Learning photography - the great photography course

Which settings and methods are used when to take the best photos? That's what you'll learn in this tutorial.

What you will learn in this course

Just do it!

Intro to the chapter "What is photography?"

We start with the basics and ask ourselves what photography actually is. What does it mean to take photographs? It's much more than just picking up a camera. It's about moments, memories and so much more.

The question of all questions: What makes a good picture? First of all - this video is not about an expensive camera or a good lens. There is so much more to a good photo that captivates the viewer ...

Every person is unique. Every picture is unique. You can bring out this uniqueness and show your own view of the world. In this tutorial video, I explain how you can transfer this view to your photography.

When I became self-employed, my photography changed completely. It's different to take photos for a client or for yourself. I share my thoughts on this topic and want to show you the differences between being a hobby photographer and a professional photographer.

In the world of photography, many motifs and ideas are realized several times. Many things are photographed hundreds or thousands of times. I can show you how to turn your pictures into something special, how to realize your uniqueness in photography - how to stand out from the crowd.

A photographer's own image style is what makes them unmistakable. All great photographers have their own style, which of course consists of more than just a filter. Although this topic can be extremely complex, I have a technique on how to find your own image style and use it to make yourself recognizable.

Intro to the chapter "Exposure"

How does the camera perceive light? The difference to the human eye is enormous. The camera captures the surroundings in a different way. If you know how, you can use this limitation of the camera for yourself.

The camera has a certain technique for measuring the current brightness and making certain settings automatically. If you know how this technology works, you will also understand better why an image is sometimes not correctly exposed and can take appropriate countermeasures.

The light that the camera can capture is interpreted in different ways. We have different setting levels here, all of which have their advantages and disadvantages. I will show you these options and, of course, how you can best and most easily use them for correct exposure.

We come to an important value that we can set on the camera. There are three of these in total. All three are interlinked and together form the basis for your perfect photo. In this video, we start with the exposure time, which sets how long light falls into the camera. But there's a bit more to it than that, but I'll explain that in the video.

The Blender is also part of the exposure and influences various elements of the image. How you can use the Blender to your advantage even in poor lighting situations and how you can play with the blur in the image is part of this video.

The ISO value is both a lifesaver and a devil at the same time. It can destroy an image or make it possible in the first place. Here I explain how it works, how to set it and when which value makes sense.

Now we come to the interaction between the three main camera setting options. Each one plays a major role in photography on its own, but only together can they make exposure possible.

The camera does not perceive the light and the surroundings in the same way as the human eye. The camera is limited in what it can do and can only capture a certain amount of light. I'll show you how you can use this limit to your advantage and make targeted use of it to create great photos.

Even if the histogram can be a little confusing at first, it is an incredibly ingenious tool. You just need to know how to use it for yourself and how to avoid typical mistakes. Use the histogram! It will change your photography.

The normal histogram differs from the raw histogram because the raw file format also differs from the JPG format. You simply have more options.

When do I set what ...

Intro to the "Camera basics" chapter

A camera has an incredible number of buttons and you don't even know what most of them are for. But don't worry, we'll go through all the buttons and I'll explain which ones are intended for what and how to use the functions.

Your camera not only has buttons on the outside, but also an extensive menu on the inside. We will go through the important menu items so that you know what is possible and exactly where to find what.

Every camera is different, but of course there are differences that are more significant than others. The sensor size is something very decisive. Both small sensors and large image sensors can have their advantages. It all depends on the purpose and the main field of photography.

Raw or JPG? This is a question that has been on photographers' minds for a long time and is a constant source of discussion. I'll show you the advantages of both formats and why you should use which one. Then you can decide for yourself.

The shutter release can be adjusted even more finely on the camera. Whether it's continuous shooting, time release or whatever - I have lots of tips for you here, even if you wouldn't expect it from such a "small" setting.

White balance on automatic? No, thank you. After the three exposure values, white balance is - in my opinion - the most important. Even if you can change it afterwards, this setting has an incredibly high influence on your photo.

What resolution does your camera have? Is that even important? Is it always necessary to have 20, 40 or 50 megapixels? In my opinion: No! Of course it has its advantages, but take a look at my thoughts on this topic for yourself.

Intro to the "Autofocus" chapter

The autofocus mode of your camera can be adjusted for every situation, but be careful: the wrong one makes it very difficult to create a sharp image. That's why you should know the different modes inside out.

