Did you know the first-ever 'selfie' or self-portrait was captured in 1839 by Robert Cornelius? Photography is an art that involves capturing light with a camera to create an image. With the right equipment, you can even capture wavelengths of light that are invisible to the human eye.
Gear Required For Photography
The invention of the smartphone has replaced the need for several dedicated devices, for example, the camera. The front camera and the rear camera of the latest mobile gadgets on the market have over a million megapixels. But if you must buy gear, here are the essential requirements for photography:
Camera
The best buy is a dedicated camera with an interchangeable lens to give you the freedom to try out different types of photography. It's good practice to read reviews, but you need not obsess over it as everything available in the market today is just as good as its competition.
Lenses
This is a critical aspect of photography that varies depending on what you wish to capture. So, first things first, determine the photos you wish you take. For portraits, choose a prime lens without the zoom feature ranging from 35 to 85 millimeters. But for everyday photography, you should opt for a standard zoom lens ranging between 18 to 55 and 24 to 70 millimeters. Likewise, a telephoto lens is best used for sports and a macro lens for macro photography.
Post Processing Software
At the end of the day, you might have to edit your photos, so you'll either need computer software or one that comes with the camera. However, photographers opt for subscriptions to dedicated programs in the long run.
We'd label all the rest as optional equipment that could further enhance the photographic experience. This includes the tripod, printer, bags, memory cards, extra batteries, polarizing filter, flash, advanced computer monitor, cleaning kit, GPS attachments, and other equipment that can be bought based on the photography genre you opted for. The different photography genres include landscape, portrait, or wildlife.
Fundamental Camera Settings
The essentials of a great photo are good light, composition, and subject. Here are three fundamental camera setting that controls the brightness in the photo:
1. Aperture
The aperture is the pupil of your lens that opens and shuts to allow different amounts of light for capturing a photo.
2. Shutter speed
The shutter speed is the amount of time the camera sensor remains exposed to the outer world when clicking a picture.
3. ISO
Even though it's complex in terms of technicality, but it makes use of a similar concept to that of sensitivity of film for capturing photos in distinct lighting conditions. It involves darkening or brightening a photo amid post-processing.
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