ratio. It
looks like this (though note that it can begin at any corner of the frame):

This spiral is found in natural structures such as sunflowers, pine cones, seashells, etc. You can
also find it in many artworks and buildings because many artists have used it throughout the
centuries. To train your eye, you can print or draw a golden spiral, then use it to study the
photographs from Irving Penn or Henri Cartier-Bresson, who both used the golden spiral to
achieve astonishing results.

Composition in photography: conclusion

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Now that you know most of the popular composition tools, you can use them to dramatically
improve your images! I know it’s a lot of information, but composition in
photography will become more intuitive as you get more practice. My suggestion is to keep it
simple at first and practice the tools one by one. Once you get comfortable with each
composition guideline, you can combine them to achieve a more complex result.
Composition in photography FAQs
How do I emphasize my subject?
To emphasize an element in your photograph, you need to draw the viewer’s attention to it. You
can use composition techniques, such as leading lines, to achieve this.
Is the rule of thirds the most important composition rule in photography?
No, the rules of composition don’t have a hierarchy. Instead, rules work better in different
situations, and the best technique for one photograph can be wrong for the next one.
Can I improve my composition by photographing with a smartphone?
Yes, these rules apply to all types of photography, including mobile and video. If you want some
help getting started, most camera phones have a grid overlay that follows the rule of thirds. You
can enable/disable it in the settings section. Alternatively, you can install a camera app that
supports different types of grids (such as A Better Camera).
How can I improve my composition in Lightroom?
You can use Lightroom’s overlays to improve the compositions of your photos. To use these,
select the Crop tool from the Develop panel. Make sure that the Overlay is enabled. Then press
the “O” key to toggle between all the available overlays.
Can I break the rules of composition?
Absolutely! Even though some of them are called rules, they are only guidelines, tools, and
techniques to help you achieve better results. There’s always flexibility to experiment. It’s
important to know the rules before you break them, though!

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