How to Improve Your Photography Skills Using Personal Photographic Assignments

culled from:wikihow.com

Steps

1

Pick a weekend and only use one lens. No matter what, just that one lens. Make it work. If it's a zoom, pick a focal length and stick with it. You will learn that focal length and a lot more about composition. (If you can't do it for the weekend, try it for a day).

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   Spend a whole day taking photographs with just a single aperture. It will help, considerably, to use Aperture Value or Aperture Priority (or whatever they call it).
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   Do the same as above, but apply it to shutter speed (S or Tv...).
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   Take a weekend, or even a week and shoot only manual. Stay completely out of any of the programmed modes.
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   Do the same as above, but manually focus. (You might want to make sure your vision is good or your diopter is set correctly.)
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   Switch up the camera. If you have a backup, or one that you don't use often, use it. (This is really only helpful if you also shoot with film).
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   Pick a 'rule' and stay with it. Some rules are:^[1]
   • Rule of Thirds
   • Balancing Elements
   • Leading Lines
   • Symmetry and Patterns
   • Viewpoint
   • Background
   • Depth
   • Framing
   • Cropping
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   Explore various techniques with your camera and do only them for a while. Get some practice in. Something like panning or freezing action, etc.
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   Choose a type or setup of lighting and stick with it. Practice using it with various subjects and angles.
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   Reproduce others' works. No, not copyright violation, but try to reproduce the effect they accomplished in the photograph.