Photogaphy

People take literally millions of photos all year round, often snapping away without giving much thought to technique or composition. This is especially true with the advent of the smartphone with camera built in. The results? Usually a mix of disappointment and the occasional lucky shot. The ability to delete the "duds" with the press of a button only increases the number of photos one takes. According to a variety of one sources the average smartphone user has around 1,000 to 2,000 photos stored. Many users accumulate photos over time, often exceeding 5,000.

Still, there’s something addictive about photography. One good picture is often enough to keep people trying again, even after a string of mediocre results.

Most beginners struggle not because they lack interest, but because photography can seem overly technical and time-consuming. The jargon alone can be intimidating -- F stops, aperture, bokeh (the visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image), bracketing,  composition, crop factor, depth of field, diffraction, exposure. focal length, to name a few..

The good news is, you don’t need expensive gear or deep expertise to take solid photos. With a basic understanding of your camera and a few simple composition tips, you can significantly improve your results—without diving into all the complex, advanced techniques unless you really want to.