As World Photography Day approaches (on 19th August), we bring you different types of photography that you can choose to excel in, as per your interests and passion!
Landscape Photography
- Set a small Aperture/opening (select from f/16 to f /22) to create a Deep Depth of Field so that all the objects/subjects (humans or animals) in the foreground and background of the scene appear sharp
- A Tripod is recommended to prevent camera shake since you may use a small Aperture or Slow Shutter Speed to capture the beauty of landscapes at different times of the day
- Use wide-angle lens (18 mm is wide lens, 55 mm is zoom lens) to capture a broader view of the landscape
- Try Composition techniques like Rule of Thirds and Centred Composition to create aesthetically appealing images
We bring you ‘Jo & His Camera’ Comic Strips wherein a Magical Camera gives DSLR photography tutorials to Jo.
Click on the below Images to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Landscape Photography with the help of practical examples.
Portrait Photography
- Make your subject/model feel comfortable and communicate/suggest different poses for the shoot
- Go for a large Aperture/opening (small f/number) to create a Shallow Depth of Field that will keep the subject in sharp focus and make him/her stand out and blur the background
- Use props to add some visual interest and context
- Natural daylight is the best light for a portrait photography or else you can create light with flash or use studio lighting
- Focus on the eyes of the subject; the eye contact between the subject and the viewer makes for an engaging and powerful photograph that could tell a story about your subject or reveal your subjects’ mood or personality
Click on the below Images to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Portrait Photography with the help of practical examples.
Food Photography
- Depending on the height, size & shape of the food, you can either photograph it from the front or from the top that best highlights its qualities
- Use cooking utensils, tableware, ingredients, sauces & other related props in the foreground or background to add depth to your photograph
- Go macro, go close
Sports/Action Photography
- Set a Fast Shutter Speed to capture/freeze the action or quick movements of the athletes (select from 1/250 sec to 1/4000 sec) depending on the sport you’re shooting
- To capture sports events, telephoto lens/zoom lens is recommended (55 mm or higher) so that you can photograph your subjects even from a distance
- Get on your knees and try low angle shots
Click on the below Images to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Food Photography & Sports/Action Photography with the help of practical examples.
Wildlife Photography
- To photograph wildlife, you need telephoto lens (zoom lens) of at least 250 mm
- On a trip to a nature reserve (wildlife sanctuary) – to blend into the environment, wear camouflage clothing and use a telephoto lens (zoom lens) of 600 mm to take sharp photos of the wildlife without disturbing them
- If you don’t want to buy, you can take a telephoto lens on rent
- Sit down and take the shot at the eye level; use a tripod/stand for support (since the lens can be heavy) to avoid camera shake/blur images
- Research your subject’s feeding/active time; be quiet & slow while approaching your subject
- Set the focus on the eye of the bird/animal (using single focus point); use Center-weighted average Metering mode
- For bird photography, you can buy a bird feeder and attach to your window to attract birds
-
Use Shutter Priority mode for moving animals or flying birds, Fast shutter speed above 1/1000 sec, ISO 400/800/1600. To arrive at a correct exposure, camera will set the aperture. Fast shutter speed is essential here to freeze the action/motion of the wildlife so that your photos don’t come out blur. (You will have to set/experiment with fast shutter speed depending on the lighting conditions available since with very fast shutter speed under low lighting conditions – you may end up with a dark/underexposed image)
- Zoom lens and wide aperture (f5.6) will create Shallow Depth of Field which means it will blur the background and make the bird/animal stand out in your photograph
- Use Setting – Continuous Shooting so that you don’t miss out on any action/movement/motion of your subject; ; also you’ll get multiple shots so that you can pick the best shot – a sharp image
- A Tripod/stand is highly recommended to avoid camera shake or hold your camera closer to your body to support your arms & elbows for stability or find a surface to support your elbows or lean against a wall
Settings used to capture the below pic of Monkey (Hanuman Langur) – Shutter Speed: 1/60 secs, Aperture: F/5.6, ISO 800, Focal length: 250 mm:
In the below pic, settings used were Aperture: F/ 5.6, ISO: 800 and Shutter Speed: 1/4000 sec; fast shutter speed of 1/4000 sec has frozen the movement/action of the Pigeon:
In the below example, you can see motion blur since slow shutter speed was used, it was set at 1/100 sec:
On the top is Female Purple-rumped Sunbird, below her is the Male Purple-rumped Sunbird.
Click on the below Images to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Wildlife Photography with the help of practical examples.
Architecture Photography
- Photographing the building/structure from different angles will make it look more dynamic; try looking up and take the shot to give the viewer a different perspective/form of the building
- Look out for structures with interesting shapes like triangles and so on
- Use monochrome (Black & White) creative filter to give the image, a timeless feel
Macro Photography
- Macro Photography is used to photograph small subjects like insects, flowers and inanimate objects to bring out their fine details; you need macro lens of 100 mm or higher to take photos of them up-close. To read the Macro photography blog, click here
Click on the below Images to see the Comic wherein the Camera explains Jo, the concept of Architecture Photography & Macro Photography with the help of practical examples.
Bonus: Photography Tips for You –
- Step out during early morning hours or late at night when it is less crowded so that you can capture a better view of the place and from different angles without anyone obstructing your view
- Visit offbeat destinations which will give you the opportunity to take photographs of less explored or unseen places that will make your photo stand out
- Use different composition techniques and take wide angle shots of the scene so that you can capture all that is present; at a later stage – you can always crop your photos but you can never get back the elements that were present in the scene but you didn’t capture them
- To freeze motion/action of your subject (especially for wildlife photography) – always set faster shutter speed; don’t worry about the exposure (brightness/details) coz exposure can always be enhanced while post-processing (Lightroom) but if you’ve used slow shutter speed it will blur the motion of your subject which cannot be fixed in post-processing
- Click as many photos as possible; practice is the key to develop your own style as a photographer
When you do photography: Remember the 5E’s – Explore, Experiment, Experience, Enjoy & Express to develop your own style as a photographer.
Do Share The Learning – Like It, Post It, Pin It, Tweet It!
Did this blog help you with some ideas to improve your photography skills? For more useful photography tips, examples, ideas & inspiration, please subscribe below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.
