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- Aperture Priority Practice
- Use your camera in Aperture Priority mode to take photos of the same subject with different aperture settings. Understand how it affects depth of field and light. Start with the widest aperture, then stop down in increments to the smallest your lens allows.
- Shutter Speed Series
- Switch to Shutter Priority mode and photograph a moving subject at various shutter speeds. Notice how it affects motion blur and sharpness. Start with 1/1000 second and slow down to 1 second or longer with a tripod.
- ISO Adjustments
- Keep the aperture and shutter speed constant and change only the ISO. Start at ISO 100 and increase to the maximum. Observe the impact on image noise and exposure.
- Focal Length Comparison
- Take a series of photos of the same subject using different focal lengths. See how perspective, composition, and background compression change from wide-angle to telephoto.
- Composition Rules
- Practice the rule of thirds, leading lines, framing, and symmetry in your compositions. Take multiple shots of a scene, each time applying a different compositional technique.
- Lighting Variations
- Shoot the same subject under various lighting conditions: golden hour, midday, diffused light (e.g., overcast day), and artificial light. Experiment with how the angle and quality of light affect the mood.
- Color Awareness
- Focus on capturing images that emphasize color. Look for scenes with contrasting colors, or try creating monochromatic compositions.
- Texture Hunt
- Create images where texture is the primary subject. Get close to highlight the fine details in the textures of fabrics, walls, or natural elements.
- Pattern Recognition
- Take photos that find and showcase patterns in everyday settings, whether natural or man-made. Break the pattern with a contrasting element for added interest.
- Bokeh Exploration
- Use a large aperture to create images with a shallow depth of field and bokeh. Try this with lights in the background to see the bokeh shape created by your lens aperture blades.
- Manual Focus Mastery
- Practice using manual focus to take sharp images. Start with still objects and progress to moving subjects. It's essential for low-light and macro photography.
- Black and White Perspective
- Shoot or convert images to black and white. Focus on how light, shadow, contrast, and texture are essential for monochromatic images.
- Flash Experimentation
- Experiment with using your flash at different intensities and distances. Use it as both a primary and fill light to see how it changes a scene.
- Reflection and Refraction
- Look for reflections in water, glass, and metal surfaces to capture unique compositions. Alternatively, photograph subjects through various transparent or reflective mediums.
- Silhouette Shooting
- Shoot against the light to capture silhouettes. Timing is crucial, often around sunrise or sunset. Shape and form become more important than color or texture.
- Post-Processing Practice
- Take a single photo and edit it in different ways to change the mood or style. This will teach you how post-processing can alter the narrative of an image.
- Perspective Shift
- Take photos from unusual angles and perspectives. Get low to the ground, climb above your subject, or find an unusual angle to shoot from to create a more intriguing composition.
- Slow Sync Flash
- Combine slow shutter speeds with flash (slow sync flash) to create an image where the subject is frozen but the background shows motion, giving a sense of movement.
- Histogram Learning
- Learn to read and use the histogram on your camera to avoid overexposure or underexposure. Take photos and check the histogram to ensure you have details in all tonal ranges.
- Storytelling Series
- Take a series of photos that tell a story. Focus on narrative, where each photo is a chapter, and collectively, they convey a compelling tale.