Photography

Photography is a wonderfully easy pastime to pick up; most of us are walking around with moderate quality cameras in our pockets at all times, after all. This means photography can be as simple taking out your phone and starting, no special equipment, no classes, just you and the things around you. Of course, photography can also be an art form, and therefore studied as such. Photography is about you, your style, your eye.

The key to a great picture is not in the cost of the camera with which you take it but in the composition and timing. Most of us have a general idea of the right time to snap a photo but this can be easily enhanced by reading or watching videos covering the basic tenets of photography. Once you think you have learned the basics, there isn’t much more to do than choose a subject of interest and begin to shoot.

The best way to develop your eye, and know what you like in a photo is to take a lot of them. This could mean picking one subject and taking a number of photos of it, looking for different angles or sources of light, or it could mean taking a good long walk and taking photos of everything that interests you.

Once you have taken you photos, you can review. Look for the aspects of the photographs that you like, what do they have in common? Eventually you will find what works for you, what aspects of taking a photo you’re interested in and with that knowledge, an ever present pastime.

Average cost $-$$$

As mentioned above, photography is a pastime to which you can devote very little to quite a bit of money. It depends entirely on personal preference, whether you want to invest in more costly equipment, online or in person courses in photography or if you simply want to take the mobile phone from your pocket and begin taking photos.

Equipment

Deciding how you would like to pursue photography is key, before you begin looking into the purchase of equipment.

The only piece of essential equipment is, of course, a camera.

Deciding which camera you wish to purchase can be a daunting task and while the following information is by no means exhaustive, it will give you a jumping off point to conduct some research into the best fit for you.

Point and Shoot

As you might imagine, by the name, a point and shoot camera allows you to point at the subject of your photo and click the shutter. These cameras use auto-focus technology to find the subject and make it clear, the camera will then adjust its settings to capture the image. Point and shoot cameras are perfect for those who are just beginning their interest in photography or are primarily interested in capturing happy snaps. They offer very little control when taking a photograph beyond framing. These cameras are, however, at the lower end of the price range for cameras, though there are a number of high end point and shoot cameras, which offer significantly more control over your photo taking. Point and shoot cameras tend to be a little more rough and ready, and can take a little more wear and tear as they are a single unit. Point and shoot cameras do not offer interchangeable lenses.

DSLR/SLR

SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex and refers to a camera in which a mirror sits between the lens and the image sensor or film. DSLRs are simply a digital version of the older style SLRs. SLR cameras come with interchangeable lenses and offer significantly more control over the photograph taking process. Many DSLRs come with both automatic and manual focus options, meaning that as your skill set and understanding grows, your use of camera features may grow with you. DSLRs come in a range of different brands and specifications. They’re most expensive than a point and shoot camera, often significantly so, though offer a much wider range of options for picture taking. Many entry level DSLRs come with a lens kit, usually offering a single lens, or on occasion, two lenses designed to get you started. It is worth noting that much of the quality in DSLR or SLR photography is achieved with high end lenses, rather than a high end camera body. Much of the expense associated with DSLR photography will be in the purchase of better quality lenses, if you have purchased a good quality body. When considering a DSLR or SLR camera, it is important to recognise that there cameras will require more care than a point and shoot camera. As these cameras come in pieces and each piece is fragile, requiring safe storage and gentle handling. It is important to keep the mirror clean and dust free, as this can greatly affect the quality of your photographs. The inside mechanics of SLR or DSLR lenses are also relatively fragile and prone to breaking if not handled with care. SLR cameras do offer the ability to take control of your photography and room to grow in a way that a point and shoot camera simply cannot. If you are considering making photography a serious pastime, or even hoping to sell your photographs later, a DSLR is likely to give you the best results.

Mirrorless

As suggested by the name, mirrorless cameras serve the same functions as an SLR or DSLR camera, but without the worry of mirror maintenance. This allows for a more lightweight, compact camera. Mirrorless cameras still utilise interchangeable lenses and therefore still offer the control over your photography offered in the SLR space. Primarily the difference between SLR and mirrorless cameras boils down to choice. The two largest camera companies in the world have yet to really focus on mirrorless cameras and as such, the availability of high quality lenses is lacking. Though this is a growing market and lens options are getting better all the time. There is also the consideration of size and weight, a DSLR will have some heft to it, which may be helpful if you’re mounting a large lens, and is quite suitable if you have hands large enough to manage. Mirrorless cameras are usually smaller and lighter, which can make them easier to manoeuvre, particularly for those with smaller hands or less grip strength. This is just the basics of camera bodies on the market, but may give you an idea of where you would like to begin your journey with photography. There is, of course, a whole array of other equipment, including lenses, tripods, mounts, flashes, microphones, lighting and much more. So, have a read of some information and see what equipment might suit your needs.

In summary

The greatest advantage of photography is that it is what you make of it. For those that are social, there are camera clubs, outings with friends or opportunities to work with models. For those who like pursuing pastimes alone, photography can be done in the comfort of your home, on a long, quiet walk or at hours when others vacate beautiful locations. There is also a huge amount of educational material, courses and books dedicated to the practise and art of photography…or you can forgo all of that a launch straight in, learning as you go. It can be highly technical, allowing detail oriented individuals endless hours of amusement understanding the technical aspects of photo taking, or indeed, editing and touching up photographs they have already taken. Photography is a pastime anyone can take part in, in a way which interests and suits them, making it an ideal choice for those with newly found time on their hands.

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Photography

Average cost $-$$$

Equipment

Point and Shoot

DSLR/SLR

Mirrorless

In summary

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