P HOTOGRAPHY

M ADE EASY
T HE B EGINNERS G UIDE TO L EARNING D IGITAL P HOTOGRAPHY I N A W EEKEND
Rick Cheadle
Copyright © 2016

rickcheadle.com

INTRODUCTION

I want to thank you for purchasing the book, “The Beginners Guide to Learning Digital
Photography In A Weekend”
There are different types of digital cameras on the market such as DSLR, compact
cameras (point and shoot), and bridge compact cameras. This book is written for the study
of DSLR cameras.
Are you an aspiring photographer? Not sure where to start? Have you been taking pictures
that your just not happy with?
I was in the same position as you were several years ago when I first got a DSLR camera.
I shot everything in full auto mode and I didn’t have a clue what all those buttons and
knobs were for, I just pointed and shot. This resulted in inconsistent, blurry, unbalanced,
over-exposed, or under-exposed photos.
I decided to learn how to take control of my camera and actually learn what all of those
buttons and knobs were for and become an actual photographer as opposed to someone
that just took pictures.

After studying many books, watching tutorial videos and years of trial and error, I have
compiled the best and fastest way to break free of “auto mode” photography and explore
all that my digital camera had to offer.
When reading this book you will see references to settings and various parts of your
camera. Since there is a wide range of brands and all cameras are slightly different, I
recommend you refer to your owner’s manual to better understand your particular
camera’s layout and functionality.
I have included pictures and easy to follow diagrams and I explain things in an easy to
understand and simple manner. My goal is to teach you all the important photography
basics and enhance your skills so you can capture professional, high quality photographs
that you will be proud of. Enjoy!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Table of Contents
What is Digital Photography?
Chapter 1. The Fundamentals
Chapter 3. Camera Modes
Chapter 4. White Balance
Chapter 5. Composition
Chapter 6. Types of Photography
Chapter 7. Camera Care Tips
Chapter 8. additional accessories
Chapter 9. Post Processing Photo Editing
Additional Tips
About The Author





Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite
variety of perception, interpretation and execution.
-Ansel Adams

WHAT IS DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY?
DSLR stands for digital single lens reflex. This refers to how the camera works. When a
photographer presses the shutter button, a mirror flips up and exposes light to the sensor
which turns this light into a digital image that is stored on the memory card of your
camera.
Digital photography captures images via sensors as opposed to photographic film.
The key ingredient in photography is light. Shooting consistently great photos requires
you to know how to see and control the light through exposure, light direction, light
quality, highlights and shadows.
This book will help show you how!


CHAPTER 1. THE FUNDAMENTALS
EXPOSURE
The exposure is the amount of light that reaches the sensor of your camera. These light
values are measured in exposure values (EV) or stops.
You must understand the three elements of exposure (aperture, shutter speed and ISO) and
how they effect exposure. Learning how to control them is a vital element in your
development as a photographer.
Before capturing a photo examine the environment you’ll be shooting in. Is there enough
light? Is there too much light? Do you want to focus on a particular object? Do you want
to shoot a photo where everything is in focus?
Your answers to these questions will determine what combination of aperture, shutter
speed and ISO you will use for your shot.
Let’s explore these three elements.


Your photographs exposure is controlled by The Trinity or what is also called The
Exposure Triangle




APERTURE
The aperture is the opening that light travels through your lens. Think of the aperture as
the pupil of your eye.
The amount of light allowed in is controlled by “f/stops” which are measured in fractions.

To help understand how f/stops control the depth of field, imagine standing in the middle
of a field. In the distance you see a sign. What we usually do when we try to focus on
something in the distance is squint our eyes or narrow our focus i.e. higher f/stop setting.
So if you want to shoot a photo and try to keep everything in focus you will use a higher
f/stop, if you want to shoot a photo and make the background blurry or unfocused you will
use a low f/stop. The best way to understand this better is by experimenting with all of
your f/stop settings and see the difference each stop makes in your photos.
SHUTTER SPEED
Shutter Speed, also known as exposure time is measured by the length of time the shutter
stays open. The longer the shutter stays open, the more light is captured. This causes a
blurry effect or a sense of motion. But if you use a fast shutter speed this will enable you
to freeze the motion of your subject (like a speeding car or a flying bird).

