Basic Photography

If you want to become a master of photography, you have to start by grasping the basics. In this section you can do just that. All the building blocks are covered, from Shutter Speed and Aperture to more advanced subjects such as understanding the nature of color and how to use different types of light for different effects. There will also be sections on using the camera in manual mode and on understanding the differences between film and digital photography. The section is expanded once a month, so keep checking back to get the most out of it.

Shutter Speed

Learning to control the length of time the cameras shutter remains open will improve your photography and will give you visual control well beyond deciding how light or dark the final image will be, so it is a very important skill to master.

Learn more about shutter speed.

Basic Photography - Aperture and Depth of Field

Learn to control your focus

The camera's aperture works like the iris of an eye, changing the amount of light that hits the sensor, but it also allows the photographer to change how much of a scene will be in focus.

Read tips on aperture and depth of field.

Film Speed and ISO

Getting the exposure right is a crucial part of taking good pictures. The key is to get the shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings working together smoothly. Once you grasp this and start working in manual, you'll never use auto mode again.

Read our basic exposure tips here.

Hard and Soft Light

Understanding light is crucial to good photography. Whether you use dramatic hard light to emphasize texture and form or use flattering soft light to make a model look younger will have significant consequences for your pictures.

Read our feature explaining how to use hard and soft light.

Basic Color Temperature

Not all light, is white light, and while our eyes can adjust for the differences between the yellow cast of tungsten light and the green shade of halogen, we need to be aware of the effect it has on our pictures or it may have disastrous consequences.

Get to grips with the basics of color temperature.

Silhouette Photography

The silhouette is one of the most striking, and yet one of the simplest techniques in digital photography. From pure black against a plain white background to hints of detail against a sunset sky, you will be amazed at the range you will be able to create.

Find out how to capture the perfect silhouette with your DSLR.

Panning Action Pictures

Panning is one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of a sports and action photographer, but it need not be the preserve of the professionals, we'll give you a full guide to this impressive technique to give your pictures that sense of speed.

Learn to shoot panned photos like a pro.

Optical Photo Filters

Filters have been around from the days of black-and-white photography, but even in these days of digital images, they are far from dead and can be used to improve photos, save time in editing and can even be used to protect your lenses.

Learn how to use optical photographic filters.

Flash Photography

A flashgun can be a powerful tool, but in the hands of the unwary photographer it can just as easily ruin a picture. In this feature we will teach you how to use fill-in and bounced flash as well as other techniques to improve your pictures after dark.

Learn how to easily improve your flash photography

DSLRs vs Compacts

There is a great divide between cameras with interchangeable lenses and those that have the lens built in and choosing the one that is right for you will make all the difference, not only to your pocket, but to the satisfaction you will get from photography.

DSLRs vs Compacts, find out which is right for you.

Choose the right DSLR for you

There are many excellent digital SLRs on the shelves of any camera store, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, choosing the right one for you can be an intimidating experience with megapixels, lenses and shake reduction systems to consider.

Find out which is the right DSLR for your photography.

Basic Photography - Histograms and the Zone System

Get to know the Zone System

Understanding the Histogram is the cornerstone of good digital photography. It shows you, at a glance, whether your images are correctly exposed. The concepts is easy to understand, so why not read our feature explaining how to use histograms.

Everything you need to know about Histograms and the Zone System

Shoot in Camera Raw

Shooting in Raw mode will give you a great deal more power to edit the photo later and get the most out of your images without losing any important detail. There are important things to know about shooting in Raw, though, so find out more here.

Get the most out of your digital SLR by shooting in camera Raw

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