basic photography workshop for csos

Presented by Matet L. Norbe

Let’s Level Off◦ Skills

Self-Taught- read books/articles on photography and practice hands-on

Trained- participated in workshops and trainings Basic-Camera, Composition, Lighting Advanced- Specialization in Types of Photography

◦ Experiences To which purpose is your photography usually

intended for? Personal Organizational (activities) Advocacy (informational, educational, campaign)

Photography

What is Photography?

Photography is

“painting with light”.classic definition

“a selective expression of one’s subjective perception of the world through the means of a camera”-postmodern definition

NOTES:

None of the two definitions require Technical Perfection.

There is no camera that will prevent its user from taking good pictures.

You don’t need a good camera to take good pictures.

Your Camera Doesn’t Matter

using point and shoot camera

photo taken by Manuel Domes

Your Camera Doesn’t Matter

using mobile phone’s camera

What is photographic composition?

◦the act of combining and forming relationships between things to create a whole shared by individual parts

Composition Matters

Elements, Principles and Strategies for Good Photographic Compositions

Basic Composition Techniques

Space, figure and backgroundSimplicity and Patterns

GeometryLight and Contrast

Perspective

MovementTiming

The Bonus Subject

Rule of Thirds

Principle:

◦Every element in the photographic space (i.e. the picture frame) should add to the picture & not distract from its meaning.

Space, Figure and Background

Space, Figure and Background

“Negative space” can be used to emphasize the uniqueness of an isolated subject.

Space, figure and background

The figure (main subject) should be clearly distinguished from its background.

Photo by Manuel Domes

Focus on details and look for eye-catchers.

Simplicity and Patterns

Eyes, faces or the human form in general

Simplicity and Patterns

Eyes, faces or the human form in general

Simplicity and Patterns

Dark objects against a l ight background

Repetitive patterns

Simplicity and Patterns

Geometric forms (lines, shapes, curves) can be subjects of their own or can emphasize the placement of a subject in the frame.

Geometry

Geometry

as leading lines (leading the observer to the subject)

Photo by Manuel Domes

Geometry

As a spacial divider which

divides pictures into areas.

Photo taken from www.shariblog.com

Geometry

as a framing elementat the picture borders or around a subject

Common geometric forms in photography:

Geometry

diagonalswww.richworks.in

triangleswww.ohnopatrick.com

Geometry

Arcs

“Photography is

50% photographer

40% light and 10%

equipment.”

Light and Contrast

Light and Contrast

Direct/Harsh Light shot at mid-day

Ambient/Diffused Light

Light and Contrast

shot at early morning

Light and Contrast

Available Light

Light and Contrast

Artificial Light

Wide, Medium, Close Perspectives serve to include different amounts of

context in the surrounding of the main subject

(a lot, some, none) Most environmental portraits are shot at wide to medium perspective

Perspective

Perspective-Wide

photo taken by Manuel Domes

Perspective-Medium

Perspective-Close

photo taken by Manuel Domes

Perspective-Close

Eye level, high angle, low angle shots

◦lead to different effects for the viewer of the picture

Perspective

Perspective-Eye Level

as an equal

Perspective-Eye Level

as an equal

Perspective-High Angle

photo taken by Manuel Domes

as an observer

Perspective-Low Angle

The viewer can feel like a child or as a part of the scene.

Since photography is a static medium, photographers need to find a way to instill as sense of movement in their pictures.

Movement

Visible movement can be caused by either:

Camera movementor

Subject movement

Movement-Panning

photo taken by Manuel Domes

Movement-Subject Moving

Timing goes back to theory of Henri Cartier-Bresson who conceptualized the:

“Decisive Moment”

refers to the coming together of the optimal composition with the optimal moment of action within the frame

Typically, these moments can be looks, actions, or emotions of people, or something curious/unexpected happening.

Timing

Timing-Bresson’s Examples

Timing

Timing

photo taken by Manuel Domes

Timing

photo taken by Renier John Gahum

An interesting and clearly identifiable subject should be the precondition to good photography.

