Starting in photography means asking questions about technique. Indeed, it is important to know and master the basics of photography to take better photos. Understanding all the camera settings and techniques allows for a quicker transition to the next level. The fundamentals are the same regardless of the brand or model of the camera. Here’s an overview of the basics of photographic culture.
Portrait or Landscape Orientation
First of all, a professional photographer is expected to master the first fundamental of photographic culture. This is the orientation of the image, whether it is landscape or portrait. Landscape orientation is the horizontal format. This format corresponds better to human vision, as it sweeps across space from left to right. It also adapts well to the handling of the camera body.
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This format is also suitable for capturing general scenes such as landscapes, street scenes, or groups of people. This orientation gives a sense of stability, distance, and depth to the image. In contrast, portrait orientation is the vertical format. Here, holding the camera is a bit more delicate to avoid movement.
The arms are aligned with the body, and the eye sweeps the image from top to bottom. This format is used for portrait shots, architecture, or for any actions that take place at height. This orientation gives a sense of closeness, dynamism, and action to the image.
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The Basics of Photography: Framing
When you want to take a photo, one essential thing to consider is framing. It is one of the fundamentals of staging and one of the most important aspects when creating an image. To master it, different shots need to be considered. First, there is the wide shot that represents and situates the subject in its environment.
This shot highlights the subject’s place as well as its relationship with the location where it is found. Next, there is the medium shot, which is tighter than the previous one, making the subject more identifiable. In other words, the subject and its environment occupy the same space in the image. For the medium close-up, the subject is fully visible, meaning it becomes more important than the background.
But with a cowboy shot, the subject is framed at mid-thigh to isolate it and reduce the depth of field. There is also the close-up shot that isolates the subject by highlighting certain areas of it.
Colors and Contrasts
The contrast of an image corresponds to the difference in density between the lightest and darkest colors. A well-contrasted image is therefore one that presents the most intermediate shades close to black and white. That’s why it is important to adjust the camera’s exposure before shooting to reproduce more contrasts and details.
Moreover, the contrast of an image mainly depends on the quality of light present during the shot and its orientation. Indeed, very strong light results in very dense shadows and vice versa. The positioning relative to the light source is therefore essential for achieving good contrasts and beautiful colors.