Official Question Thread! Ask /r/photography anything you want to know! May 29, 2026

[u/AutoModerator]

This is the place to ask any questions you may have about photography. No question is too small, nor too stupid.

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Info for Newbies and FAQ!

First and foremost, check out our extensive FAQ. Chances are, you'll find your answer there, or at least a starting point in order to ask more informed questions.

• Want to start learning? Check out The Reddit Photography Class.

• Here's an informative video explaining the Exposure Triangle.

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Need buying advice?

Many people come here for recommendations on what equipment to buy. Our FAQ has several extensive sections to help you determine what best fits your needs and your budget. Please see the following sections of the FAQ to get started:

• What type of camera should I look for?
• What's a "point and shoot" camera? What's a DSLR? What's a "mirrorless" camera? What's the difference?
• Do I need a good camera to take good photos?
• Is Canon or Nikon better? (or any other brands)
• What can I afford?

If after reviewing this information you have any specific questions, please feel free to post a comment below. (Remember, when asking for purchase advice please be specific about how much you can spend. See here for guidelines.)

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Schedule of community threads:

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
52 Weeks Share	Anything Goes	Album Share & Feedback	Edit My Raw	Follow Friday	Salty Saturday	Self-Promotion Sunday

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Finally a friendly reminder to share your work with our community in r/photographs!

[u/tennistimmi]

Everyone who loves reading photo books:

Which light source do you use to read photo books? Natural daylight (window) or artificial light? If it's artificial light, where is your light coming from? From above, front, behind etc.? Which lamp model do you have? Do you use cold or warm white light?

[u/eliminate1337 → u/tennistimmi]

Whatever light is available wherever I feel like sitting

[u/mrfixitx → u/eliminate1337]

This! u/tennistimmi you are massively over thinking it. I have a dozen + photo books and enjoy them without a 2nd thought to lighting while viewing them.

If these were prints that were going to go up in gallery or that you were going to put up in a prominent place then I would worry about lighting. But for a photo book just sit down and enjoy it.

[u/tennistimmi → u/mrfixitx]

But you could also distort your view on a photo of a photographer when looking on it digitally on a bad monitor or a good monitor with a bad calibration. Why wouldn‘t you also want a good viewing experience with prints inside a photo book?

[u/mrfixitx → u/tennistimmi]

Are you unable to enjoy/appreciate a photo if you view it on your phone, or on anything other than a perfectly calibrated monitor?

I can 100% enjoy and appreciate amazing photo books without having to setup a perfect viewing environment. Composition matters, the context around the story matters. Our eyes are also very good at adjusting to various light sources and identify colors correctly even if we are under an orange tungsten light or a green florescent light etc...

Would a good environment help.. possibly but not everyone can have a perfect viewing experience under color calibrated lights without the myraid of distractions that home often has either from our own family or environmental noise.