There is something truly arresting about a well-taken photograph. Since the first photograph in the 1820s, they have become such an integral part of our culture that we know a good photo when we see it, even if most people can't articulate it with precise vocabulary. What's more definite is that the majority of great photos were not taken from a smartphone. Modern phones can take really good pictures, provided your subject is very well lit, isn’t too far away, and nothing in the frame moves around too much, or at all.
Much like a homemade lasagna is so much better than the one you microwave, learning some photography basics and investing in a real camera is worth it for the significantly better photos you can produce. Which isn’t to say you need to turn professional or get your own studio, but a small investment in time and money will pay dividends down the road.
So how do you do that thing where the person is in focus but everything else is blurred behind them? Or freeze motion at a sporting event? What makes your picture of rocks, trees, and water stand out against someone else's pictures of rocks, trees, and water?
First things first - you'll need to get yourself a proper camera. Before you run off and get as many megapixels as you can afford, have a look at this handy guide, which explains all the different properties that go into a decent camera, as well as the classifications of cameras, from point and shoot to professional D-SLR.
I know you're dying to get out there and take hundreds of pictures of rocks, trees and water, but you still have to learn some photography basics. Given that photography is a visual medium, it makes sense to learn visually, and that's just what you can do with this excellent video podcast, The Art of Photography. Hosted by a professional photographer, the first couple dozen episodes give you a good explanation of photography history as well as camera basics like aperture, shutter speed, and exposure.
If you will only visit a site if it promises *100* articles AND cute pictures of the author's children, then learn your photography basics over here at Courtney's site, Click it Up a Notch. You can even learn about something called bokeh, which you wouldn’t be alone in previously assuming was an ethnic lentil-based dish.
Looking for inspiration on what to shoot? Try GuardianWitness, which has daily suggestions on what to photograph.
Once you’ve gotten used to actually taking photos, it’s worth learning to edit properly? You Suck At Photoshop is the only resource you need. Narrated by a man on the edge of despair, you actually can learn a few things in between personal insults at your ability.
We're lucky to live in an age where photography is so accessible. We don't have to deal with exploding flashbulbs or the interminable wait of wondering if your film roll of pictures had a single good shot on it. But with photography being simpler than ever, it's easy to give into the temptation of letting the camera do all the work. You can occasionally get some excellent pictures that way, but with a little bit more time and effort, you can create some truly wonderful photos of rocks, trees and water.
