How long the sensor sees light. Use a fast speed (1/1000s) to freeze a bird in flight, or a slow speed (1/30s or longer) to create silky waterfalls.
Practice "Active Seeing." Even without a camera, look at the world and ask yourself: Where is the light coming from? What would my f-stop be?
Stop putting your subject dead-center. Imagine a tic-tac-toe grid over your viewfinder. Place your subject along those lines or at the intersection points. This simple shift creates more balance and natural energy in your frame. 3. Focus on Lighting Photography is literally "drawing with light."
Controls the opening in your lens. A low number (like f/1.8) creates that blurry "bokeh" background, perfect for portraits. A high number (like f/11) keeps everything sharp from front to back.