Basic knowledge of photography (mastering light, composition and exposure)

Photography is an art. Through photography, we can record beautiful moments and express our emotions and thoughts. However, taking a good photo is not easy and requires some basic knowledge and skills. In the entry-level stage of photography, we first need to understand the three basic elements of light, composition and exposure.

1. Light

Light is the soul of photography. It directly affects the color, light and shade and texture of photos. During the shooting process, we need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Direction of light: Different light directions such as side light, backlight, and front light will bring different effects to the photo, which need to be determined according to the subject and Intention to choose the appropriate light direction.

2. Intensity of light: The intensity of light will affect the brightness and darkness of the photo. You can control the intensity of light by adjusting the shutter speed and aperture size.

3. Color of light: Different light sources will have different color temperatures. For example, sunlight during the day is bluish, while indoor lighting is yellowish. We can adjust the color of the photo through the white balance setting.

2. Composition

Composition refers to the arrangement and organization of picture elements during framing. A good composition can make a photo more attractive and expressive. The following are several commonly used composition principles:

1. The third division method: Divide the picture into nine equal parts and place the subject at the intersection to make the picture more layered and balanced.

2. Foreground elements: Adding foreground elements to the picture can increase the depth of field and three-dimensionality.

3. Diagonal composition: Placing the subject on the diagonal can make the picture more dynamic and lead.

4. Blank space: Proper use of blank parts of the screen can make the screen more concise and balanced.

3. Exposure

Exposure refers to the control of light during the shooting process, which directly affects the brightness and detail of the photo. The following are several commonly used exposure adjustment methods:

1. Shutter speed: Shutter speed determines the length of exposure time of the photoreceptor. The faster the shutter speed, the brighter the photo; the slower the shutter speed, the darker the photo. .

2. Aperture size: The aperture size determines the amount of light entering the lens. The larger the aperture, the brighter the photo; the smaller the aperture, the darker the photo.

3. ISO sensitivity: The higher the ISO value, the brighter the photo; the lower the ISO value, the darker the photo. But be aware that high ISO values ??will bring noise problems.

In actual operation, we can adjust the light, composition and exposure according to the shooting environment and subject. The specific operation steps will be introduced below.

1. Light adjustment steps

1. Observe the direction and intensity of the light and decide the angle and position of the shooting.

2. Adjust the intensity of light as needed, which can be controlled by shutter speed and aperture size.

3. Use reflectors or flashes to supplement the light and increase the brightness and texture of the photo.

4. Pay attention to the color of the light, which can be corrected through the white balance setting.

2. Composition adjustment steps

1. Observe the scene and determine the position and relationship between the subject and the background.

2. Use the third division method to divide the picture into nine equal parts and place the subject at the intersection.

3. Add foreground elements to increase depth of field and layering.

4. Use diagonal composition to add movement and leading lines.

5. Pay attention to the balance of the picture and the blank space. You can achieve the ideal effect by adjusting the angle and position.

3. Exposure adjustment steps

1. Choose the appropriate shutter speed and aperture size according to the shooting environment and subject.

2. Adjust ISO sensitivity as needed, and be careful to avoid noise problems caused by too high ISO values.

3. Use the exposure compensation function to adjust the lightness and darkness of the photo.

4. Use the histogram to determine the exposure of the photo to avoid overexposure or underexposure.