General Themes. General Themes. People. Natural Life

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Benedict Higgins
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General Themes General Themes 1. Harold Davis, Digital Photography: Digital Field Guide, Wiley, Indianapolis, 2005 2. Michael Freeman, The Complete Guide to Digital Photography, 2 nd Ed.

1 General Themes General Themes 1. Harold Davis, Digital Photography: Digital Field Guide, Wiley, Indianapolis, Michael Freeman, The Complete Guide to Digital Photography, 2 nd Ed.,Ilex Press, Lee Frost, Photography, McGraw-Hill, Here are a few of the themes that have occupied photographers over the years. People Landscape Architecture Action and Sports Nature Abstractions Each has its own techniques and skills People Natural Life Casual portraits Children Formal portraits (won t discuss) Natural Life People going about their everyday activities Unposed pictures generally are better Observation important You must see something to photograph it You can observe a lot by just looking around. -- Yogi Berra 1

Some photographers do, some don t I generally do Pointing at the camera usually is sufficient Casual Portraits Goal: Capture something about the person or their character Casual Portraits

2 Natural Life: Camera Technique What are the advantages of different lenses (or zooms)? Normal Wide angle Telephoto Natural Life: Planning Ahead Taking pictures of strangers requires forethought Some cultures do not want pictures taken without permission (e.g., Indians of the SW) Should you ask permission in general? Some photographers do, some don t I generally do Pointing at the camera usually is sufficient Casual Portraits Goal: Capture something about the person or their character Casual Portraits Camera technique A slightly compressed flat perspective is flattering What kind of lens? Light Why are bright high sunlight (with no clouds) or gloomy gray skies not ideal for portraits? Composition What do you want to capture? Don t be afraid to get close 2

Children Take a lot of pictures Toys or a

level It helps if they are having fun Landscape

within a scene Isolate what is important and

3 Children Take a lot of pictures Toys or a parent may make it easier Get down to their level It helps if they are having fun Landscape Goal: Capture a sense of place Landscape: Scale Grand and scenic scale: large expanses Landscape: Scale Intimate scale: The scene within a scene Isolate what is important and capture a sense of being there Discussion of scale from Guy Tal. Landscape Photography Composition: Part

4 Landscape: Composition What interests you about the place? Emphasize or isolate it Landscape: Composition Don t include too much stuff in the picture. Telling a story can be effective Landscape: Composition Why was a different horizon line chosen for these two pictures? Landscape: Light Grand and scenic scale photos Often look best at sunrise and sunset 4

Landscape: Light Intimate scenes If a scene

light is better Direct sunlight can produce

Landscape: Weather Be aware (not beware) of

to take pictures If you can keep dry, anyway

What if you want to isolate the subject?

5 Landscape: Light Intimate scenes If a scene relies on detail, then indirect or diffused light is better Direct sunlight can produce too much contrast and wash out detail Landscape: Weather Be aware (not beware) of the weather Rain and storms can be good times to take pictures If you can keep dry, anyway Landscape: Camera Technique Your lens or zoom can help compose the landscape. What if you want deep depth of field? What if you want to isolate the subject? How can camera aperture help? Architecture Goal: Tell a story about a building or buildings 5

Architecture: Light At what time of day was this photo taken?

Architecture: Viewpoint and Composition Consider different positions Look

Technique Try to keep vertical lines vertical What kind of lens can cause

6 Architecture: Light At what time of day was this photo taken? Why role do the shadows play? Architecture: Viewpoint and Composition Consider different positions Look for novel viewpoints that add interest to the photo Architecture: Camera Technique Try to keep vertical lines vertical What kind of lens can cause problems with perspective? Photoshop Elements can correct this. Architecture: Don t Forget Detail Detail can inform about a building 6

Action and Sports Goal: Capture a crucial moment in time in a sport or similar

Pre-focusing is one way of being prepared Use manual focus rather than automatic What

Sports and action usually take place at a distance What kind of lens or zoom helps

Freezing Action Not Only Way to Go What kind of shutter speed here?

7 Action and Sports Goal: Capture a crucial moment in time in a sport or similar activity Freezing Action Camera Technique Be prepared! Things happen fast. Pre-focusing is one way of being prepared Use manual focus rather than automatic What kind of shutter speeds do you need? Sports and action usually take place at a distance What kind of lens or zoom helps get close to the action? Light What kind of light allows the shutter speeds you need? Freezing Action Not Only Way to Go What kind of shutter speed here? Pre-focusing (and manual focus!) is essential for this kind of shot Nature Goal: Portray nature and wildlife 7

Nature: Light and Composition About the same as for landscape photos Nature:

closely (three feet from camera or less)?

do extreme close-ups, you need a SLR camera and a macro lens What kind of camera

Abstractions Goals: Emphasize colors, texture, patterns, and composition Create

8 Nature: Light and Composition About the same as for landscape photos Nature: Camera Technique Consider close-ups What secrets are hidden unless you look closely (three feet from camera or less)? Nature: Close-Ups A tripod (or possibly an image-stabilized lens) is essential To do extreme close-ups, you need a SLR camera and a macro lens What kind of camera aperture will maximize a limited depth of field? Abstractions Goals: Emphasize colors, texture, patterns, and composition Create abstract pictures independent of subject matter 8

9 Abstractions: Camera Technique Flatten the photo and isolate the subject Shoot straight at the subject What kind of lens? Get as close as possible Using a tripod or imagestabilized lens helps 9

Digital Photography for Adults

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