Franklin Acosta
- Mar 1, 2022
- 7 min read

Photography 101

Updated: Dec 28, 2023

If you want to learn how to shoot like a pro, you must learn some of the basics. This article will focus on the following photography topics.

The Rule of Third
ISO
Shutter
Aperture

Learning how to shoot like a professional photographer is easier than you think. And if you’re reading this, I’m going to assume that you have a DSLR camera; if not, then stop reading this and go get one! Also, have you ever heard of the Rule of Thirds? This is something that every photographer needs to learn. In today’s lesson, we’ll be telling you a bit more about that rule and other tips for improving your photography skills. Scroll down for more information:

1. The Rule of Third

Have you ever wondered what the rule of thirds is in photography? It’s one of those photography basics that everyone knows and uses but just doesn’t know where it comes from or how to use it properly. It's a simple compositional rule but, The Rule of Thirds can be a real game-changer for your photography. In this post, I will break down the rule of thirds for beginners. Explain when to use it, when not to use it, why it works, and how you can use it properly in any camera type or situation.

The rule of thirds can help you take a boring, bland photo and turn it into an interesting one. Using the rule of thirds is one of the easiest and fastest ways to improve your photography without breaking the bank on expensive photography gear.

When I was in art school, there was a rule that everyone learned. The “rule of thirds.” Referring to the frame of a photo, the rule said that you should imagine your image divided into nine equal parts by two lines, one horizontal, one vertical and then place important elements on those lines, or at those points. It’s a great method of composition because it creates photos that are well-balanced, without making them seem too static. You see, static images tend to be bad; they keep the viewer in place and prevent the viewer from really exploring the frame with their eyes.

One of the most undervalued aspects of photography is balanced framing. It’s literally the use of both light and dark, left and right, to create images that feel full, but also keep our eye moving throughout the composition. The Rule of Thirds is so popular because it creates well-balanced images that are pleasing to the eye.

When is the rule of thirds not appropriate?

You will come across a range of diverse scenarios where this rule is not advisable, one good example is when photographing landscapes. In a case like this, it is best to focus on symmetry, then the rule of third. These will become more apparent with time and the more you practice.

So, to recap, the rule of thirds is a photography "rule" that states that your photo should be divided into three equal horizontal and vertical lines. The intersections will be the corners of your central square. In a photograph, intersections are crucial since they are where you will place your subject. Following this rule entails positioning your photo subject in such a way that anyone seeing it will be able to see the major point you're trying to make.

2. ISO

What is ISO, and how can it affect your photos?

ISO is a term a lot of people might see when shopping for their next camera. What does it mean though? I’ll break down the basics of ISO for you. You may or may not already know what the ISO setting on your camera is. Maybe a friend told you it stands for International Standards Organization, or maybe you’ve even heard that means nothing in digital photography. But what you might not know is how ISO can affect the photos your take, whether it increases or decreases noise in your photos.

ISO is one of the key elements that affect the quality or look of an image. The ISO range on a typical camera is from 100 – 6,400. ISO 100 will give you the best quality. However, you will have less sensitivity to light, and it will not be a good idea to use ISO 100 on scenes that are not very well lit. I notice that on your average cameras, you will start to lose image quality when you push your ISO to 1,600 and beyond. Visible noise in your images will start to appear in most cases.

ISO stands for Intensity or Sensitivity of light. ISO is a standard that allows you to set a base level of sensitivity for your camera so that your image is taken at the ideal level. This means that if you had to take an image in low light, your pictures still come out clear and focused.

ISO Intensification's Effects

When you increase the ISO by a factor of two (for example, from 200 to 400), the camera requires half as much light to achieve the same exposure. So, if your shutter speed was 1/250 at 200 ISO, increasing it to 400 ISO would give you the same exposure at 1/500 second (providing the aperture remains unchanged). This is why, particularly at sporting events, high ISOs are frequently used. Photographers commonly use ISO 1600 or higher when they need a quick shutter speed to stop action.

3. Shutter

What is the definition of shutter speed?

The shutter speed of a camera is exactly what it sounds like: the rate at which the shutter closes. A rapid shutter speed results in a shorter exposure to the amount of light the camera collects, whereas a slow shutter speed results in a longer exposure.

One of the great things about taking photos with a DSLR camera is that you can control the shutter speed. When using a slower shutter speed, it allows you to use a longer shutter opening that allows more light into the camera. However, shutter speeds can also be used to create different effects in your photos. So, what is the shutter and why should learn how to use it? Read below to find out.

Shutter speed is probably the most important factor in night photography. Shutter speed affects how trails of stars are captured and its effect cannot be reversed. It is important to know how shutter speed works in my camera so that you can be able to take flawless photographs without the motion blur when it is not needed.

For many years, in cameras and mainly DSLR cameras, shutters were used for taking photographs. Similar to how a car engine or the human heart has its own “beat”, each camera shutter has a specific rhythm. Maybe you’ve noticed this when you take a picture; whether you hear it or not depends on how fast or slow the shutter speed is. A fast shutter speed can freeze a moving car whereas a slow shutter speed will impart a sense of motion.

What factors do you consider when choosing on a shutter speed?

When deciding on shutter speed, keep in mind what you want to achieve with your photo. If you photograph a waterfall at a normal shutter speed, the water freezes, and you get all that texture. However, you've probably seen photographs of waterfalls with smooth, silky water. It's a fantastic effect that's also really simple to create. All you have to do is make sure the camera doesn't move when shooting and use a slow shutter speed. All of the small elements of the water cascading down will blend to give you that appearance.

4. Aperture

Aperture. The word alone invokes a sense of wonder. For many photographers, it is a gateway to a world of photography that they never knew existed. But, without first understanding its purpose, it can seem like an alien concept.

When I started learning about photography, aperture confused me. The more I learned about it, the more it confused me. I found myself going down a rabbit hole of terms like depth of field, F-stop, sweet spot, and circle of confusion. But what is aperture? And how do you control the aperture? Aperture is one of the most important concepts to understand if you want to take your photography to the next level. Understanding it will give you a better understanding of how your DSLR camera works and help you take better pictures.

Aperture is one of the most important camera settings for any photographer to know about. It's a setting that controls the Depth of Field. When you concentrate an image on a specific point, all other areas are blurred out. The aperture size determines how much of your image will be in focus (in front of and behind your subject). Adjusting it manually allows you to have more control over the look of your final photo.

Aperture is a measurement of the size of the opening in your camera lens. It is usually measured using an f-stop system, which are fractions (like 1/2 or 1/3 or 1/16). The larger the number, the smaller the opening and therefore less light hitting the sensor. This can be useful for controlling how much background detail appears in your images and sometimes getting a slightly higher depth of field (or blurring) to point out a subject and make it stand out.

Follow these simple tips, and you will be amazed. Good photography doesn't happen overnight, but with dedication and practice, you can develop it over time. The more photos you take, the better you'll get at it.

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