Be a Better Photographer in 45 mins

Sudhir Shivaram Photography

22 Sept 201759:18

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this free 40-minute photography course, Canon ambassador Sudhir Sharma provides beginners a comprehensive introduction to core photography concepts. Covering image quality, white balance, the exposure triangle of shutter speed, aperture and ISO, metering modes, focusing techniques, and more, Sudhir explains how each setting impacts your images with easy-to-grasp examples. He stresses practicing these fundamental techniques to become a skilled photographer. Sudhir closes by previewing his paid online photography tutorials which further build expertise across basics, advanced principles and post-processing with personalized guidance.

Takeaways

😊 The course will teach you everything you need to know about basic photography concepts in 40 minutes
📷 Experiment with camera settings like aperture, shutter speed and ISO to understand how they impact your photos
🌄 For landscapes, use aperture priority mode to control depth of field
🚗 For action shots, use shutter priority mode to freeze movement
💡 Avoid auto white balance and ISO - manually set them based on lighting conditions
🔍 Use single point autofocus and focus recompose technique for static subjects
👀 Evaluative metering mode with exposure compensation is a good starting point
🖼 Shoot RAW+JPEG to allow fixing errors in post processing
✂️ The center focus point is the most accurate, especially in low light
💻 Sign up for online video tutorials, join the SSP community and attend live broadcasts to continue learning

Q & A

What is the main focus of the photography course?
-The main focus of the course is to teach beginners the core concepts and fundamental aspects of photography in a simple, easy-to-understand manner.
What camera settings does the course cover?
-The course covers settings like image quality, white balance, exposure triangle parameters (shutter speed, aperture, ISO), exposure compensation, picture style, focusing modes, metering modes, etc.
Why is using RAW image quality recommended?
-RAW image quality is recommended because it allows fixing minor mistakes in settings like white balance and exposure during post processing. RAW images also provide more flexibility for editing.
How does shutter speed impact photographs?
-Low shutter speeds can cause motion blur or camera shake. High shutter speeds freeze action and movement.
What does aperture control?
-Aperture controls the amount of light entering the camera and the depth of field in images.
When should Servo/Continuous autofocus mode be used?
-Servo/Continuous autofocus mode should be used when shooting moving subjects, action photography or wildlife photography.
What metering mode is recommended for beginners?
-Evaluative metering mode is recommended for beginners as it averages the light in the entire scene to determine exposure.
How can additional photography courses be accessed?
-Additional online video tutorials on photography basics, advanced techniques, post-processing etc. can be accessed by signing up through the link provided.
What is the Facebook community for?
-The private Facebook community allows subscribers to share images, get feedback, clarify doubts on concepts learned, and build their photography portfolio.
What is the cost of subscribing to the video tutorials?
-The tutorials along with access to the Facebook community are available for Rs. 4,997 for a limited period.

Outlines

00:00

🎥 Introducing the instructor and course overview

The instructor Sudhir Sharam introduces himself, sharing his background in software and 25 years of photography experience. He highlights his achievements like being a Canon brand ambassador and winning awards. He explains what the 40 minute course will cover - the basic concepts to help understand camera settings and make great images.

05:02

📱 Minimizing distractions for effective learning

The instructor advises learners to minimize distractions from mobile, email etc and pay full attention to the course for 40 minutes. He emphasizes focusing without interruptions to understand concepts that will help improve photography.

10:04

📷 Choosing appropriate image quality settings

The instructor explains image quality settings like RAW, JPEG, RAW+JPEG and guides learners to use RAW+Large format to leverage RAW's flexibility in post processing. He advises buying a large memory card to store more images.

15:06

🌇 Adjusting white balance for desired color tones

The instructor explains how white balance, measured in Kelvin, impacts color tones of images. He demonstrates the effect of using different white balance presets. He advises learners to set white balance manually based on lighting conditions rather than using auto.

20:06

⛅ Understanding exposure triangle of shutter speed, aperture and ISO

The instructor explains shutter speed's role in freezing motion versus showing blur. He explains aperture's role in depth of field. He advises using lower ISO to reduce noise. He briefly touches on exposure modes where camera selects one or more of these parameters.

25:06

🎞 Using appropriate shooting drive modes for subject motion

The instructor differentiates between One Shot/AF-S mode for static subjects and AI Servo/AF-C modes for moving subjects in Canon/Nikon cameras respectively. He advises against the Auto AF mode which tries to switch between these automatically.

30:08

❇️ Choosing right focusing points for desired composition

The instructor advises against letting camera select focus points automatically. He recommends manually selecting center focus point for faster focus and then composing shot as desired by moving camera.

35:10

📈 Understanding metering modes to balance exposure

The instructor explains how different metering modes like Evaluative, Partial, Spot and Center-weighted average work in Canon/Nikon cameras to calculate exposure. He advises using Evaluative/Matrix metering and exposure compensation to adjust brightness.