The autofocus areas control where the camera focuses the image, i.e. exactly where the image is in focus. The automatic mode is not always the best choice here - I'll explain exactly why.

There are also areas of application for manual focus. In this video, I compare when it makes sense to focus the camera automatically and when it is better to do this manually.

If you are photographing still subjects, focus recomposing is a technique that - with a little practice - very easily leads to crisp images. You can freely change the focus point without changing a setting in the camera menu.

Manual focus is not always easy to use. That's why I have a video for you in which I show you how to set the camera's focus manually.

Now it's all about focusing in the dark. The darker it gets, the more problems the autofocus has. The camera can no longer find a point of contrast and can hardly produce sharp images. But there is a way to focus in the dark without having to set the focus manually: the AF assist light.

Intro to the "Camera mode" chapter

The intelligent automatic mode is probably the mode in which most people will take photos. The mode also has its raison d'être. Nevertheless, I would advise against it. Why? You can see that in the video.

Program automatic is also referred to by some as the "beginner program". Basically, program automatic is a kind of all-round carefree package. "You press the shutter release - I'll do the rest" could be the camera's motto. I'll show you why this mode is also useful in photography.

Aperture priority is the first step towards manual photography. This "semi-automatic" mode is perfect for those who don't want to give up control completely.

Time priority is the counterpart to aperture priority and is also a step towards manual photography. This "semi-automatic" mode is perfect for anyone who does not yet want to make all the settings themselves.

Now it's time to get down to business: M mode is the exposure mode without training wheels. Here you have to set each value yourself, which on the one hand is not easy and requires some practice, but also offers significantly more options than an automatic camera mode.

BULB - a special mode that is not found on every camera. This was developed for long exposure and allows the exposure time to be stretched much further than would be possible in another camera mode.

The existing camera modes are not enough? You can create your own for some camera models to save time.

Scene modes can be found on entry-level cameras and have a major disadvantage, which is why I don't recommend using them. But you can find out more about this in the video.

Now the important question: We have all the camera's setting options at our disposal. We can turn countless dials and change everything. But when do we adjust what?

Intro to the chapter "Image design"

Just as important as mastering the camera is image composition. There are various rules that you should follow in order to make a picture look particularly harmonious. In this video, I show you typical beginner's mistakes, how to avoid them and how to make pictures look extraordinary.

Lines that run within an image are a special design feature. They guide the viewer's gaze and your task as a photographer is to find them and use them to your advantage.

The most important thing in image composition, which is often overlooked at the beginning, is perspective. Perspective can change so much in a picture and make it look extraordinary just by using a different point of view.

Eye-tracking directs the viewer's gaze within your picture and should lead to one thing - your main subject. There are different elements that can be used to guide the eye, and I'll show you the most important ones.

Have you ever taken a picture that looked funny somewhere and you didn't know why? Then it could be due to the way the picture is cropped. Especially when photographing people, you have to make sure that you crop in the right place to avoid making a person look funny.

Should I shoot in portrait format or landscape format? A question I once asked myself - with an astonishing result.

This video is about frames. Not about picture frames, but about a frame within your photo. Sounds strange? Don't worry - I'll explain what I mean.

Depth is also a great image design tool. Three-dimensional space makes an image appear more vivid, and we achieve this with blur and depth.

You should take your time with breaking the rules. Because the photographic rules exist to help you, not to make everything look the same. However, in this tutorial I will explain when you should break the rules.

Intro to the "Equipment" chapter

When it comes to equipment, batteries and memory cards are probably the most important next to the camera. In my opinion, you shouldn't skimp here in particular, because what could be worse than having no power or a faulty memory card when taking photos?

I am a total fan of the battery grip. Not only because you can store two batteries in it and thus double the running time of the camera. The battery grip has many more advantages, which I would like to show you in this video.

You don't need a tripod for every situation, but a tripod is almost indispensable, especially if you want to take photos at night or play with long exposures. There are plenty of areas of application and I'll show you what you should look out for when buying a tripod.

Now you want to take a long exposure and don't have a tripod with you ... Or you don't always want to carry a tripod with you? Then I have a few tips in this video on how to take great pictures without a tripod.

We take freehand photos all the time. But have you ever thought that you can create a much more stable image by slightly changing your posture? If not, I'll show you exactly what to look out for here.

