14th March 2023
Photography has been here with us for ages. With time, not only new experiments have been introduced, but myths have been followed too. Such rules and statements, with time, have laid traps for beginners and professionals. And therefore, photography myths can be potentially harmful to the growth and creativity of a person, distorting the photography skill.
In this article, we strive to debunk such myths associated with camera settings and equipment. By debunking such myths, this article aims to infuse important lessons to take and apply in photography.
Here are the top 10 photography myths in the market that you must know.
ISO is a setting that moderates light sensitivity. Increasing the ISO helps in getting visible pictures in dark places. However, as it increases, light sensitivity gets higher, which produces grainier images. But wait, with a fear of grainy images, are you stopping yourself from clicking pictures with higher ISO? Well, that’s not right. One can get good pictures even with a higher ISO. And that’s the first myth we want to debunk, as there is always room to get good pictures. It is highly important to understand the workings of ISO and exposure to get an ideal photograph.
To be the best photographer, one must master using manual mode. Ever heard that before? Well, the thing is, learning manual mode is essential as it helps in mastering the settings of the camera. However, it is not the ideal thing to be used in every situation. Manual mode may not be the best thing to use in fast-paced situations, as one might lose a good shot while changing manual settings. That’s why other camera modes, like shutter priority mode or aperture priority mode, have few settings, which is preferred in some situations.
Hear us out: using on-camera flash can certainly destroy your picture, giving it a ghastly look, hard shadows, or red eyes. But that doesn't mean one should stop using it at all. Flash can produce some really bad pictures on camera if one doesn't know how to use it. Instead, an on-camera flash can give some really good pictures if some techniques are adopted, like
You spend millions dollar bucks buying a good camera that has extraordinary features. Sure, a good camera can make things easier. But it's a pitfall to think that they can produce good pictures. A camera is as good as your skills. The more you know how to master camera settings, the better the pictures. So, it’s one of the photography myths to think that a better camera can produce better photographs. As once Ansel Adams quoted, The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.
Being a photographer, one must realize how a good portfolio is a cradle to the journey. A good portfolio helps immensely to showcase skills and one’s knowledge of photography. However, to showcase your skill, having a huge portfolio isn't necessary. Quality over quantity matters. When you choose photos for your portfolio, choose the best ones, if there are many, choose where you have experimented a lot and where your pictures show your knack in photography.
The greatest photography myth we have around is that editing can fix everything. Well, we admit that post-processing in photography is good to enhance them. It corrects the colour temperature, sharpens the subject, and gives the desired effect. Software like Lightroom or Snapseed are some great options to enhance the picture. However, it's wrong to think that good editing software will help you reduce a poorly taken shot.
While we all know that light is the backbone of good photography. But there are no such concepts of good or bad lighting; infact, bad lighting is just a myth. No matter if it's too sunny or too cloudy, a good photo can be taken anywhere and everywhere. One can learn to take maximum advantage of it by understanding the workings of gears and camera settings. Every shade of light offers the opportunity to experiment with photographs. Look at what can be enhanced and what effects can be given, and take lighting as a new challenge.
Another myth related to post-processing is that by editing pictures, one can ruin its essence. This is true only when one has poor editing skills. Because good editing software can enhance a good picture like no other. Editing helps erase mistakes, correct textures, and improve photography. HDR photography is a good example of how editing can help in elevating the look of the picture. Just make sure to avoid over-processing.
We all will agree to the fact that composition techniques like the rule of one third or golden spiral give great detail in pictures. By keeping the subject at one side of the frame actually helps in giving depth of field and bracketing in photography. But it's not a rule of thumb to follow. A photographer can have their room open to experiment with the subject, keeping it in the middle or giving a symmetrical look.
While keeping the camera steady is a great way to set the subject still, it doesn't really matter every time. One can have great photos even without using a tripod. Sometimes, an unsteady camera can help in clicking moving subjects or giving blurry effects to the subject. Such hazy and blurry looks are ideal for creative photography. So, even if the camera is unsteady, take your chance to click a picture with it.
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The greatest myth photography is in believing that such myths are true. Over the years, such myths have been successful enough to blindfold and make us follow the notion of the majority. But now, no more! Now, it's time to break away from such misconceptions and create a vision of our own. There is no rule of thumb to go creative in photography. To ace this skill, going out, challenging yourselves, and learning new things is the way to avoid such myths about photography. The point is not to break or make the rules; it's about capturing visually striking images and following what suits the situation.