40:12

⏯ Experimenting with metering and exposure compensation

The instructor suggests experimenting with the same scene using different metering modes and exposure compensation values. He advises checking images and EXIF later to understand impact of settings.

45:15

🎓 Key learnings on fundamental photography concepts

The instructor summarizes key learnings like using RAW+JPEG, setting white balance manually, understanding exposure triangle and drive modes, selecting metering and focus points deliberately. He advises thorough experimentation to master these concepts.

50:15

😊 Value of online photography tutorials package

The instructor outlines the value of his online photography tutorials package covering basics to advanced techniques to post processing for $150. He describes how it can help master techniques to create stunning images and get recognition.

55:16

🤝 Special offer for online photography tutorials package

The instructor highlights that the online photography tutorials package with 1 year access usually costs $150 but is available for limited period at only $69. He outlines package benefits like online learning, private community, live broadcasts and photography guidance.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡aperture

Aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that controls the amount of light reaching the camera sensor. The video explains how aperture size impacts depth of field, with smaller F-numbers indicating a larger aperture opening and shallower depth of field. The instructor advises using lower F-numbers and shallower depth of field for single subjects, while larger F-numbers and deeper depth of field work better with multiple subjects across a scene.

💡exposure triangle

The exposure triangle refers to the three camera settings that control exposure: aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. Understanding how these settings interact allows the photographer to achieve the desired exposure. The video advises beginners to use aperture priority or shutter priority modes rather than full manual mode in order to master control of one element of the triangle at a time.

💡ISO

ISO refers to the sensitivity of the camera sensor to light. The video explains that higher ISO values result in noisier/grainier images in low light, while lower ISOs produce cleaner images. It recommends not using Auto ISO so that the photographer can maintain control of this setting based on the conditions.

💡white balance

White balance controls the color tones in a photo. The presenter explains how different presets like Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, etc. correspond to different color temperatures. The video recommends choosing a white balance preset instead of Auto so that the photographer determines the desired color palette.

💡spot metering

Spot metering bases exposure reading on the brightness at a single point (e.g. center focusing point). This gives precise control for the photographer to base exposure on a particular subject, though Evaluative is better for beginners.

💡focusing mode

Focusing modes control how the autofocus system locks onto and tracks subjects. One Shot works for static subjects, locking focus once with a beep confirmation. AI Servo tracks moving subjects continuously. The video recommends avoiding Auto Focus for consistency.

💡depth of field

Depth of field refers to the distance range in a scene that appears in sharp focus. The video relates this to aperture, with large openings (low f-numbers) creating shallow depth of field, which works well for isolating subjects against blurred backgrounds.

💡metering

Metering refers to how the camera measures the scene brightness to determine proper exposure. The various metering modes prioritize readings from different parts of the scene. Evaluative metering averages the entire frame and is recommended for beginners.

💡shutter speed

Shutter speed refers to how long the shutter remains open during an exposure. Slow shutter speeds create motion blur from camera shake or subject movement, while fast shutter speeds freeze action without blurring.

💡RAW

RAW image format captures unprocessed sensor data, allowing greater editing flexibility compared to JPEG images with baked-in processing. The video recommends shooting RAW+Large JPEG to leverage RAW's advantages even as a beginner unfamiliar with editing workflows.

Highlights

I have been a Canon brand ambassador for close to eight years.

I have won the National Geographic yellow border award for my cover shot featured in National Geographic Traveller India.

I was recognized as the third most influential person in the photographic industry in India in 2017.

In the next 40 minutes I am going to teach you everything you need to know on the basic fundamental aspects of photography.

Go through the course one step at a time and start experimenting along with me.

At the end of this course I have some very very useful information and tips to share with you.

Shutter speed is the duration of time your shutter is open for the light to enter and hit your sensor.

Aperture is the opening of your lens, controlling the amount of light entering your camera.

ISO is the sensitivity of your sensor, determining how fast it reacts to light.

Spot metering bases exposure on the amount of light reflected from where the center focusing point is aimed.

If the overall tonality is dark, underexpose. If shooting something bright, overexpose.

Experiment on the same scene with different values and camera settings to understand their impact.

Practice, experiment, and don't try to learn too many advanced concepts up front.

Sign up for the online video tutorials covering basics, advanced techniques, and post-processing.

The SSP online community provides support, image reviews, contests, and live lessons from the instructor.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

How to Shoot Manual in 10 Minutes - Beginner Photography Tutorial

6 Simple Camera Hacks To Get You Off AUTO Mode Forever

PHOTOGRAPHY BASICS in 10 MINUTES

Most PROS use this Camera Mode 98.7% of the Time!

30 Photography Composition Tips in 30 Minutes

If I Had to Start Photography From 0, Here's What I'd Do in 2024!