Basics of Photography: Things You Need To Know!

[Guest Post by Beekash Chalise]
Photography to the amateurs is recreational; to the professionals it’s dutiful, and toil too, no matter how pleasing it may be. Photography is a major force while communicating person to person. To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them. I love to click everything I see. I have no particular genre, even if the image is out of focus, it’s an art of photography for me. Photography records the spectrum of feelings written on the human face, the beauty of the earth and skies that man has inherited, and the wealth and confusion man has created.

I started taking pictures in year 2013. I was a High School graduate that tim and used Canon EOS 100D (an entry level DSLR), initially. I took pictures of monuments and heritages at first; I learned photography from a basic Canon Guidebook and EOS Adventure Portrait and Landscape (Tutorial CD) and YouTube as well. I never had a particular genre for shooting; I started clicking what I liked. I started travelling and hiking within Kathmandu valley and outside too. As I have practiced photography, I have always felt that it produces pleasure by simplicity. I see something special and show it to the camera, a picture is produced. The moment is held until someone sees it. Then it’s theirs.

Talking about post-processing my pictures, I began processing my pictures on Picasa in the beginning and then moved on to Adobe Suite (CC and Lightroom). When I learned, I started clicking the photos in RAW file because editing the RAW file images is very unique method of compositing your pictures in your own way and you can play with the feel of light/shadows while processing it, and no impression is compressed in it. When the picture is ready after print, you are going to find it’s a pro option. So shoot RAW!!

These are some important guidelines that I follow while clicking:

Proper knowledge in framing/the rule of thirds (framing is the most important part in photography, framing is a technique of setting or placing the photograph of an object/how you are placing the photograph inside the image, thirds is a technique imagine four lines, two lying horizontally across the image and two vertical creating nine even squares.)

Maintain the light of the picture you are shooting (next to the subject, the most important part of every picture is the light. It affects the appearance of everything you photograph. For landscapes, try to take pictures early or late in the day when the light is peachy tone and gather across the land)

Try for uncommon perspective (try different camera angles to see what looks best, but do not forget to take several photographs of each version of your shot. Several photographs in several different positions will better insure that you pull off that perfect shot.)

Last but not the least, reduce shaking and focus your objects (well, at beginning we basically ruin our photographs by improper focus and shakings, to reduce it use tripod while clicking the best shots and try to make hands still by practicing a lot).

So, these are the four basic things that I apply while taking photographs. If one masters these techniques, I can predict that they are going to be an inspiring photographer in the future.

Meanwhile, I see many photographers around basically focusing on good cameras and kit’s without any good experience. So I would like to suggest them go with the flow, just don’t start photography with expensive gadgets without any skills. And many are just getting into it as they think it makes you look cool, but for me, you should get into photography passion, not fashion. This is a very passionate field where you can show up your creativity with your camera and lens. So just don’t do photography trying to be a poseur, try to invoke all those creativity within yourself. I see myself as a passionate “Shutterbug”, just around the corner. Keep calm and click on.

These are some of my shots. I would be happy to get feedback on them. Do comment below.