Life Hacks

Photography 101: All a hobbyist needs on World Photography Day

Dan Kauna 19th August, 2026 07:42 PM

Every year on August 19, World Photography Day marks the moment in 1839 when the French government bought the daguerreotype patent from inventor Louis Daguerre and shared it freely with the public.

Photography has changed dramatically since then.

You no longer need heavy, expensive gear to take a great picture. Anyone in Kenya can start capturing clear, interesting visual stories using tools they already own.

Getting great shots with basic equipment

Good pictures come from good technique, not high price tags. Buying a professional camera setup can easily cost over Ksh100,000, but a standard smartphone camera is often all you need to start.

Simple habits like wiping your phone lens clean, looking for natural sunlight, and keeping your hand steady make a huge difference.

A modern smartphone and a classic DSLR camera rest together on a rustic table.

Basic ideas like placing your main subject slightly off-centre or taking photos during the golden hour, right after sunrise or before sunset, make everyday shots look remarkably polished.

If you want to step up to a dedicated camera, you do not have to break the bank either. A second-hand entry-level DSLR or mirrorless body costs around Ksh35,000 in local shops.

Pairing that body with a standard 50mm prime lens gives you full control over manual settings like shutter speed and aperture, creating sharp portraits with softly blurred backgrounds.

The mental boost of daily photography

Taking pictures as a regular habit is also good for your daily well-being.

A man pauses on a busy street to capture a close-up photo of flowers.

In a study published in the journal Health, researchers Liz Brewster and Andrew Cox noted that “taking a moment to be mindful, and looking for something different or unusual in the day were seen as positive well-being benefits.”

Pausing to take a picture trains your eye to notice interesting details in your surrounding environment, making routine walks or commutes much more enjoyable.

You do not need a fancy studio to edit your work either. Simple accessories like a basic Ksh1,500 tripod keep your shots steady, while free mobile applications like Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile let you polish your photos on your phone in minutes.

On World Photography Day, capturing a stunning picture boils down to stepping outside, noticing the light, and taking the shot.