Photography Basics Innovative Storytelling
11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #1: Take a LOT of pictures! Film taught us to be frugal with the photos we took because development was expensive. Digital cameras allow you to take hundreds of pictures without having to spend a dime to see them. REMEMBER It is always better to delete pictures than to have to use terrible ones because you didn t take enough.
11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #2: Even the Little Things Help When taking pictures, stand with both feet firmly planted and your elbows tucked in. This helps to reduce blur. Remember, you can t fix blurry! Always wear the neck strap. This helps to prevent damage to the camera. If you have a point and shoot camera with a wrist strap, use it. Carry the users manual with you at all times so that you can refer to it when necessary.
11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #3: Don t be a scaredy cat! Get right in front of the action. Fear of what people think leads to horrible pictures. People barely notice you are there, and if they do notice you, they usually don t think anything of it. Good pictures won t happen if you succumb to your fears!
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11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #4: Make sure your picture has a center of interest. Always focus your picture on something or someone. ALWAYS!!!
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11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #5: Fill the picture frame. Get up close to your subject. If you are using a point and shoot camera, don t get too close or your picture will blur. The closest focusing distance for a point and shoot camera is about 3 feet. If you need to get closer than that, use your zoom.
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11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #6: Watch Your Background Watch for objects that look like they are growing out of people s heads. Notice the horizon line in the background. It is best to have it in the top third or bottom third of the picture.
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How does this picture effectively use its background?
11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #7: Use your flash Automatic cameras will read the overall light in the picture. If your background is bright, it will expose for that, leaving your subject dark. To compensate, turn on the flash to give some extra light to your subject. This is called flash fill. ALWAYS use the flash indoors. A flash is only good for 10 feet. After that, it is useless. Also, don t use the flash when your subject is standing in front of a mirror or window.
Why is this picture dark?
11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #8: Go for natural Almost everyone wants their picture in the yearbook, and they will literally jump out at you and say, take a picture. Posed pictures have their place, but the pictures that tell far better stories are those that are natural pictures when the person doesn t know you are taking their picture.
Posed
Natural
Natural
11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #9: Compose Be a picture director. When you draw a picture, you have a blank canvas or paper in front of you. You get to decide where to put things on the paper. Think of pictures in the same way. You decide where things go. Good pictures just don t happen. They require a bit of effort, concentration, and placing your subject where you want them in the photo.
Composition Technique Framing Use of objects or people to frame and draw attention to Center of Visual Interest.
framing//subject framed by object
framing//subject framed by object
Composition Technique Leading Lines Imaginary or real lines lead the reader to the subject (CVI) and heighten content interest.
leading lines // real
leading lines // imaginary
horizontal lines // create rest and quiet
vertical lines // create height and stability
diagonal lines // create energy and action
curved lines // create grace and beauty
Composition Technique Repetition Repetition of patterns, people, expressions, or surroundings create visual interest.
repetition // leading lines
repetition // patterns
repetition // creates movement
Composition Technique Rule of Thirds Frame is divided into thirds vertically and horizontally. The subject is then placed on one of the intersecting lines or hot spots.
rule of thirds // subjects placed on a hot spot
11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #10: Be aware of your angles Angles are one of the most important parts of a good picture. They can turn a mediocre picture into an extraordinary one.
Types of Angles Bird s Eye View Pictures taken above the eye level of the subject.
angle // bird s eye view
Types of Angles Worm s Eye View Pictures taken below the eye level of the subject.
angle // worm s eye view
Types of Angles Side View Pictures taken to the left or right of the subject, not dead on.
angle // side view
Types of Angles Eye Level Pictures taken at the eye level of the subject.
angle // eye level
11 Tips for Taking Better Pictures #11: Know your camera Become familiar with your camera and understand what it can and cannot do for you. Specifically, learn about the different shooting modes and WHEN to use them. Most common shooting modes on a point and shoot.
Shooting Modes Auto mode: By selecting automatic mode, you are telling the camera to read the light and take the picture. Essentially, you are telling the camera to guess the type of shot you want to take.
Shooting Modes Portrait mode: In this mode, the camera will adjust itself so that the background remains out of focus but your subject is in focus. You get beautiful portrait shots when you stand close to or zoom in on the subject before taking the shot.
Shooting Modes Landscape mode: In this mode, the camera focuses on everything in the shot. Use this mode when you want to cover a large area in the shot.
Shooting Modes Close up/ Macro mode: This mode works best when you want to move in closer and take shots of flowers, insects or tiny objects. Focusing is cumbersome in macro mode. You should also avoid using the flash since you are taking close up shots.
Shooting Modes Sports mode: In this mode, the camera increases its speed to capture a moving object. Also known as action mode. Not a very effective mode in low light situations.
Shooting Modes Night mode: In this mode, your camera slows down to allow more detail to be captured when the light is low. A flash is usually used in this mode to enable the distribution of light on your subject. Because the speed slows down, it s very important that the camera is as steady as possible.