Photography is an excellent and portable skill to have; when you have the ability to take a good picture, you can turn your snapshots into professional-level photos. Learning photography at home is challenging but rewarding, and you will need to make a significant investment of time and money. The most important things to keep in mind when learning photography at home are patience and persistence; if you keep at it, your photographs will improve.
Instructions
1. Buy a camera. When learning photography at home, pick a mid-range camera. A cheap camera will not have the settings you need to learn photography, and an expensive camera can be a prohibitive cost. For the most flexibility when learning photography, buy a digital SLR (single lens reflex). Canon and Nikon are good brands, and their digital SLRs start at around $800. Note that you can use any camera that has manual settings. You can also look on sites like craigslist.org for used digital SLRs; bargains are often easy to find.
2. Get a photography book. In order to learn proper photography techniques, get a book about photography. Photography books will walk you through the basics of digital photography and explain the functions of your camera. They can serve as a reference and will explain the effects of different settings. This background knowledge is crucial to learning photography, as it will help you analyze a scene and choose the correct camera settings to achieve the photo you want. A good book for beginners is Ansel Adam's "Basic Techniques of Photography."
3. Practice techniques. Before you start shooting full scenes, practice different techniques and settings to develop a full understanding. Pick an object and shoot it at different apertures and shutter speeds; note each setting and compare the differences between the photographs. This will give you a solid visual reference point and will reinforce the knowledge of each setting. When you move on to shooting different scenes, you will have a better understanding of how each setting will affect your photo.
4. Shoot everything and anything. To broaden your photography experience, try to shoot as many subjects in as many settings as possible. Outdoor action shots, for example, require entirely different camera settings than a low-light theater shot. Experiment with lighting, reflectors, and light meters to see the effects on your photos. Shoot people, animals and scenery. For a challenge, try photographing light; looking at the way light plays on objects and trying to capture it will add depth to your other photos. Anything you can photograph will widen your experience, making you a better photographer.
5. Network. If you are serious about learning photography, aim to meet as many photographers as possible. Head to gallery openings and study the work. If you don't know reproduce a similar shot, ask the photographer how he or she did it. Explain that you're a beginning photographer, and professionals will often be happy to share their insight. Take every opportunity to learn more about your craft. Also, ask questions that will help further your own work; if you are confused about a particular aspect of photography, don't be afraid to seek help from other photographers, in person or at online forums like The Photo Forum. Post your photos and ask for critiques. Every connection you can make is valuable when you are learning photography at home.
