Learn Photography in Just 25 Minutes: A Complete Beginner's Guide

Do you think you need a camera worth lakhs or expensive equipment to become a good photographer? Or do you think you need to take an expensive photography course? 

 The truth is, you don't really need any of these things to learn photography. You just need the right knowledge and a little practice.

Hi friends, my name is Shailendra Jareda and I am a professional photographer. I started my photography journey by watching YouTube videos. Creators like Peter McKinnon and 'The Photography Blogger' inspired me a lot. In today's blog, I will teach you the nuances of photography that often confuse beginners. We won't just stop at the 'Exposure Triangle', but will also understand Composition and Lighting. If you prefer watching this in video format, you can watch my video here:

1. Understanding the Exposure Triangle

The most important concept in the world of photography is—The Exposure Triangle. It consists of three things that determine how much light enters your camera and how the photo will look: ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture.

A. ISO (Sensor Sensitivity) 

ISO is your camera sensor's sensitivity to light. It artificially boosts the light. Low ISO (50, 100, 200): When you are shooting in Daylight. This prevents 'noise' (grains) in the photo, resulting in a clear image. High ISO (1600, 3200+): When you are shooting at night or indoors where the light is low.

Pro Tip: Always try to keep the ISO as low as possible so that grains or noise do not appear in the photo.

B. Shutter Speed

This is the time for which your camera shutter remains open and the sensor collects light.

• Slow Shutter Speed: (e.g., 1 second, 5 seconds). This is used for creative photography, like 'light trails' or taking photos of stars (Astrophotography). A Tripod is necessary here, otherwise, the photo will shake (Motion Blur).

• Fast Shutter Speed: (e.g., 1/1000, 1/4000). This is used to freeze action. Like stopping water droplets in mid-air or taking a clear photo of a running person.

C. Aperture

Aperture is the hole inside the lens through which light enters. It is denoted by 'f-number'. 

This is where beginners make the most mistakes:

• Small Number (f/1.8, f/2.8): This means the aperture is Wide open. More light enters and you get great Background Blur (Best for portraits).

• Large Number (f/16, f/22): This means the aperture is Small. Everything remains in focus. (Best for landscape photography).

 

2. White Balance

After understanding light, it is important to understand colors. Different lights (yellow or blue) can change the colors of your photo. The job of White Balance is to ensure that what is white in the photo, looks white.

How to start: Modern cameras are very smart, so initially, you can use Auto White Balance.

3. Composition: How to frame the photo?

Camera is just a tool, the real magic lies in your imagination. Composition means how you arrange things in your photo.

Rule of Thirds

Turn on the Grid in your camera. The screen will be divided into 9 parts. Instead of placing your subject in the middle, place them on the intersecting points of those lines. If you are taking a photo of a person, place their eyes on these points.

Symmetry

When the left and right sides of the photo look the same, it creates a balance. Like a photo of the Taj Mahal. This is very pleasing to the eyes.

Leading Lines

Roads, railings, or walls—all act as lines that lead the viewer's eye to your subject.

Frame within a Frame

Use windows, doors, or tree branches to create a natural frame and take a photo of your subject through it. This adds depth to the photo.

4. 5 Mistakes You Should Not Make (Bonus Tips)

1. Lens Cleaning: Always clean the lens before taking a photo. Fingerprints can blur the photo.

2. Battery Check: Definitely check the battery before going for a shoot.

3. Avoid Eye Level: Don't always take photos standing straight. Shoot by bending down or climbing up (Low angle/High angle), it makes the photo look more interesting.

   
   
   

4. Reflections: Use reflections in mirrors or water to make the photo creative.

5. Double Check Settings: Don't rely on just one setting. Take multiple shots with different settings.

Conclusion

I hope this guide helped you understand the basics of photography. Remember, these are just rules, but real photography starts when you pick up the camera and experiment yourself.

If you want to learn mobile photography, stay tuned to my channel, my next video will be on this topic. Until then... Just chill and create!

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