Adjust shutter speed by selecting S (Nikon) or Tv (Canon) on the exposure control dial of
your camera. Adjust shutter speed accordingly (check your manual)

Shutter Speed Cheat Sheet

Shutter Speed Use For..

1/1000 sec Freeze fast moving vehicles or birds

1/500 sec Freeze athletes during game

1/250 sec Freeze slow moving subjects

1/125 sec Panning fast moving vehicles

1/60 sec Pan moving objects near camera

1/30 sec Pan fast moving at distance

1/15 sec Pan fast moving animals

1/8 sec Blur fast moving water close to camera

1/4 sec Blur people walking

1/2 sec Blur slow moving water

1 second or under Milky water effect


ISO
ISO is the camera’s level of sensitivity to light. By using a higher ISO number you can
adjust your camera’s sensor to have a higher sensitivity to light. But with the increased
sensitivity there will be a lower quality of exposure because of noise or grainy image.
I usually leave my ISO setting on 200 and adjust as needed depending on each lighting
situation. As with all the settings with your camera, the best way to understand this is to
experiment by using all of the ISO settings and examine the results of each shot.

An important thing to understand about ISO is that each increase of ISO doubles the light
sensitivity of the camera sensor. So ISO 400 allows twice as much light in as ISO 200 and
so on.

CHAPTER 2. DEPTH OF FIELD
I also refer to this as depth of focus. When we view an image, there is a portion that is in
focus and the rest is out of the range of focus. If you want to shoot a shallow depth of
field , the focus should be on your subject and the background will be blurred or
unfocused. Example below

Notice how the flower is on focus and the background is blurred. This was done by setting
the aperture to a wide aperture setting, in this case f1.4
The easiest and most straightforward way to change the depth of field in your shot is by
adjusting the aperture setting of your camera, this can be done without moving to a new
shooting position or changing equipment. This is another reason I prefer shooting in
Aperture Mode. Below is and example of a deep depth of field photo.

Notice how practically everything is in focus.

CHAPTER 3. CAMERA MODES

AUTOMATIC MODE
Most digital camera owners use this mode. When your camera is in auto mode it makes
it’s best judgment on how to expose your photo.
However by using some of the following modes you will be able to capture your shots
with more consistency depending on conditions.

PORTRAIT MODE
Your camera selects a large aperture to keep the focus on your subject and the
background blurred.

LANDSCAPE MODE
Your camera selects a small aperture to capture a photo with a deep depth of field where
much of the photo is in focus.

MACRO MODE
This mode is for close ups like when shooting insects, flowers and small objects.
SPORTS MODE (ACTION MODE)
This mode is used for freezing motion. It is ideal for capturing moving objects like
vehicles, people running, pets, wildlife etc.

NIGHT MODE (ALSO CALLED SLOW SHUTTER SYNC)

This mode is used for shooting in low light conditions. Because of the slower shutter
speed, using a tripod is recommended.

MOVIE MODE
This mode is for capturing video.

APERTURE PRIORITY (AV OR A)

You to choose the aperture setting while the camera chooses shutter speed and ISO. *This
is my mode of choice.

SHUTTER PRIORITY (TV OR S)

You to choose the shutter speed while the camera chooses aperture and ISO.

PROGRAM MODE (P)

Not all DSLR cameras have this mode. It is similar to auto mode. Check your manual for
details.


Most Important Part of Image Camera Mode To Select Setting

Everything in focus Aperture priority (Av or A) Small aperture opening

Only subject in focus Aperture priority (Av or A) Large aperture opening

Freeze motion Shutter priority (Tv or S) Fast shutter speed

Motion blur Shutter priority (Tv or S) Slow shutter speed

MANUAL MODE
This mode gives you full control of all settings of your camera including aperture, shutter
speed, ISO, flash etc. This mode is recommended for more experienced users.
CHAPTER 4. WHITE BALANCE

White balance is used to adjust the colors in your image to make them as accurate as
possible.
You may notice on some photos that there is a tint or a slight shade of color, this is cause
by light source variations. Different light sources produce different COLORS or
TEMPERATURES in the photos.

