1: What is Photography?

1: What is Photography?

At its heart, photography is the art and science of capturing light to create an image. Think of it as "drawing with light" – that’s literally what the word means! "Photo" comes from the Greek word for light, and "graphy" means drawing or writing. It’s a way to freeze a moment in time, preserving how light fell on a scene, a person, or an object at a specific instant.

You do this using a camera, which acts like a sophisticated light-catching box. Light enters through the lens, which focuses it onto a sensor (in digital cameras) or film (in older cameras). The camera controls how much light gets in and how long it’s collected. But photography isn’t just about the gear. It’s equally about your vision – what you choose to point the camera at, the angle you pick, and the emotions or story you want to convey.

Photography transforms the ordinary into something meaningful. A simple street scene can tell a story about a city’s energy. A portrait can reveal a person’s character. A dewdrop on a leaf can showcase nature’s delicate beauty. It’s a powerful tool for communication, letting you share your unique perspective of the world without words.

While early photography required complex chemical processes, today’s digital tools make it incredibly accessible. You can start with a smartphone or a basic camera. The core magic remains the same: observing light, composing your frame, and pressing the shutter to capture a fleeting moment forever. It’s both a technical skill – learning how cameras work – and a creative adventure in seeing things differently.

Photography invites you to explore, experiment, and express yourself. Whether you’re documenting daily life, creating artistic abstracts, or sharing adventures, it deepens your connection to your surroundings. By training your eye to notice light, shadow, color, and composition, you begin to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be through your lens.