“Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art.” Ambrose Bierce
Photography in this modern age has undoubtedly showcased itself as an art form. Professional photography is an excellent career choice for anyone who wants to be paid for using their creativity. In addition, it is one of the most popular hobbies.
Destin Sparks, an award-winning landscape photographer said, “Photography is the story I fail to put into words”. The word “photography” literally means drawing with light. It is possible to use photography in several ways. The power of photography lies in its ability to tell stories, capture moments in time, document and be an art form. In addition to its technical purposes, photography has social and journalistic applications as well.
How to become a good photographer?
Depending on what kind of photography you are practising, the qualities required of camerapersons vary according to their niches. Travel photographers must have a passion for travelling and fashion photographers need to have an eye for fashion.
Apart from finding your call, here’s what you can do-
1. Learn your camera’s manual settings
The difference between automatic and manual settings. (Image source: Skillshare)
Cameras these days adjust the settings automatically, but knowing the manual settings can be beneficial. Playing with them can give different perspectives, which could turn out to be an art. Ucademy, Coursera, SkillShare, YouTube – Various such platforms exist where online tutorials are available.
John Luc Goddard is not just known for his films, he is known because he broke the rules of traditional filmmaking and became a part of the French New Wave. May it be the Rule of thirds or leading lines, manipulating them may give you the best piece. Try over-exposing or under-exposing them, look for the dramatic effect you want. Not to forget award-winning filmmaker and photographer Abbas Kiarostami and avant-garde filmmaker and photographer Maya Dere celebrated breaking the rules.
An example of the overexposed image.(Image Source: Digital photo)
3. Storytelling
A good photographer must have a keen eye for detail to guarantee that all elements within the photo—the lighting, the composition, the subject, the emotions —work together harmoniously to convey the right message or story.
(Image Source - Fstoppers) Women’s rights protest
At times, you will try to control all the possible settings but things won’t go your way. Patience also builds your rapport with the model so that they can give you expression to reveal the character's emotions. Also waiting for the perfect natural light condition while shooting outdoors can be rewarding. Some award-winning photographers have waited for more than 12 hours for the perfect shot.
5. Passion
For any job that requires creativity, being passionate about the work helps immensely. When you put your heart into your art, it will surely display the right emotion. With passion, one develops a critical sense and allows noticing minute details. This is what differentiates your photographs from others.
(Image source: DP review) photographer patiently waiting for the perfect shot.
Some Frequently Asked Questions about Photography:
What are the basics of photography and taking good photographs?
The three basic settings are ISO, Aperture and shutter speed. Once you understand these three points and how they work together, you can begin to unleash your creativity and take better photographs.
What are megapixels?
Pixels are tiny, little squares that make up an image. Image resolution is usually determined by the number of pixels it packs together in a space. Higher pixel count results in better resolution. Megapixels equal one million pixels
What is the depth of field and why is it important? Depth of field is the distance in an image where objects appear “acceptably in focus” or have a level of “acceptable sharpness.” In simpler terms, depth of field tells what amount of your image is in focus.
What is the difference between RAW and JPEG files?
RAW files are bigger than JPEG image file formats because they contain all the uncompressed information.
Why is photography important?
Besides documenting an important event or providing proof, Photography captures the moments to cherish forever. It evokes emotions in one’s life and brings back memories. Visuals always create a greater impact, hence photography can be used to spread awareness.
Where a cameraperson’s average salary (in India) is ₹3, 93,151/year and the career is therapeutic, it makes the best combination to set future goals.
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