Photography Mastery

Files (1)

• SKILL.md

SKILL.md (first lines)

# Photography Mastery — Complete System

> From "auto mode" to professional-quality images. Zero external dependencies.

## Quick Health Check (`/photo-check`)

Rate yourself 1-5 on each. Score < 24 = focus on fundamentals first.

| Dimension | 1 (Beginner) | 3 (Intermediate) | 5 (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure control | Auto mode only | Manual in studio | Expose by feel, nail it first shot |
| Composition | Center everything | Rule of thirds | Break rules intentionally with impact |
| Lighting | Available light only | One flash, bounce | Multi-light setups, shape light |
| Focus technique | Auto everything | Back-button AF | Zone focus, manual in low light |
| Post-processing | Phone filters | Basic Lightroom | Color grading, frequency separation |
| Genre knowledge | Shoot everything same | 1-2 genres solid | Specialist with signature style |
| Gear understanding | Kit lens only | Know focal lengths | Choose lens for the story |
| Business/portfolio | Instagram only | Basic portfolio site | Paying clients, defined brand |

**Total: ___ / 40** → <16: Phase 1-3. 16-28: Phase 4-7. 28+: Phase 8-12.

---

## Phase 1: Exposure Mastery

### The Exposure Triangle (Internalize, Don't Memorize)

```
LIGHT IN = ISO × Aperture × Shutter Speed

Change one → compensate with another → same exposure, different look.
```

**ISO** — Sensor sensitivity
| ISO | Use case | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| 100-400 | Daylight, tripod, studio | Clean, no noise |
| 400-1600 | Indoor, overcast, golden hour | Slight grain, acceptable |
| 1600-6400 | Low light handheld, events | Visible noise, still usable |
| 6400+ | Emergency, concert, astro | Heavy noise, denoise in post |

**Rule:** Lowest ISO that allows your shutter speed. Modern cameras: ISO 3200 is fine.

**Aperture** — Depth of field + sharpness
| f-stop | Depth of field | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| f/1.4-2.0 | Paper thin | Headshots, subject isolation, low light |
| f/2.8-4.0 | Shallow | Portraits (full body still sharp enough) |
| f/5.6-8.0 | Medium | Groups, environmental portraits, street |
| f/8-11 | Deep | Landscapes, architecture, products |
| f/16-22 | Everything sharp | Avoid — diffraction softens image |

**Sweet spot rule:** Most lenses are sharpest 2-3 stops from wide open. f/1.4 lens → sharpest at f/4.

**Shutter Speed** — Motion control
| Speed | Effect | Use |
|---|---|---|
| 1/2000+ | Freeze everything | Sports, birds, splashing water |
| 1/500-1/1000 | Freeze people | Running, dancing, events |
| 1/125-1/250 | General handheld | Walking, portraits, street |
| 1/60 | Minimum handheld | With IS/VR, careful technique |
| 1/15-1/4 | Motion blur | Panning, waterfalls (tripod) |
| 1-30s | Long exposure | Night, light trails, star points |
| 30s+ (bulb) | Extended exposure | Star trails, light painting |

**Handheld rule:** 1/(focal length × crop factor). 50mm on APS-C (1.5×) = minimum 1/75s.

### Metering Modes — When to Use Each

| Mode | What it reads | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluative/Matrix | Whole frame, smart weighting | Default — works 80% of time |
| Center-weighted | Middle 60% of frame | Subject fills center, ignore edges |
| Spot | 2-5% around focus point | Backlit subjects, stage performances |

### Exposure Compensation Quick Reference

| Situation | Adjustment | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Snow/white backgrounds | +1 to +2 | Camera tries to make white gray |
| Dark backgrounds/subjects | -1 to -2 | Camera tries to brighten dark |
| Backlit subject | +1 to +2 | Expose for subject, not bright background |
| Skin tones (portrait) | +1/3 to +2/3 | Slightly overexposed skin looks healthier |

### Histogram Reading

```
Left wall = pure black (clipped shadows)
Right wall = pure white (clipped highlights)

GOAL: Data spread across range, nothing touching walls
EXCEPTION: Night shots (left-heavy OK), high-key portraits (right-heavy OK)

ETTR (Expose To The Right): Push histogram right without clipping = maximum data, minimum noise.
Best for: Landscapes, studio. Requires RAW shooting.
```

---

## Phase 2: Composition Framework

### The Composition Hierarchy (Most to Least Impact)

1. **Light** — Quality and direction of light makes or breaks any image
2. **Subject** — Clear subject, clear story. If you can't point to the subject, reshoot
3. **Simplification** — Remove distractions. Move feet, change angle, wait for clutter to clear
4. **Depth** — Foreground → midground → background creates dimension
5. **Lines & shapes** — Guide the eye, create structure
6. **Color & tone** — Harmony or contrast, either intentional

### 12 Composition Techniques (Beyond Rule of Thirds)

| Technique | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Rule of thirds | Subject at intersection points | Default starting point |
| Center + symmetry | Subject dead center, symmetric frame | Architecture, reflections, portraits with impact |
| Leading lines | Roads, fences, rivers pointing to subject | Landscapes, street, architecture |
| Frame within frame | Doorways, windows, arches around subject | Travel, architecture, environmental portraits |
| Negative space | Vast empty area, tiny subject | Minimalism, emphasis, mood |

From xdelin/OpenClaw-Education-Skills, MIT.

More from xdelin/OpenClaw-Education-Skills