Appendix

A hawk flies above water at sunset in a panorama image
We end with a version of the image we began with at the start of this book. That first image in the Introduction section of the book showed this panorama wrapped to look like a small planet. It felt fitting at the end of the book to have a sunset image that has “unraveled” some of the questions you may have started out having. Photo by Eric Demattos CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution Non Commercial ShareAlike)

Appendix: Photography Resources and Tips

Glossary of Photography Terms

  • Aperture: The opening in a camera lens through which light passes to enter the camera. It is measured in f-stops (e.g., f/2.8, f/5.6, f/11).
  • Auto White Balance (AWB): The camera automatically adjusts the white balance based on the lighting conditions. This is a convenient option for most situations, as it adapts to changing light.
  • Bokeh: The aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image, often resulting in soft, pleasing circles of light.
  • Cloudy: A white balance setting that adds warmth to images taken under overcast skies.
  • Daylight: A white balance setting suitable for shooting in natural sunlight.
  • Depth of Field: The distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a photo that appears acceptably sharp. Controlled by the aperture setting.
  • DSLR: Digital Single-Lens Reflex camera, which uses a mirror mechanism to reflect light from a camera’s lens to an optical viewfinder.
  • Exposure: The amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, determined by shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
  • Exposure Triangle: The relationship between shutter speed, aperture, and ISO, which determines the exposure of an image.
  • Flash: A white balance setting used when using the camera’s built-in flash or an external flash, providing a neutral light balance.
  • Fluorescent: A white balance setting that compensates for the greenish light of fluorescent bulbs, making the image warmer.
  • Gallery Sales: A method of selling photography through art galleries, where galleries typically take a commission of 35% to 50% on sales.
  • ISO: The sensitivity of the camera’s sensor to light. Lower ISO values (e.g., ISO 100) are less sensitive to light and produce less noise, while higher values (e.g., ISO 1600) are more sensitive but can introduce noise.
  • JPEG: A commonly used compressed image format that reduces file size but may lose some image quality.
  • Macro Photography: Close-up photography, usually of very small subjects, in which the size of the subject in the photograph is greater than life-size.
  • Manual Mode: A camera setting that allows the photographer to manually control shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.
  • Mirrorless Camera: A camera that does not have a mirror reflex system. It is usually more compact than a DSLR and uses electronic viewfinders.
  • Portfolio: A collection of a photographer’s best work, used to showcase their skills and style. An essential tool for marketing and securing jobs in the photography industry.
  • Publications: A pathway to income for photographers, involving selling photos to magazines, websites, and other media outlets.
  • RAW: An image file format that contains all of the data captured by the camera’s sensor, offering the highest quality and flexibility in post-processing.
  • Rule of Thirds: A composition principle that divides the image into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Key elements are placed along these lines or at their intersections.
  • Shade: A white balance setting that corrects the cooler tones in shaded areas, adding warmth to the image.
  • Shutter Speed: The length of time the camera’s shutter is open, allowing light to hit the sensor. It is measured in seconds or fractions of a second.
  • Tungsten: A white balance setting that compensates for the yellowish light of incandescent bulbs, making the image cooler.
  • White Balance: The camera setting that adjusts the colors to match the color of the light source so that white objects appear white in the photo.

Tips for Successful Photography

  • Experiment with Lighting: Whether natural or artificial, experiment with different lighting setups to see how they affect your subject and the mood of your image.
  • Use a Tripod: For sharp images, especially in low light or when using slow shutter speeds, use a tripod to stabilize your camera.
  • Shoot in RAW: When possible, shoot in RAW format to have the maximum flexibility in post-processing.
  • Practice Composition: Regularly practice different composition techniques like the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing to enhance your visual storytelling.
  • Explore Different Angles: Don’t be afraid to get creative with angles and perspectives. This can add interest and uniqueness to your photos.
  • Understand Your Camera: Spend time learning the functions and features of your camera to make the most of its capabilities.
  • Post-Processing: Use photo editing software to enhance your images. Adjusting exposure, contrast, and color can significantly improve your photos.
  • Keep Learning: Photography is a continual learning process. Keep experimenting, learning new techniques, and studying the work of other photographers.
  • Get Your Work Seen: Build an online portfolio to showcase your work and reach potential clients. Websites like www.callforentry.org can help you find opportunities to display your work in galleries or art shows.

Photography Equipment Checklist

Camera Gear:

  • DSLR or Mirrorless Camera
  • Lenses (Prime, Zoom, Wide-Angle, Telephoto, Macro)
  • Extra Batteries and Memory Cards
  • Tripod
  • Remote Shutter Release

Lighting Equipment:

  • External Flash
  • Reflectors
  • Softboxes and Umbrellas
  • Continuous Lights
  • Portable Reflector

Accessories:

  • Camera Bag
  • Lens Cleaning Kit
  • Polarizing and Neutral Density Filters
  • Spare Lens Caps and Body Caps

Editing Software:

  • Adobe Lightroom
  • Adobe Photoshop

Recommended Reading and Resources

Books:

  • “Understanding Exposure” by Bryan Peterson
  • “The Digital Photography Book” by Scott Kelby
  • “Light, Science & Magic” by Fil Hunter, Steven Biver, and Paul Fuqua

Websites:

  • Digital Photography School (digital-photography-school.com)
  • PetaPixel (petapixel.com)
  • DPReview (dpreview.com)
  • CameraSim (camerasim.com)
  • Adobe Creative Cloud Learn Photoshop (creativecloud.adobe.com/cc/learn/app/photoshop?locale=en)
  • Call for Entry: A website for finding art shows and gallery opportunities to display and sell your work.

Common Photography Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

  • Out of Focus: Ensure your subject is in sharp focus by using the autofocus points correctly or manually focusing when necessary.
  • Poor Composition: Apply the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing to create balanced and visually appealing compositions.
  • Overexposed/Underexposed Images: Use the exposure triangle to balance your shutter speed, aperture, and ISO for proper exposure. Check your histogram and adjust settings as needed.
  • Blurry Images: Use a tripod and fast shutter speed to avoid camera shake. Ensure your camera settings match the lighting conditions.
  • Ignoring the Background: Pay attention to the background and ensure it complements the subject rather than distracts from it.

Conclusion

This appendix provides a quick reference guide to essential photography concepts, tips, and resources to aid in your photographic journey. Use it as a handy tool to reinforce your learning, and don’t hesitate to revisit these points as you progress. Remember, photography is both an art and a science, and continual practice and exploration will help you develop your skills and unique photographic style.

License

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Learning Digital Photography Copyright © by Eric Demattos is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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