Photography Theory

Master the fundamentals of photography and improve as a photographer. Take better photos by learning about exposure, composition, lighting, and more.

All Theory content:

  1. Best Way to Learn About Exposure: Exposure Modes and Metering

    Best Way to Learn About Exposure: Exposure Modes and Metering

    Tutorial Beginner

    Today, we'll build on out knowledge of histograms and exposure compensation and continue our exploration of exposure. You now may be wondering why your...

  2. Best Way to Learn About Exposure: Exposure and the Histogram

    Best Way to Learn About Exposure: Exposure and the Histogram

    Tutorial Beginner

    Even as an experienced photographer, I still get caught out by exposure. It's easy to forget that I can't tell whether the exposure was accurate by looking...

  3. How to Use White Balance Creatively

    How to Use White Balance Creatively

    Tutorial Beginner

    People are told to get their white balance correct in their photos, but rarely told to use the White Balance to get the wrong color... and the correct feeling.

  4. Top Tips for Starting Out with Documentary Photography

    Top Tips for Starting Out with Documentary Photography

    Tutorial Beginner

    In my opinion, documentary photography and its close cousin, photojournalism, are the most difficult forms of photography. By the very nature of the work,...

  5. Tim Davis Speaking to Hampshire College

    Tim Davis Speaking to Hampshire College

    Tutorial Beginner

    Just because you didn’t get to go to that awesome photography conference doesn’t mean that you can’t learn something from the pros! Occasionally, we’ll be...

  6. Getting Started as a Second Shooter

    Getting Started as a Second Shooter

    Tutorial Beginner

    Professional photography is an extremely rewarding and enjoyable profession to get into, but getting started can be very difficult. There's an important...

  7. Brian Skerry on Ocean Soul

    Brian Skerry on Ocean Soul

    Tutorial Beginner

    Just because you didn’t get to go to that awesome photography conference doesn’t mean that you can’t learn something from the pros! Occasionally, we’ll be...

  8. A 10 Step Guide to Understanding and Utilising Pattern

    A 10 Step Guide to Understanding and Utilising Pattern

    Tutorial Beginner

    Patterns surround us in both natural and manmade forms, offering photographers great opportunities for dramatic and eye catching shots. But how do we best...

  9. 70+ Stunning Abstract Photographs

    70+ Stunning Abstract Photographs

    Tutorial Beginner

    For many, the concept of abstract art breeds images of what appear to the uneducated eye as random swathes of color and shape tossed into a scene to create...

  10. Steve Winter: On the Trail of the Tiger

    Steve Winter: On the Trail of the Tiger

    Tutorial Beginner

    Just because you didn’t get to go to that awesome photography conference doesn’t mean that you can’t learn something from the pros! Occasionally, we’ll be...

  11. Erik Johansson on Impossible Photography

    Erik Johansson on Impossible Photography

    Tutorial Beginner

    Just because you didn’t get to go to that awesome photography conference doesn’t mean that you can’t learn something from the pros! Occasionally, we’ll be...

  12. The Theory and Psychology of Framing Your Image

    The Theory and Psychology of Framing Your Image

    Tutorial Beginner

    Every two weeks, we revisit some of our reader favorite posts from throughout the history of Phototuts+. This tutorial was first published in August of 2010....