Photography basics – in pictures

This is an example of taking a well-known landmark and experimenting with composition to try and show it in a slightly different way. To do so, I have tried to frame the image within a frame, forming a picture within a picture, which gives a sense of looking through something and creates an element of discovery.

Shutter speed: 1/400s
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

Here, I've photographed the base of Nelson's Column and have attempted to highlight the contrast between the seated figures and those in the mural above them, creating a visual juxtaposition which hopefully makes for a more interesting photograph.

Shutter speed: 1/400s
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

This protest, which was taking place within Trafalgar Square, was a small and rather chaotic affair. Trying to create order in a photo of such an event can be difficult, as there are some many different competing visual elements. Here, I tried to focus on the speaker, moving my position so that the sunlight slightly backlit the subject and working from a low, slightly skewed angle, which conveys some of the drama while incorporating the background – the columns of the National Gallery – into the image.

Shutter speed: 1/160s
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

In this image I've tried to draw attention to the subject with lighting rather than composition, and backlit her. For this, you sometimes need to override the camera settings, which may want to overexpose the image. In such conditions it is best to shoot in manual or use the exposure compensation dial on the camera to balance the situation out.

Shutter speed: 1/200
Aperture: f/3.2
ISO: 800 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

For this image, which shows the details on a piece of metalwork within the cathedral, I've used a long lens (Canon 85mm) and a narrow depth of field (f/2) to maximise the focus on the subject and exclude any distracting objects. The background elements blur in quite a pleasing fashion and keep your attention on the subject.

Shutter speed: 1/125s
Aperture: f/2.0
ISO: 800 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

This image shows how using a long lens (Canon 85mm) can help compress elements in an image and can be useful for creating abstract close-ups.

Shutter speed: 1/400s
Aperture: f/6.3
ISO: 100 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

Using people to show scale, or framing devices such as silhouettes, can help create ways to draw in the viewer's eye. This also helps put the image into context. It can involve more patience on the part of the photographer, because introducing moving human elements into the frame is introducing a certain element of chaos, which is out of the photographer's control. This means they have to wait until the split second in time – the decisive moment when an image comes together.

Shutter speed: 1/1000s
Aperture: f/5.0
ISO: 100 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

Using people to show scale, or framing devices such as silhouettes, can help create ways to draw in the viewer's eye. This also helps put the image into context. It can involve more patience on the part of the photographer, because introducing moving human elements into the frame is introducing a certain element of chaos, which is out of the photographer's control. This means they have to wait until the split second in time – the decisive moment when an image comes together.

Shutter speed: 1/125s
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO: 100 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

This image is another example of attempting to photograph a well-known landmark in a new and different way. On this occasion, that involved a low angle, large depth of field, and the introduction of a human element into the frame. This type of image takes patience to get and generates plenty of wasted shots before you get one that works.

Shutter speed: 1/320s
Aperture: f/8.0
ISO: 100 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian

By crouching down, you can get a background of clean sky, which enhances the people – and Big Ben – in the background, making a much stronger image. If the background is too busy, the subjects can get lost.

Shutter speed: 1/320s
Aperture: f/8.0
ISO: 100 Photograph: Greg Funnell/Guardian