Our Tips to Become a Good Photographer
«A camera has never made a good photo, just as a typewriter has not written a good novel», Peter Adams.
Learning photography is, of course, learning to use a tool and the manual mode of your camera, but it's mainly about developing your artistic sense and your own style to make the best pictures.
It begins by mastering the fundamentals of photography , specifically with black and white photography. When you progress a bit, it is necessary that the material is according to your level, so Superprof helps you choose your goal according to your favorite styles. Finally, to develop your creativity, nothing better than to inspire a bit on the websites of the best photographers.
Follow our guide!
Black and white photography: how to master the technique
A black and white photo is thought to be made before taking it. We do not decide after taking a photo to keep it in color or turn it into black and white.
For this, it is necessary to learn to see the world in black and white . It is not so easy when the human eye sees colors naturally!
Here are some tips to achieve it:
- Choose the theme : although many scenes lend themselves to black and white photography, there are some infallible things to make your photos amazing. Textures such as wood, stone and wrinkled skin stand out better in black and white than in color. In the same way, a repetitive decoration with a pattern, lines or other forms, will lend itself more to black and white;
- Use light and contrasts : without colors, it is more difficult to guide the viewer's eye. You must pay special attention to the composition of your photo and play with the lights and shadows created to highlight all possible shades of gray. The backlight becomes your best ally!
- Take pictures on a cloudy day : you might think that the light is less present and that the contrasts are less evident, but it is the ideal time to take black and white photographs. It is not a problem that there is little light, which often worries photographers. There are many more reflections right after the rain and black and white photos find a new intensity.
You can shoot in black and white directly, making it easier to see the world without colors through the lens of your camera. To do this, use the "monochrome" mode of your digital camera. By increasing the contrast and adjusting the exposure (overexposure or underexposure of the photo), black and white will become a natural practice over time.
In any case, it is better to take photos in RAW format . Whether you do color photos or black and white photos, this format retains all the colors of the photographed scene. And it's easier to do the retouching of images! Postprocessing is not just about using the "desaturation" tool of Lightroom or Photoshop, it's mainly about using the layer mixer to obtain a photo with contrasts and nuances.
Well, now that you know all this, let's practice! There are several scenes and themes that are particularly suitable for black and white :
- Architecture : nothing better to find different shapes, textures and patterns. The contrasts stand out naturally in the cracks of the stones, the cobbles of a street or the rosette of a church;
- The portrait : portrait photography lends itself well to black and white. Highlights a person's eyes and face;
- Landscape photo : to highlight the lines and shapes of a mountain, the clouds in the sky or the waves, the solution is black and white;
- Close-up / detail : whether the petals of a flower, the circles of a tree trunk or the mosaic of a wall, the black and white highlights the details intensely.
There is only one way to progress in the technique of black and white: practicing! So take your camera!
Photographic lens: which one to choose
At the beginning of your photography classes, you will surely learn to use depth of field, change the shutter speed, change the white balance or dominate the long exposure photography , all to make beautiful photos. But the photographic equipment also has its importance to take photographs as a true professional .
After choosing the camera, the choice of objective is essential. It should be done according to your tastes when taking photos. Do you prefer portraiture, landscape photography or animal photography?
There are two elements that must be taken into account when choosing the objective:
- The focal length : expressed in millimeters, a short focal length allows you to shoot at a wide angle, while a long focal length will have a narrow field. There are three categories of objectives:
o Standard : from 35mm to 85mm, for portrait photography and everyday life,
o Wide angle : 28 mm and less, for landscape photography,
o Telephoto lens : 100 mm and more, for sports or animal photography,
- The maximum aperture of the objective : represented by the symbol f /, the smaller the figure behind f /, the greater the aperture of the objective, which is ideal for photographing when there is little light, to create artistic blurs or to make bokehs .
Other questions may arise, particularly with respect to zoom or fixed focal length . Each one has its advantages and disadvantages, but for beginners we recommend that you opt for a zoom whose focal length can change.
If you want to make macro photography , the data sheet of the lens should indicate precisely: "1: 1 reproduction ratio". In addition, the minimum focusing distance should be closer to 30 cm.
You can also get a stabilizer, but it is not mandatory for three reasons:
- You can also get stability using a tripod ,
- In some cases, the targets already have a sensor displacement stabilization system ,
- The stabilizer only prevents blurring when you move, but it will not prevent blurring if the subject being photographed moves too fast.
As for the brand, in general, it is convenient to choose the same brand of your camera . However, some brands offer the same quality for a lower price.
A trick: the technology of the objectives does not really evolve much, contrary to what brands would like us to think, so buying a second hand can be a good solution, from 20 to 40% cheaper What a new product.
Photography blogs: the photographers you should follow
Taking a picture is, above all, telling a story. In the beginning, inspiration and mentors are often needed, so here is a non-exhaustive list of photography blogs worth following .
First there are those who make us travel.
With a look, a smile or the intensity of a landscape, Steve McCurry takes us to the end of the world. This award-winning artist is the author of the famous photo "The Afghan Girl". But all his work deserves to be discovered.
With another style, the new generation is not far behind. Théo Gosselin , a 26-year-old Frenchman, photographs his family and friends in authentic landscapes on his road trips. Landscape photography is mixed with nude photography to create images full of poetry.
Animal photography is one of the possible specializations as a photographer.
Animal lovers can unleash their imagination as Suzi Eszterhas who specialized in the photography of baby animals. Expert in earning the trust of her subjects, she photographs scenes of the family life of animals from all over the world.
And how not to be inspired by one of the first big names in animal photography, Jim Brandenburg ? A true forerunner, he was the first to go to the Arctic to photograph the wolf.
What about Spanish photographers?
Do not hesitate to get inspired by blogs from Spanish photographers such as Rubixephoto, the Galician David García Pérez, Naturpixel or Isra Subirats (reveals2study).
How to master artistic photography?
Today, photography is available to everyone thanks to the devices we have at our disposal, including mobile phones. But does this allow us all to master artistic photography ?
Can a simple amateur, who has just bought a camera, also say something through his images? A deep message? An artistic vision? An idea?
It obviously depends on his artistic side, but also on his technical training as a photographer.
To achieve this, it is first necessary to look at the work of the best artistic photographers such as Robert Doisneau, Robert Capa, Arnold Newman and Ansel Adams.
You can also learn artistic photography with books like:
- The art of lighting: the still life of Jean Turco,
- Get the secret from Johann Trompat's photographers ,
- The flash, professional quality lighting by John Denton,
- Dominates the exhibition in photography by Jérôme Geoffroy,
- The great book of photography by Scott Kelby.
Or sign up for one of the best photography schools in Spain, such as IEFC - Institute d'estudis fotogràfica de Catalunya, EFTI - School of Photography, Image Center or IDEP - Barcelona. Although, of course, the option of receiving private photography lessons is one of the best to learn at your own pace and with personalized teaching.
Technical photography: tips you should know
And precisely, to master the art of photography, first it will be necessary to know certain photographic techniques .
Do you have the impression of focusing well because your mobile phone does it with a simple touch on the screen? The impression of dominating the white balance because ... your mobile does it for you?
As you can imagine, to learn how to make beautiful photos with a camera, you will have to know your tool. For that, why do not you take photography classes?
Also, thanks to a photography teacher, you can learn all these techniques:
- Portrait photography,
- Landscape photography,
- Animal photography,
- Tourist photography,
- Wedding photography,
- Black and white photography .
