From a young age, senior Anayiah Williams has wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps with her love of digital photography.
For Williams, this type of photography has now become something she has her life’s lens focused on.
“I just love creating images from our world and making it how I want it and helping others see (things) from a different point of view,” Williams said.
Since digital photography is becoming a growing, widespread interest caught by many people, here are some of the tips that the SHS community has for anyone looking to take up this newfound interest.
According to photography teacher Kris Brennan, if someone wants to pursue digital photography, they should start just by dipping their toes in it.
When starting small, there is more room for improvement. When there is room for improvement, there is the potential to dive deeper into this interest.
“Start small … and take a camera with you everywhere you go,” Brennan said. “Don’t try to start with the hardest thing or the most difficult camera … Look at other good photographs to identify what a good photograph is, and say, ‘I want to try to do that.’”Another vital aspect of digital photography, Brennan says, is knowing all of the camera settings. This ensures that one can fully operate the camera correctly.
One should know how to work the shutter speed, aperture and ISO settings. These help determine how much, how long and how sensitive the camera is to light.
“Those are the most important settings,” Brennan said. “They are called the exposure triangle, so when you put all three of those together, that is how you make a photo.”
Knowing these certain settings helps someone supply themselves with the ability to produce the exact image they are looking to shoot. It may also help them learn the other more difficult parts of the camera as well.
According to freshman Marissa Par, if someone is unsure of where to start when taking photos, they should start by taking simple yet captivating pictures.
This allows them to produce photos that are easy to take but also a good beginner’s place to start.
“Start by taking still photos and (shooting) something that easily catches people’s eye that people would typically like to see,” Par said.
To Brennan, being humble enough to understand that photos may not work out every time is another aspect to be aware of before starting digital photography.
Trying to take the perfect shot or focusing the camera perfectly may not be an easy task, which means one may need to realize that it takes time to perfect these specific skills.
“It rarely goes my way, (but) that’s life, and I think that is how we learn,” Brennan said. “It is a process of trial and error, and that is what I love about it. You get to take it, (and if) it doesn’t work, you get to problem-solve and try to figure out, ‘How do I fix it?’”
Always keep an open mind if it doesn’t work out the first time Williams says. If this is something that one wants to pursue, it is essential to never give up.
Even though digital photography may be hard for someone to fully grasp, it can help them get out of their comfort zone and connect them to the real world.
“Give it a chance,” Williams said. “You have to open up your creative mind once you get used to (taking pictures), and if you really care about it, it could be something that you may really come to love.”
