Photography

The Basics of Photography using a camera

To take great photos, you must understand how a camera captures light. Three main settings control this: ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture.

ISO – how sensitive your camera is to light.

• Low Controls ISO (100-400): For bright environments (less noise).

• High ISO (800+): For darker settings (more noise).

Shutter Speed – how long the camera’s sensor is exposed to light.

• Fast shutter (1/1000s): Freezes motion (sports, action).

• Slow shutter (1/30s): Adds motion blur (night, artistic shots).

Aperture (f-stop) – how much of the photo is in focus.

• Low f-stop (f/1.8): Blurry background (portraits).

• High f-stop (f/8+): Everything in focus (landscapes).

Storytelling Through Pictures

A strong photo tells a story. Think about what message you want your viewer to feel or understand.

Composition Techniques

• Rule of Thirds: Place your subject in the left or right third of the frame. You can crop later if needed.

• Framing: Use objects in the environment (like windows or bottles) to naturally frame your subject. Keep the frame out of focus so it doesn’t distract.

• Leading Lines: Use lines (roads, fences, shadows) to guide the viewer’s eye to the subject.

Emotion & Context

• Capture expressions, atmosphere, and surroundings that support your story.

• Wait for the moment – emotion often appears in small details.

Example: rule of thirds by Ellen-Marit Juuso.

Making a Boring Place Look Interesting

Even the dullest setting can become photogenic with creativity.

• Change Your Angles: Shoot from above, below, or from the side.

• Use Natural Frames: Doorways, windows, or nearby objects.

• Find Reflections: Puddles, mirrors, sunglasses, or shiny surfaces.

• Blur the Background: Use portrait mode or a low f-stop.

• Play with Light & Shadows: Create drama or texture.

• Focus on Details: Zoom in on interesting shapes, colors, or textures.undefined.

Taking Photos with Your Phone

The best camera is the one you have with you.

How to maximize your phones camera´s potential:

• Adjust exposure manually.

• Tap to focus on your subject.

• Use filters thoughtfully.

• Turn on gridlines to follow the rule of thirds.
  ○ Apple: Go to settings > Camera > Composition > Turn Grid On
  ○ Android: Camera > Settings Icon > Grid Lines / Composition Guide

• Use portrait mode for depth – but not for every photo.

• Clean your lens before using the camera.

• Zoom only when suitable – digital zoom can reduce quality.

The Beauty of Editing

Editing should enhance, not change, your photos. It helps correct lighting, colors and balance.

Colors & mood: Warm tones – happiness & cold tones – sadness.

Light & mood: Brightness – joy/openness & shadows – depth/sadness.

Basic Editing Tools

• Crop & Straighten: Follow the rule of thirds or center the object.

• Adjust Exposure & Contrast: Balance brightness and depth.

• Correct Colors: Fix white balance and saturation.

• Sharpen & Add Clarity: Make details pop.

• Remove Distractions: Use Snapseed to erase small objects.

• Don’t Over-Edit: Subtle adjustments keep it natural.

Useful Apps

• Snapseed: Easy and powerful for beginners.

• CapCut: Simple for photo and video editing.

• Lightroom: Professional-grade control over every detail.

Text & Video Integration

Adding text can strengthen your message – but only if used carefully.

Using Text Wisely

• Keep it short and clear.

• Use consistent fonts that match your style.

• Avoid overcrowding – too much text distracts from the photo.

• Ensure the image matches the message (tone, emotion, color).

Sharing & Social Media Strategy

Photos and videos can reach a wider audience when shared strategically. Your post should give your audience something. For example something to:

• Learn from.

• Enjoy.

• Indentify with.

• Be inspired by.

Boosting Reach

• Videos perform 2–10x better than photos on Instagram.

• Photos: Reach your followers.

• Reels: Reach new audiences.

• Use captivating hooks to grab attention:
  ○ “Did you know…”
  ○ “The truth about…”
  ○ “Let’s settle this once and for all…”
  ○ “You’ll wish you had known this sooner…”

Three Key Takeaways

• Learn the basics (ISO, shutter, aperture).

• Tell a story with composition and emotion.

• Be creative – even simple tools and places can make great photos.

Three Practice Tasks

• Master the Basics of Light. Explore ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Take photos of the same subject while changing:
  ○ ISO: Low (100–200) vs. high (800+).
  ○ Shutter speed: Fast (1/1000s) vs. slow (1/30s).
  ○ Aperture: Low f-stop (blurry background) vs. high f-stop (sharp background).
  Compare results and note how each setting changes the image.

• Tell a Story Through Composition. Use composition to show emotion or a message. Pick a theme (e.g., joy, focus, calm) and take 3–5 photos using:
  ○ Rule of Thirds.
  ○ Framing.
  ○ Leading Lines.
  Choose your best photo and explain what story it tells.

• Make a Boring Place Look Interesting. Be creative with everyday spaces. Find a plain location and take 5 photos, each changing one thing:
  ○ Angle.
  ○ Light or shadows.
  ○ Framing.
  ○ Reflections.
  ○ Focus or background blur.
  Edit lightly and compare your most creative result.