This chock-full how-to photography book from the experts at National Geographic covers everything from composition and camera basics to professional techniques of timing and lighting, as well as pointers on smartphone cameras, social media posting, and digital editing.

With more than two billion pictures taken every day, everyone is a photographer now--and we all want to get better at it. This definitive guide shares top secrets and skills from National Geographic's most talented photojournalists, all sure to help you capture the best pictures of what matters most.Created to help a good photographer become even better, this authoritative guide ranges from basics like lens technology and image composition to more complex matters of lighting, filters, and digital editing, with ample advice on best practices including:

lighting & exposure
aperture & depth of field
choosing lenses
smartphone techniques
photo editing software
social media posting
archiving photos


You’ll also learn how a photographer looks at the world, with nuanced commentaries from photo editors on what makes an image great, using examples from celebrated National Geographic photojournalists like Joel Sartore, Brian Skerry, Lynn Johnson, and Ami Vitale. Finally, a fascinating illustrated time line of photography tracks progress from daguerreotypes to smartphones.

Practical and inspiring, this is the perfect how-to, how-it-works, and how-to-get-better guide from National Geographic, the ultimate source for everything photographic.

For more photography guidance and inspiration from Nat Geo experts, check out National Geographic Photo Basics by Joel Sartore as well as our many books showcasing National Geographic photography, including National Geographic The 21st Century, America the Beautiful: A Story in Photographs, and Women: The National Geographic Image Collection.