Guide-To-Photography-National-

Guide to Photography
Photography Basics

national geographic complete guide to photography: photography and the camera

Taking a Picture
creating a photograph requires only the single act of
pushing the button that triggers the shutter, which is a moving curtain that lets light fall on the digital sensor for a set length of time. Everything else is preparation and internal mechanics.Photography, in other words, can be 99 percent anticipation and 1 percent action. The parallel between a photographer and a hunter, in which the trigger pull is analogous to the push of the shutter button, is obvious. Both shoot. But a hunter sends out a missile; a photographer draws in reflected light. He or she must make an artistic calculation beyond simple aim. Modern digital SLRs, increasinglyuser-friendly, allow photographers to concentrate more on that aesthetic than on mechanics.
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1. Framing the Picture
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Light enters the lens. Light bounces off reflex mirror and through pentaprism to viewfinder. Photographer sees what the camera sees through the viewfinder.

2. Taking the Picture
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Photographer depresses button. Reflex mirror rises. Shutter opens atdesignated shutter speed. Aperture opens to designated measure. Light travels straight to sensors.

COVER: Octavian Radu Topai/National Geographic My Shot

Hawaii, U.S.

national geographic complete guide to photography: photography and the camera

The Art of Photography
professionals often say they “make,” rather
than take, pictures—a distinction that implies creative collusion betweenmachine and operator, rather than a simple confluence of light and space. In every carefully considered photographic accomplishment, four elements are vital: subject, composition, light, and exposure. In this book, we will use the shorthand of the icons below to highlight the choices that make a successful photograph.

subject
Most photographers document only family history—birthdays, weddings,graduations, or holidays. Others expand to nature or sporting events. A few make art. And some make art of all their pictures, no matter the subject. Shoot what’s important to you.

composition
Good composition usually means unity and balance in shapes, colors, and textures. But mood, emotion, and actions are often enhanced by flouting conventional photographic rules; if it works, it works.

lightLandscape photographers will say they’re “waiting for the light.” Photojournalists must often use ambient light. A studio photographer creates his or her own, with lamps. But all know that light—low, soft, harsh, warm, or diffuse—is critical.

exposure
The amount of light that falls on the sensor must be calibrated by the size of the aperture opening and the speed of the shutter. Properexposure is considered to be a full range of tones, from deep shadows to bright
Rita Mantarro/NG My Shot Puglia, Italy

highlights, all with good detail.

national geographic complete guide to photography: photography and the camera

Focal Point
every photograph has a point of interest—and that point should be clear to the viewer. We look at photographs in much the same way we read text—fromleft to right and top to bottom in Western culture. The viewer’s eyes should not roam aimlessly around the frame. They should be guided to the point of interest. But that point should not always be in the center of the frame. Such shots can seem static, and thus boring. An off-balance composition can be very entertaining to the eye. A focal point placed just to the left of center, for example,guides the eye to explore the remainder of the frame, where secondary information such as weather and environment can be used to round out the mood and fullness of the shot.

closer , closer
“Get closer” has become one of photography’s mantras, and it usually holds up. Make the object of your shot stand out. If you can’t move closer physically, use a longer lens. Always think about what you are...