Filters offer the opportunity to influence an image in a way that is difficult to replicate in image editing. You can compensate for differences in brightness, take long exposures during the day and so much more. In this lesson, I'll show you the advantages of filters and which ones are best not to buy in the first place.

We have arrived at the practical part and in this video I will show you how you can create a long exposure in combination with a gray filter. We went to a river to illustrate the effect of long exposure on water.

Intro to the "Lenses" chapter

The focal length is the zoom of the lens, but this is actually too simple a term, because the focal length is so much more than simply getting closer or further away. You can change so many factors in an image by changing the focal length or zooming that you should think about the choice of focal length before taking the photo. But don't worry - I'll help you with that, of course.

Lenses have countless labels and sometimes hidden markings, most of which are rather unknown. That's why I've created this special video to give you an understanding of the key figures and designations on the lens.

The lens hood is a plastic ring that you screw in front of the lens, but by screwing it on, it fulfills so many functions and has more advantages than you might think.

The kit lens is the lens that is sold with entry-level cameras. For many, this is one of the cheapest lenses, but I believe that you can achieve a lot with this small lens without having to buy a new lens for several hundred euros. How? I'll show you in this video.

Since many entry-level camera systems come with a kit lens, I want to give you a few cool tips in this video on how you can take great pictures with this lens.

Intro to the chapter "Light"

Now it's all about the different types of light that can be used to illuminate a subject. But when do I have which light and how can I use the available light for my subject? I'll explain that to you in this tutorial.

Have you ever noticed that light has different colors? If not, I'll show you how to recognize and control this light in this video.

Probably the best source of light is simply the sun. This can be a window or simply going outside to take photos. No matter what you have in mind, I have the right tips for you.

If we have no natural light or the natural light does not meet our expectations, we can fall back on artificial light. This can range from a lamp to a flash.

How to photograph silhouettes.

Intro to the chapter "Photographing people"

In this video, I show you the practical application of portrait photography. You'll be there live at a photo shoot and I'll have a few useful tips on how to use window light.

The next practical lesson will show you how to use a flash and model. We'll take photos in my apartment with a flash in front of a wall and you'll learn how to create great portraits with simple means.

With a reflector, you have the opportunity to control the light for yourself and thus influence the subject and the image. Join me on a shoot with Natalie, where we use the reflector to put our subject in the right light.

Portraits are not just about the face and upper body. Full-body shots are also portraits and should therefore not be missing in my practical portrait lessons.

Intro to the chapter "Photographing landscapes"

Now it's time to get practical. We'll go out together and I'll give you my best tips on landscape photography and how you can show off your great landscape spots.

Are you looking for a great location? For a captivating landscape and a basis for your photo? Then I have lots of tips for you on how I find my locations and plan my trips for great landscape photos.

Join me on one of my trips and be right there with me when I photograph a cool waterfall. You'll see how I set up my camera and get lots of tips on landscape photography.

HDR is a common feature in landscape photography. But it's a tricky process until an HDR looks great and natural. That's why I show you in this video how I photograph HDRs and what exactly you should pay attention to here.

An HDR must of course also be edited after it has been photographed. That's why there's now an extra video in which I show you how to properly merge your HDRs with a free program and edit them afterwards.

Intro to the chapter "Tips and tricks for cool pictures"

Do you like taking portraits? Then I have a few cool tips, tricks and techniques for your portrait photography.

Here's the second part of my top tips for portrait photography.

You can find my best tips for taking portraits in this video.

In this video I have a few tips on portrait photography for you.

In this video tutorial, you will learn my most important tips for landscape photography. HDR, long exposure, image composition. Everything is included.

Landscape photography offers incredible potential - and you can make the most of it with my tips on landscape photography, part 2.

For captivating landscape photos, don't miss this video. In this tutorial, you'll get my top tips for landscape photography.

You can also take cool pictures with your smartphone. In this video, I have 5 tips for taking photos with your smartphone/mobile phone.

In this tutorial, I have a few cool tips on how you can use your smartphone camera creatively to take unusual pictures. For example, we photograph panoramas in a very unusual way and much more.

This time it's all about lenses to attach to your smartphone, a remote shutter release and a creative way of taking photos.

In this video tutorial, I have a few cool tips on smartphone photography: it's about raw, a blurred background and underwater photography.

In this video I have a few more tips on taking photos with your smartphone. Whether Android or iPhone - learn to take photos with your cell phone.