There are many photography shots and techniques.
Camera shots, and the techniques to capture them, are limited only by the photographer's imagination. There are shots and techniques that will enable you to take pictures of buildings, people, animals or nature. And while it is not necessary to have an expensive camera with detachable lenses, it makes many of the shots and techniques easier to accomplish.
Key Photography Terms to Consider
F-Stop:
The "f-stop" refers to how wide the aperture is. The lower the f-stop, the wider the aperture is. This lets in more light---better for low light conditions---but it also renders the background out of focus. This is desirable for portraits because the subject should be the main focus. However, higher f-stops---f/22 or higher---will render the foreground, subject and background in focus. This is desirable for landscape photography so nothing is blurry.
Shutter Speed:
The shutter speed of any camera is how long the shutter stays open allowing light to hit the lens. A higher shutter speed can stop motion, whereas a slow shutter speed will create blur. Shutter speed also factors into lighting conditions. The longer the shutter is open, the more light will hit the sensor. This is desirable for low light conditions but often requires a tripod to prevent camera shake. Faster shutter speeds are desirable when a tripod is not available or the subject is moving.
Portrait
A portrait shot is a picture of a person whose face is the main focus. There are several techniques to accomplish the photographer's desired look. Many portraits are taken indoors utilizing specialized lighting, synchronized to your camera's shutter, to highlight the subject's most flattering features.
Another way to shoot a portrait is to utilize natural light. This can be done indoors using the light from a window, or outdoors when the light is warm. It helps to use a reflector when using natural light to fill in the shadows created when the subject is lit from one side.
Most portraits are shot with a lower "f-stop" in order to render the background out of focus. This makes the subject the central figure in the picture. Use as low a f-stop as possible to get the most desired results. Shutter speed is not as important. Expose the scene properly using the lowest f-stop to attain proper scene exposure.
Landscape
Landscape shots are pictures taken of "scenery" from the photographer's point of view. This can be of mountains, forests, deserts, or any expanse of land. The technique to capture a landscape can vary depending on the desired result. Utilizing a wide-angle lens can often more accurately capture the intended look from the photographer's point of view. Also, using a higher "f-stop" will make sure that everything is in focus. Shutter speed will vary based on lighting conditions.
Macro
Macro photography is the act of zooming in very close to a subject in order to capture the smallest details. Pictures of water droplets, insects, or even the pollen on flowers are all created using macro photography. The technique is simply to move your camera lens as close to the subject as possible to record every minute detail. However, the best macro pictures are taken with macro lenses.
Different macro lenses work better with different subjects. For example, a 50 to 60mm lens will require you to get closer to the subject. A 150 to 200mm lens will allow you to be farther away from the subject, which is needed for unpredictable subjects such as insects.
Macro photography almost always requires a tripod to compensate for camera shake.
Action
Action shots are pictures of anything moving. Cars driving, sports, or a child playing can all be captured using action photography. There are various types of action shots. You can "freeze" the action by using a high shutter speed. 1/250 of a second is sufficient to stop most action. You can use a slower shutter speed to show the motion of the action at hand. There is also a technique called "panning" where the photographer follows the subject as it travels by him before taking the picture. This "freezes" the subject while rendering the background blurred and thus showing the motion of the scene.
Night
Night photography is any picture shot in low light. The best technique to capture low light images is by utilizing a tripod, a slow shutter speed, and a wide open aperture. This allows the most light to enter the camera and render the scene visible.
Considerations
It is important to know that these shots and techniques can be used with both film and digital cameras. While there used to be differences in capture ability between the two types of cameras, this is no longer true. Exposure---shutter speed and aperture size-- is measured and selected in exactly the same way.
The major difference between the two is the convenience of digital photography. You can take as many photos as your storage card can hold. Also, you no longer have to use special film for different photographic situations.
Play with shutter speeds, aperture sizes, and take as many pictures as you can. Each subject can be shot in a variety of creative ways so it is beneficial to try each shot several ways.
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