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Daniela Bowker: from diyphotography.net

Daniela Bowker

Daniela Bowker is a writer and editor based in the UK. Since 2010 she has focused on the photography sector. In this time, she has written three books and contributed to many more, served as the editor for two websites, written thousands of articles for numerous publications, both in print and online, and runs the Photocritic Photography School.

Articles by Daniela Bowker

Metering modes: a complete guide

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When you take a photo, the camera recommends some settings for you. They do it with a built-in light meter. And while that light meter is typically right, you can help it by choosing the right metering mode to evaluate exposure. Or in other words, selecting the correct metering mode will tell the camera how to calculate the right amount of light for a photo (you know, shutter speed, Aperture, and ISO).

Learning how to select the right metering mode, may add a bit of complexity to taking a photo, but as you grow as a photographer, you’ll realize this: Getting a good light reading is how you get good exposure, and a good exposure is the basis for all photography.

In this article, we’ll be looking at how your camera measures light, the different metering modes it offers, and which metering mode to use for different photos.

Reflectors in photography – a complete guide

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The foundation of photography is light. Without light, you don’t get a photo. It also means that learning how to manipulate light is a vital step in creating brilliant images. If there’s one piece of kit that any photographer should have, it’s a reflector. They are inexpensive, simple to use, and highly effective. We’re going to look at the different types of reflectors you can purchase and how to use them. You’ll see why anyone with a camera, from an amateur to a professional photographer with years of experience, should never be without one.

What is the golden ratio, and how to use it in photography?

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The Golden Ratio is a compositional tool. Composition is the process of arranging your frame to make an image that draws in the viewer and keeps them interested in your photo. Along with exposure and lighting, composition is key to good photography. So, in this article, we’re going to look at the Golden Ratio, learn what it is, how to spot it, and how to use it when composting photos.

There are lots of different tools and rules that you can use to produce strong compositions, and all of them have the time and place when to use them. Triangles, Leading lines, and Symmetry are some of those compositional rules. One more compositional technique that you can add to your toolbox is the golden ratio. It’s similar to the rule of thirds, but not quite. Let’s dive in.

All about leading lines in photography

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When it comes to composition, photographers have a huge collection of tools and techniques to use to create strong, interesting photographs. The rule of thirds is a well-known technique, so is symmetry or negative space. Another compositional technique that photographers use to help guide their viewer’s eyes and tell their stories is leading lines.

You might think that leading lines are most common in landscape photography, but you can use them in any genre. Here, we are going to look at the different types of lines you can find in photos and how to use them to the best effect.

What are handheld light meters and how do you use them?

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Digital cameras come with built-in light meters. Mostly, they do a good job of reading the light in a scene and helping you judge your exposure settings. But if you want to be absolutely sure of the light and get an accurate exposure, you need to use a handheld light meter. If that sounds intimidating, here is your light meter guide.

The histogram: what it is and how to use one

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Scrolling through the menu on your camera, you might have an option to ‘display histogram’, or something similar. When you open an editing suite like Lightroom, you’ll notice a graph in the top right corner, which is a histogram. But what is a histogram when it comes to photography? Why do you need one, and how do you use one? The short answer is that they help you nail your exposure. But let’s look at them in more detail.

Symmetry in photography – everything you need to know

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Symmetry exists everywhere around us. It is within nature, for example, in flowers and starfish. This means that artists have been reproducing symmetry in their works since the beginning of art. and photography symmetry is no different. But we also choose to make things that are deliberately symmetrical, too, such as in buildings and cars. And architects, painters, and sculptors use symmetry as a design or compositional technique.

Much like we might use the rule of thirds, as a photography composition technique, we can create photography symmetry, too. We might even use it along with another technique, such as leading lines or triangles. In this article, we are going to look at why symmetry is attractive, how to include it in your photographs, and why you shouldn’t use it too much, either.

How to use triangles in photography composition

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Triangles are versatile and expressive shapes, so it is hardly surprising that they are a bedrock of composition. They are used by painters as well as photographers as a key composition technique. You can use them to organize your frame, to introduce tension into your scene, as an alternative to the rule of thirds, and so much more. This meant we thought it was worth taking a deeper look at triangles in photography.

What are focusing modes, and how do you choose one?

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When you look at your lenses, they probably have a switch on them that enables you to flick between M or MF (manual focus) and A or AF (autofocus). In manual focus mode, you do the work to get your subject sharp in the frame. Choose autofocus, and your camera will lock focus on the subject in your shot. Except, your camera offers a lot more than just “autofocus”.

There are, in fact, a range of different focusing modes within autofocus. By choosing the right one for your shooting situation, you can get a whole lot more out of your camera and improve your photography.

What is hyperfocal distance, and how to use it?

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The words ‘hyperfocal distance’ sound hyper complicated, don’t they? The good news is that hyperfocal distance isn’t as difficult as you might think. It’s also really useful, especially when it comes to landscape photos, because it’s about getting as much of your scene in focus as possible. So let’s dive into hyperfocal distance: what it is, how to calculate it, and when and why to use it.

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