&Nbsp; I have been studying photography at the senior university for more than two years, but my real interest only began at the beginning of this year. The more I learn, the more I feel that photography knowledge is quite extensive, and it's indeed not easy to grasp. I started to settle down and focus on studying it, gaining new insights and harvests.
At school, I basically understand the six main parts of photography: basic knowledge, framing composition, photographic lighting, mechanical angles, skill application, and PS post-production. Of course, it will take a long time to integrate these pieces of knowledge. It's not just about understanding them; they require regular practice and experience accumulation before gradually mastering them. Compared to this goal, I still have a long way to go.
Since I became interested in photography, I like to study other people's works. I went to other photography websites and saw many works from others. At this point, I had a feeling that what we learn at school is photography knowledge, which ultimately boils down to technical knowledge in photography. To truly capture great works, it seems far from enough. What else do I need? I was pondering, exploring, and contemplating. My thoughts gradually became clearer. I increasingly realized that my previous field trips and photography were exercises and not truly meaningful works. Those were simply applying the knowledge learned in practical situations. To create your own works, you need support from other skills. I initially think that photography is the comprehensive result of using photography techniques, equipment, creativity, post-production, and opportunities. If these aspects can be harmoniously and organically applied, then you will be able to capture your own distinctive photographic works.
I've already talked about photography techniques earlier.
Photography equipment refers to one's ability to proficiently master the various functions of their camera, flexibly use it, and maximize its potential. Moreover, each brand of camera has its unique features, and understanding them allows for reasonable usage. You should be skilled enough to know what you want to achieve with a simple gesture, without having to carefully examine the camera every time. This way, you can save time and capture unexpected photos. Additionally, there are various lenses such as fixed focal length, zoom, wide-angle, medium telephoto, short telephoto, etc., and their applicable ranges for scenes or subjects. There are also various camera settings and accessories used under different scene conditions, too numerous to list.
Photographic creativity is also very important. Photography is a language, a form of expressing the author's intent. We express our ideas through our own photographs. If others can understand your meaning, then your purpose is achieved; otherwise, if it’s confusing, it's not a good work. The theme reflects a person's knowledge level, cultivation, sentiment, interests, education, concepts, and photographic skills comprehensively. Therefore, improving one's overall quality is also very necessary.
Post-processing of photographs is also very important. It is an essential means to fully demonstrate the appeal of the photo. For film cameras, cropping occurs during film development and printing, or by adjusting the thickness and color of the film and prints to reflect the style of the photo. Digital cameras, on the other hand, undergo post-processing on computers. Without familiarity with post-processing software applications, it is difficult to achieve the desired effect. I’ve seen many photos that have been processed after shooting, and it’s undeniable that their presentation techniques significantly enhance the appeal of the photos.
Photography also requires opportunities. We must be good at seizing fleeting chances and capturing those rare moments, recording precious scenes. Opportunities don't come just because you want them. We need eyes that can capture precious scenes, proficient techniques, and a courageous mindset to discover rare opportunities. Once grasped, you will create thought-provoking and touching photos.
When used well, photography can bring a lot of joy to our lives. If not handled properly, always wanting something, well, it might also bring us unnecessary troubles. I advocate and enjoy playing with photography. Seeking happiness in play and enhancing one's cultivation in play makes our lives colorful and diverse, just like the colorful photos we take. I hope all photographers can enjoy the joy of photography that others cannot experience. The joy of photography is known only to us photographers! Related articles: A beginner photographer's superficial views, a beginner photographer's superficial views, a beginner photographer's superficial views.