Photography Basics, Illustrated

Contents

1. Before you begin3
2. 1Exposure triangle with diagrams4
3. 2Composition cheat sheets21
4. 37 practice assignments38
5. 4Phone and camera settings guide55

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Before you begin

Great photos are rarely about expensive gear. They are about light, framing and a few settings you can learn in an afternoon.

Every idea here is illustrated, and works on a phone as well as a camera.

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Chapter 1

The exposure triangle

Three settings control how bright a photo is: aperture, shutter speed and ISO. Change one and the others must adjust.

Think of a tap, a timer and a bucket. Open the tap wider, run it for less time, and the bucket still fills.

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Your turn

Assignment 1

• Shoot one subject at three apertures
• Compare the backgrounds
• Note which one you prefer
• Write down the settings you used

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Chapter 2

Composition cheat sheets

Once the first step is in place, the next one builds on it. Understand your camera in a single afternoon.

Each chapter ends with a short exercise, so you finish the page with something done, not just something read.

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