. Blending Technical and Creative Elements Technical skills and creativity are elements of photography that work together. Knowing your camera inside and out gives you the ability to focus on your vision. A well-exposed photograph is useless without a story to go along with it. The best idea will get you nowhere to know if the image is soft or too dim. You will want to practice shooting in manual mode. This might seem confusing at first, but it’s the best way to fully understand how aperture, shutter speed, and ISO work and relate to one another. Then, you will want to experiment with composition, which will be much easier. One day, try using the rule of thirds, and the next day, break it. Play with light and shoot the same subject at golden hour and then again at noon. When you review your photos, try to do it with objectivity and ask yourself some questions: Did my settings support the story I wanted to tell? Did the lighting create a mood? By practicing, you will develop a style all of your own. Photography is a journey, always shoot, learn, and create!
