Basic Photography principles that no photographer should be without!

In this section we'll review basic photography principles that every photographer should come to understand. Anyone who aspires to make pleasing photographs should take some time to really learn photography. And why not? Learning photography is not that hard! You'll get to look at a lot of pretty pictures and play with cool equipment on the way!

Maybe the photo bug will bite you just like it did me (and millions of others before you!). No surprise: making photographs that warm your heart is a lot of fun. Or maybe the bug has bitten you already, but your skills can use some polishing. This section is for you, too.

Even though this site is dedicated to macro photography, the principles I'll outline here apply no matter what type of photography you do. That's why you'll see photos used as teaching examples that are not, strictly speaking, close-up or macro photographs. 

Here's what's ahead in this Basic Photography section, in order:

1. Want to know what kind of cameras are available to put into your camera bag? Go to Camera Types.
2. Curious about lenses used in photography? Visit Camera Lenses.
3. Your camera's shutter affects photographs technically and artistically. More at Shutter Speed.
4. F/stops and apertures, what are they and how are they used? See Aperture Settings.
5. Exposure can make or break a photograph. Learn more at What is Exposure?
6. Don't take measuring light levels for granted. Light Meters has more.
7. What do all those knobs, buttons, and catch-phrases mean? See Camera controls.
8. Venerable, beautiful, classic. We discuss Film Photography basics here.
9. Want to learn photography at its most basic level? Let's talk about Black and White Film Developing
10. Plunge into the Digital vs. Film Photography debate, learn why we need both!
11. What to do when available light isn't. Let's talk about Low Light Photography!

Once equipped with a set of basic tools, you'll:

• Be more involved in the process of making photographs.
• Figure out steps to take that will improve your work.
• Learn to communicate through the unique language of photography.
• Become a smarter and wiser consumer, from camera bag to camera body.

Would you like to make cool photographs like these?

Come to think of it, why not much better than these?

There's no reason you can't, if you're willing to work at it. I've trained a lot of aspiring photographers in photography basics over the years. Most of them came to me with no basic photography knowledge or skill, just a willingness to make it work. Everyone is different (thank heaven for that!), but in my experience, here's roughly what photography demands of us:

• Some reliable equipment
• Some technical know-how 
• Dedication and hard work
• Willingness to make mistakes, learn from them, and make new ones
• Curiousity, an open mind, and an open spirit

Notice how 4 out of 5 criteria have to do with your mind and spirit, and not with your camera equipment? There's a good reason for that. Think about it!

Here's what's ahead as we're learning photography basics, so dive in! I'm so glad you're on board!

1. Camera types
2. Camera lenses
3. Shutter speed
4. Aperture Settings
5. What is Exposure?
6. Light meters
7. Camera controls
8. Film Photography
9. Black and White Film Developing
10. Digital vs. film photography
11. Low Light Photography

Do you have a basic photography question? Ask John here!

Do you have a basic photography question? A photograph of yours that doesn't quite work? Ask John about it here!