Everything you need to master photography! At its simplest level, taking a picture is done to record an event or capture a memory; taking a selfie, or a snap of loved ones on holiday, perhaps. This is how most of us have been introduced to photography. Our camera phones have become our first point of contact with the world of photography and, for many, it can lead on to more creative pastures with the purchase of a more advanced device such as a Compact System Camera or a DSLR. There appears to be a lot of technical knowledge that must be learnt and terms that need to be understood. Don’t worry, photography is not nearly as complex and intimidating as you might think. Sure there are technical aspects, but with our help we hope to give you a solid grounding in all you need to know to use your camera with confidence and creativity.
The Ultimate Photography Beginners' Guide
GETTING STARTED • Choose the right camera and accessories for you
Know your camera • A quick guide to all the major dials and buttons
The right camera for you • We highlight the main types of digital camera
What lenses do I need? • We take a look at the main lens types available for your camera
Why do I need a tripod? • An essential piece of equipment
Flashes and lighting • Add light and boost your creativity
Types of light modifiers • Make light yours to command
Filters and filter systems • Some must-have filters for creative photography
Photography software • How to bring your photos to life
Digital storage • Your precious holiday photos in safe hands
USING YOUR CAMERA • Learn how to get the most out of your camera
Aperture and depth of field explained • A key technique that controls how much of your photograph is in focus
How does shutter speed affect photos? • Shutter speed is an important setting and worth taking time to master
How ISO works on a digital camera • What impact does ISO have on your photography?
Methods for getting good focus • Here’s how to get the most out of your autofocus system
Be the master of metering • Know when to use the different types of metering modes
Lenses and focal length • How focal length affects your shots
Explore your camera’s scene modes • Let your camera help out with scene modes
Camera shooting modes • Which one should you use?
The rules of composition • Improve your photos with these essential guides
White balance and colour • Control the colour temperature of your shots
Hyperfocal distance • Essential for sharp photos and it’s not as scary as you think
What is Jpeg and Raw? • Our thoughts on the great image format debate
Light it up with flash • Some quick tips on using your camera’s flash
Using external flash • Some useful info about getting more creative with your lighting
From screen to paper • Printing your photos on standard paper sizes
Organising your pictures • Keep track of your ever-expanding photo library
Sharing your photos online • Let the world see your work by posting it on the Internet
Taking care of your equipment • Both dust and fingerprints can ruin your pictures
TAKE BETTER PHOTOGRAPHS • Some tips that can help you improve as a photographer
CREATIVE PROJECTS • It’s time to unleash your creative side
HOW TO… Photograph Women • We share some handy tips to bear in mind when shooting a female portrait
Night photography • Some tips for quality night shots
HOW TO… Photograph Men • Male portraits have their own special kind of language when it comes to posing and we have a number of key guides to pass on to...
