Dos and Don't of Photography

The Dos and Don’ts of Photography

“No place is boring, if you’ve had a good night’s sleep and have a pocket full of unexposed film.”

—Robert Adams

The realm of digital photography has been growing for quite some time. The quality and availability of great equipment such as camera bodies, tripods, lenses, flash gears, video devices, accessories, and software is just astounding. Never before has a beginner photographer had such easy access to the equipment that allows them to produce professional-level photographs in such a short period of time.

There are numerous resources available to educate yourself on the entire process, from image capture to final output, whether that is a stunning image showcased on computers or mobile phones to be shared with thousands online, printed as a large piece of artwork for your home or office, or sold to someone else for the same reason.

The list below contains some of the most critical DOs and DON'Ts in today's beautiful era of digital photography.

The Dos

Do #1: Do learn to shoot in manual mode

This may seem apparent, yet many photographers overlook the fundamentals of what creates a beautiful image: proper lighting and composition. However, even when these are available, they are not captured correctly unless the photographer understands the exposure feature. Shutter speed, aperture, and ISO work together to give your creative ideas the correct exposure.

Do #2: Do invest in quality instruction

By no means is photography an inexpensive pastime or profession. That is not to mean that you have to pay hundreds of dollars to get good photos. With the capabilities and performance that basic level DSLRs offer today, they would have been regarded as top quality pro level cameras just five years ago. The remarkable part of all of this is how few people genuinely invest in the understanding of photography while spending hundreds, if not thousands, on gear that they don't properly understand how to use.

Do #3: Do learn post-processing

This is the one aspect of photography where you can improve your output quality the most. If you can envision anything, you can probably do it with post-production. However, just like studying the fundamentals of photography, there are several elements about post-processing that you must first master in order to use the tools properly.

Do #4: Do use the equipment you have to its full potential

You've decided to purchase a new camera because you believe it will take your photographs to a new, lofty level of greatness. Consider again. As previously stated, today's technology is extremely advanced. Before you spend on something new, do yourself a favor and research everything you can about your camera and other equipment. Instead of a new camera, consider a better tripod that locks and doesn't move, allowing you incredibly sharp shots and the ability to conduct long exposure tasks like night photography.

Do #5: Do turn off the camera flash and use set lighting instead

Nothing can improve your photographs more than including off-camera lighting. It outperforms Photoshop or any other program. Light is everything! Off-camera flash will allow you to increase depth, textures, and detail in ways that other lighting cannot, and you will have complete control over it.

Do #6: Do get up early or shoot late

If you want the best lighting and like to sleep late, you should stick to flash photography! Aside from that, you'll have to get up early for pre-dawn beautiful light and sunrise or wait until later in the day for golden hour or blue hour light. The main advantage of shooting before sunrise is that there are no individuals and cars nearby.

Do #7: Do run to your local zoo on overcast days

If you've ever visited a zoo on a generally cloudy or gloomy day and observed a disproportionate number of photographers, there's a good explanation for it. The huge softbox that is the sky provides the finest shooting circumstances for nature photography. As long as the sky isn't in the picture, the cloudy sky gives us a huge edge over sunny, brilliant days.

Do #8: Do clean your image sensor

This might also be mentioned as a DON'T. But I wanted to include it as a suggestion. There are so many people who believe that only the maker of your digital camera with interchangeable lenses should clean your sensor because "you may do major damage" to your camera. That is ridiculous and a huge waste of money.

Plus:

● Do #9: Do purchase a quality tripod

● Do #10: Do experiment

● Do #11: Do meet with other photographers

● Do #12: Do research

● Do #13: Do share your work

● Do #14: Do practice, practice, practice!

The Don’ts

Don’t #1: Don’t give up!

The most key point to remember is that you learn best when you keep practicing. This mindset will take you a long way in the field of photography. We all have to start somewhere, and every good photographer's journey is unique. Just keep moving forward.

Don’t #2: Don’t undervalue good glass!

Camera bodies change. Glass is glass is glass. Digital photography is a high-tech, fast-paced industry. Why? Because computer and electronic technologies are constantly developing—sometimes at an alarming rate. The lens is the sole piece of non-digital equipment we utilize. Lenses are optical and analog instruments. They observe real-world images and capture all of the colors, tones, and details, which are then supplied to the sensor and converted into an image.

Don’t #3: Don’t let location keep you from shooting

Take a day excursion to a destination that is four hours distant and capture some beautiful photographs of objects and areas you rarely see. Don't let your "poor" location keep you from getting out and shooting more regularly!

Don’t #4: Don’t be a photo know it all

We've all met these people. When others find out you like photography, they'll tell you how everyone knows a lot about shooting good photos. Everyone believes that they have an eye for it. Don’t be like them. Make yourself a sponge. Take in all you see, hear, and read. Pose inquiries. Digital photography could be a difficult subject to grasp. It is not a sin to confess that you know very little or nothing in certain subjects.

Don’t #5: Don’t be overwhelmed by post-processing

Begin with the fundamentals and work your way up.

Don’t #6: Don’t edit without calibrating your screen

Calibration of your screen will ensure that you are working with the correct colors and tones and that your display is set to the ideal brightness level. Many people believe this is excessive for the average photographer, and they may be correct. However, if you're reading this, you're not a casual photographer.

Don’t #7: Don’t hold your prints up to your display and compare them

Prints use reflected light, whereas displays are backlit and look like lights with an image on them. Hold an image that has been modified on a perfectly calibrated display close to a large window in natural daylight the next time you get it. I can tell you that it will then appear extremely close to, if not the same as, the image on your calibrated display.

Don’t #8: Don’t think you need to buy expensive speedlights

Look no farther if you want to get started in the realm of digital photography using off-camera flash.

Plus:

● Don’t #9: Don't be afraid to ask questions

● Don’t #10: Don’t touch the lens

● Don’t #11: Don’t forget the essentials

● Don’t #12: Don’t shoot in auto

● Don’t #13: Don’t limit your style

he next and final chapter will give you a glossary of photography terms you can turn to whenever needed.