Make Great Photos: A Friendly Guide and Journal for Improving Your Photographs

Description

Learning the basics of photography can seem like a daunting task. At first glance, there is a whole new world of terminology to digest and tons of numbers to master. It can be confusing, frustrating, and overwhelming. It's no wonder many people set their cameras to Auto and hope for the best in whatever situation they're shooting, whether that's a child's soccer game, a birthday party, or a vacation. Unless luck strikes, the resulting images are usually not very good. But it doesn't have to be this way. Enter Make Great Photos: A Friendly Guide and Journal for Improving Your Photographs. In this book, photographer and author Alan Hess teaches you the basics of photography by breaking down the topic into its fundamental parts. In the first section of the book, Alan explains what makes a great photo in the first place, examining a selection of images and working through why each one is successful. He then dives into chapters that cover the photographic choices every photographer needs to make. These choices boil down to just three topics: light, focus, and composition. In the second part of Make Great Photos, Alan addresses specific shooting situations--categorized into travel, action, events, and people--discussing the challenges that each scenario poses and how to conquer them. Finally, you'll learn the top five basic edits you need to know to make your images pop when you share them online. Alongside Alan's images and words are journal sections that push you to learn and grow in your photography through thoughtful exercises and engaging assignments. These fun activities help you fully absorb the lessons throughout the book so you can head out with your camera and capture great images. Title Copyright Dedication Acknowledgements Contents Introduction Chapter 1: What Makes a Great Photo Proper Exposure Soft Light and Hard Light Proper Color Time of Day Shutter Speed Aperture and Focus Focal Length / Lens Choice Compositional Basics: Rule of Thirds Chapter 2: It’s All About the Light Why Light Is Important Exposure The Four Basic Exposure Modes The Scene Exposure Modes, and Why I Don’t Use Them Metering Modes—How Your Camera Measures the Light Exposure Compensation Made Simple How Sensitive Is Your Camera to Light ISO as Your Secret Weapon Digital Noise Isn’t a Problem . . . Anymore Digital Noise Reduction Chapter 3: Getting Things in Focus The Different Focus Modes Explained Focus Points AF Areas Back-Button Focus Explained How Shutter Speed Controls Motion Aperture and Depth of Field Tripods Versus Handholding Timers and Remotes Making Sure Your Images Are Sharp Chapter 4: Composition Lens Basics Composition Chapter 5: Travel Photography What Does It Take to Make a Great Travel Shot Getting Started Case Studies Secret Weapons Advanced Tips and Tricks Chapter 6: Sports and Action Photography What Makes a Great Action or Sports Shot What Does It Take to Make a Great Action Shot Case Studies Secret Weapons: Lens Rental and Cropping Later in Software Advanced Tips and Tricks Chapter 7: Event Photography What Does It Take to Make a Great Event Photo Getting Started Case Studies Secret Weapons Advanced Tips and Tricks Chapter 8: Photographing People The Different Types of Lighting Lighting Modifiers The Starting Point Case Studies Secret Weapons Chapter 9: Sharing Your Images The Best File Format to Use Five Edits You Can Make on Your Smartphone to Get Better Images The Insider’s Guide to Photography Terms