Learning photography isn’t just about completing assignments or following structured lessons—it’s also about practicing deliberately, experimenting freely, and discovering how your camera responds in different situations. Once you’ve built a foundation with the basics, taking on small personal projects can be one of the most effective ways to strengthen your technical skills while also boosting your creativity.
Here are three straightforward projects you can try in your spare time. Each one focuses on a different area of photography and gives you practical experience that will translate into better control and confidence with your camera.
Project 1: Capture Motion in Action
Movement can be tricky to photograph, but mastering it will dramatically improve your ability to shoot dynamic subjects. A great place to start is with a pet running around the garden or a park. Your goal is to freeze the moment with sharp focus on the subject’s face while keeping the background pleasantly blurred.
To achieve this, set your camera to manual exposure mode and adjust your settings:
- Aperture: Open it wide to create shallow depth of field and isolate your subject.
- Shutter speed: Aim for around 1/1000 of a second to stop fast action.
- ISO: Raise it just enough to support the fast shutter speed without creating excessive noise.
For focusing, switch to continuous autofocus so your camera tracks the subject as it moves. Use a single focus point and keep it on the head or eyes as much as possible. Don’t hesitate to crouch or lie closer to the ground for a stronger perspective. Review your shots carefully to see whether the subject is sharp and well-exposed, and note what adjustments might improve your results next time.
Project 2: Landscapes with Moving Water
Landscape photography often demands patience, planning, and precision. For this project, find a location with water in motion—such as a river, stream, or the ocean—and work on capturing both depth and movement in the same frame.
Here are some settings to get you started:
- Aperture: Close it down to around f/16 for a wide depth of field.
- ISO: Keep it low (100 is ideal) to maximize image quality.
- Shutter speed: With the above settings, your shutter will slow down, creating motion blur in the water while keeping the surrounding scenery sharp.
Because slow shutter speeds are involved, a sturdy tripod is essential. If you don’t have a remote release, use your camera’s self-timer to avoid introducing shake when pressing the shutter button. For the best results, try shooting at dawn or dusk when light levels are naturally lower, which extends the shutter speed and enhances the silky effect of moving water.
Project 3: Portraits in Natural Light
Portraits are one of the most rewarding types of photography because they allow you to connect with your subject while experimenting with technical choices. For this exercise, keep it simple by working indoors with natural window light.
Use a wide aperture to create shallow depth of field, and if possible, choose a short telephoto focal length (something between 50mm and 85mm works beautifully). Let your white balance remain on auto to begin with, and adjust your shutter speed and ISO to balance sharpness with minimal noise. Make sure your shutter speed is fast enough to counteract any small movements—both yours and your subject’s.
After the shoot, spend time editing. Subtle adjustments to white balance, contrast, and shadow detail can make a huge difference in how polished and professional your portrait looks. Don’t be afraid to experiment with post-processing; this is part of learning how to bring out the best in your images.
Final Thoughts
These three projects may seem simple, but they cover essential technical skills: freezing action, capturing depth in landscapes, and creating natural portraits. Each one teaches you to pay attention to different camera settings and conditions while also encouraging creativity. The more you practice, the more instinctive these adjustments will become—and before long, you’ll find yourself applying them seamlessly in real-world shooting situations.
