Photography
“Your photography is a record of your living, for anyone who really sees.”
– Paul Strand
Difficulty:
Cost:
Control:
Overview
Photography is a relatively 'modern' creative pursuit. It's been around for a couple hundred years, which is a short time, compared to the practices of painting, drawing, and sculpture. Now, it is one of the fastest growing hobbies as camera technology improves rapidly and becomes more readily available. What we're able to capture today on our phones would have been unrealistic even ten years ago. If you have a phone with a camera, you can be a photographer. However, for those really invested in the practice, there are heavier-duty pieces of equipment available, including the ever-popular DSLR camera.
Photography involves capturing something in our surroundings into a still image, either digital, or printed. It is the manipulation of light. Photography can be a spendy hobby if you splurge for the expensive equipment and editing software. However, if you're looking for a launching point, if you have a relatively new cellphone, your camera is capable of taking high quality images. There is a variety of free editing software out there too. The degree of control is high with photography, especially if you're patient.
Materials
Materials can range a bit, depending on how committed you are and what your budget is, but the most essential piece of equipment is a, well, camera. As long as you're able to capture images, you can get involved in photography. Instant cameras are having a resurgence as the culture shifts to a proclivity for instant results. As mentioned earlier, there are editing software systems out there to help spruce up your images after capturing them. Some photographers claim these as essential, and others prefer the unfiltered versions.
Tips, Tricks, & Resources
01
Learn the rule of thirds as it relates to photography.
02
Try playing around with lighting. If the lighting isn't what you're looking for, wait an hour for it to change.
03
Experiment with framing your shot. Your image doesn't necessarily have to be the center of attention.
04
Angles are your best friend.