All digital cameras vary when it comes to adjust white balance, refer to owners manual.
Some common settings for white balance are:
● Auto
● Fluorescent
● Tungsten
● Daylight/Sunshine
● Cloudy/Shade
● Flash
 CHAPTER 5. COMPOSITION

The composition of your photo refers to where you place your point of interest or main
object in relation to the rest of the photo. Instead of simply standing in front of your
subject and shooting, put some thought into how you want the subject to be represented in
the shot. Consider these questions before you shoot.

● Is there enough/too much sunlight right now?
● Is my subject well lit with minimal shadows?
● Would this shot look better if got lower or higher?
● Should I include the background?
● Is it too busy?
● Is there enough depth?
● Is there enough symmetry?
● Is there enough balance?
RULE OF THIRDS
The rule of thirds is a technique used by photographers to help improve the layout or
composition of their photos. I look at this as a rule of thumb as opposed to a strict rule. It
is a useful tool to keep your images in balance and interesting. To utilize the rule of thirds
basically: Look through your camera and envision dividing your image using 2 vertical
lines and 2 horizontal lines. Where ever lines meet is where your main subject to be
positioned.

Remember when it comes to composition, these are just suggestions on how to train your
eye. I would let loose, experiment and just see what happens!


CHAPTER 6. TYPES OF PHOTOGRAPHY

There are many types of photography to try. Here is a partial list:
● Nature Photography
● Wedding Photography
● Macro Photography
● Bird Photography
● Landscape Photography
● Portrait Photography
● Sports Photography
● Still Life Flower Photography
● Food Photography
● Abstract Photography
● Pet Photography
● Event Photography
CHAPTER 7. CAMERA CARE TIPS

● Avoid heat and humidity.
● Avoid cold and dampness.
● Clean and dust regularly.
● Use lens caps and hoods.
● Avoid smokey conditions.
● Always keep camera pointed down when changing lenses.
● Never remove memory card with camera turned on.
● Invest in a good carrying bag with plenty of padding.
● Never use canned air for cleaning.
● Properly label and store memory cards.
CHAPTER 8. ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES

● Neck Strap
● Camera Bag
● External Flash
● Tripod
● Additional Lenses
● Extra Memory Cards
● Extra Batteries
● Lens Cleaner
● Dust Blower
● Camera filters
● Microfiber cloth
CHAPTER 9. POST PROCESSING PHOTO EDITING

Once you capture your image you will need to get it on your computer and correct any
issues with the color, tone and composition, this is where post processing is necessary.
While nothing beats a great captured photo, there is no doubt that even the best captures
can be improved by a few enhancements with a photo editor.
Begin with improving the composition. You will need to crop your photo. Remember the
rule of thirds when cropping your photos. Also try to keep the ratio of your photo the same
so your pictures will have a consistent shape.
Now that you have the composition the way you want it, you will want to make
improvements in the density, tones, and white balance. After you have made these
adjustments, you can focus on color.
With photo editing you are able to make any necessary changes to the color by adding
saturation, color boosting, shading etc.
Once you have the colors the way you want them, you can sharpen the shot, add layer
masks or reduce noise. The sky is the limit but don’t over do it!

RECOMMENDED PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE OPTIONS (PAID)

● Adobe Photoshop
● Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
● Adobe Photoshop Elements
● ACDSee
● Apple Aperture

RECOMMENDED PHOTO EDITING SOFTWARE OPTIONS (FREE)

● Gimp
● Paint.net
● Pixlr Editor
● PicMonkey
● Picasa
One of the fun things I like to do with my photos while using a photo editing software is to
make inspirational signs out of my images.

ADDITIONAL TIPS

● You don’t need to buy an expensive camera to shoot high quality photos
● Before taking the shot, always look at the composition of the background first.
● Always set the ISO as low as possible sensitivity the the picture will accept.
● Avoid centering everything in your images
● Learn about and shoot in RAW as much as possible
● Make Use of Semi-Automatic Modes
● Experiment shooting in all camera modes
● If your pictures keep coming out blurry, try a faster shutter speed or use a
tripod.
● Buy UV Filters for each lens
● Subscribe to photography magazines for further studies and motivation.
● Have fun!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rick Cheadle
Find out more at
www.Amazon/Author/RickCheadle
Or visit RickCheadle.com