We ask that images are supplied in digital format, at the highest resolution that your camera will allow.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "We ask that images are supplied in digital format, at the highest resolution that your camera will allow."

Charity Freeman
7 years ago
Views:

2 Introduction < 2 of 5 > This guide offers practical advice for photographing different locations, lighting conditions and subjects in order to help grantees take better photos. The Foundation often asks grantees to provide good quality photos for inclusion on the Paul Hamlyn Foundation website and in the Yearbook. We ask that images are supplied in digital format, at the highest resolution that your camera will allow.

3 Suggestions for taking better photos < 3 of 5 > Digital cameras Multiple shots Camera shake Bright sunshine Get closer Using a flash Different viewpoints If possible use a digital camera, the quality is usually better, you can crop the image if the composition isn t quite right and the image can be sent to contacts via . Always try to set the camera to take the images at the highest quality possible. There is no point getting everything else right if the image is too small to use. When photographing people always take more than one shot. If they close their eyes or frown at the wrong moment it could ruin your picture, take three or four shots to guarantee a good result. Make sure you are standing comfortably. Legs slightly apart, back straight and hold the camera with both hands. Your body should take on a shape a bit like a tripod. If you re using film and your photos are often blurred, use a faster film. In the majority of instances it is best to have the sun behind you when you take a picture. If the time of day when you take your pictures is not important try to avoid the period around midday. The brightest sun of the day can wash pictures out. When the sun is behind you beware that your own shadow doesn t creep into the picture. Make sure that if you are taking a portrait shot that the sun isn t making your subject squint. The most common mistake that people make is that they don t get close enough to their subjects. You will be surprised at the difference moving closer to the subject will make. Try to fill the frame. With flash photography avoid standing face on to reflective objects, the flash will bounce off them making white hotspots on your prints. Move away from nearby walls to avoid thick black shadows. Taking shots from high up looking down can provide you with an interesting perspective. When photographing people, move about yourself rather than trying to move the subject, keep looking through the camera viewfinder and watch how different angles work to make a more successful image.

4 Suggestions for taking better photos < 4 of 5 > Photographing children Distracting backgrounds Grey skies Composition Model Release forms Photo credits Where to send them If you re photographing children then get down to the child s level. This may mean kneeling down. Always get permission to use a picture of a child from the adult responsible for them. (See Model Release) Make sure there are no unwanted images in your shot. Check the viewfinder carefully to make sure your main subject will not be overshadowed by an unwanted shape. Pictures of people are often ruined when large objects appear behind the head. If you are photographing outside on a grey, dull day, keep the sky out of your pictures wherever possible. A basic rule of photography is known as the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds divides a rectangular image into nine, equally sized, smaller rectangles. You then position the main subject of the picture at any point where the lines cross. When shooting a horizon try to place it either a third of the way from the bottom of the picture or a third of the way from the top. Try to avoid placing it in the middle of the picture. If once the picture has been taken you are not 100% happy with the result, consider cropping the image. This is especially easy to do with digital images. It is best to use a model release form when photographing people, especially children, as written permission to use an image will help if problems arise over usage in the future. The form can be really simple. At the very least it will require a date, location, and a statement agreeing to the images being used. Make sure the person signs the form, and that you keep it safe. Each photo should be accompanied by the photographer s name, when it was taken and a brief note of the name of the event or the location so that we may credit you appropriately. Please your photographs to your Grants Officer along with the relevant credits.

5 < 5 of 5 > Paul Hamlyn Foundation is an independent grant making body. We fund organisations whose charitable activities help people to realise their potential and have a better quality of life. For further information about the Paul Hamlyn Foundation identity, please contact: Paul Hamlyn Foundation 18 Queen Anne s Gate London SW1H 9AA T:

What is a DSLR and what is a compact camera? And newer versions of DSLR are now mirrorless

1 2 What is a DSLR and what is a compact camera? And newer versions of DSLR are now mirrorless 3 The Parts Your camera is made up of many parts, but there are a few in particular that we want to look at