Sometimes static photos (especially landscape/street/architecture) gain by the inclusion of a human subject which provides a more interesting entry point

The “Bonus Subject”

The “Bonus Subject”

The “Bonus Subject”

photo taken by Manuel Domes

Storytelling with Pictures

Visual stories are representations of a reality perceived by the

photographer.

This reality is subjective.

… and the reality of James Blake Miller

- suffers from post-traumatic

stress disorder (PTSD)

- threatened his wife with a shotgun

- other violent episodes

- medically discharged from army

- estranged from his family Note: Photographers should

be aware of their own subjectivity.

Storytelling

A photo captures a single moment in time – we don‘t know what happened before or after it

was taken.

Storytelling

Storytelling can be enhanced by creating series of pictures or by

providing captions.

A garbage-filled cart is waiting to be picked up at the streetside of Cotabato City.

Cotabato City’s solid waste management office collects the garbage for disposal .

Photo Stories/ Series/ Essays

Storytelling

telling a story through more than a single

picture

Storytelling

Multimedia Story

supporting a photo through audio and video

giving a “voice” to the subject

Caption provides a

background to what’s happening in the picture

Storytelling

“A picture says more than a thousand words…”

…but only when there’s a good caption on it.

Ten-year old Inday rides the water buffalo cart with her younger sister, Nene to bring home food from the local market in Lebak, Sultan Kudarat.

CaptionsWrite captions in the present tense.

This enhances the immediacy of the pictures they accompany.

Young activists lead May 1 mobilization in Cotabato City.

Captions

Use specifics rather than generalities.

Instead of using “a young woman”, it is better to say “a woman, 27” as it is more descriptive and specific.

The caption should describe the event as shown in the picture, not the event itself.

Viewers will be puzzled if the caption describes action they do not see.

Captions

Tribal spiritual leader, Abay Rendaw leads the ritual ceremony of the 6th Mindanao Peoples’ Peace Summit in Nuro, Upi, Maguindanao.

Make sure the caption is accurate. Double-check the spelling of names and the factual information contained in the caption.

Update the information. Because there is a lapse between the time a picture of an event is taken and the time a viewer sees the picture in the newspaper, care should be taken to update the information in the caption.

Omit references to the photo. Because the readers know you are referring to the photograph, omit phrases such as “is pictured,” “is shown” and “the picture above shows.”

Captions

Donʼt tell the obvious. If the person in the picture is pretty or attractive, that fact will be obvious from the picture. The picture will tell whether a person is smiling. It may be necessary, however, to tell why he or she is smiling.

Donʼt editorialize. A writer doesn’t know whether someone is happy or troubled. The caption that described the judge as “weary but ready “when he arrived at court on the opening day of trial must have made readers wonder how the writer knew the judge was weary.

Be exact. In local pictures, the addresses of the persons shown may be helpful. If youngsters appear in the picture, they should be identified by names, ages, names of parents and addresses.

Captions

Credit the photographer. If the picture is exceptional, credit may be given to the photographer in the caption, perhaps with a brief description of how he or she achieved the creation. On picture pages containing text matter, the photographer’s credit should be displayed as prominently as the writer’s.

Captions

Captions-Exception

Pictures without captions. Although pictures normally carry captions, mood or special-occasion pictures sometimes appear without them if the message is obvious from the picture itself.

The National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Sample Code of

Ethics (Excerpt) Visual journalists and those who manage visual news

productions are accountable for upholding the following standards in their daily work:

1. Be accurate and comprehensive in the representation of subjects.

2. Resist being manipulated by staged photo opportunities.

Ethics

3. Be complete and provide context when photographing or recording subjects. Avoid stereotyping individuals and groups. Recognize and work to avoid presenting one's own biases in the work.

4. Treat all subjects with respect and dignity. Give special consideration to vulnerable subjects and compassion to victims of crime or tragedy.

Ethics

5. While photographing subjects do not intentionally contribute to, alter, or seek to alter or influence events.

6. Editing should maintain the integrity of the photographic images' content and context. Do not manipulate images or add or alter sound in any way that can mislead viewers or misrepresent subjects.

Ethics

7. Do not pay sources or subjects or reward them materially for information or participation.

8. Do not accept gifts, favors, or compensation from those who might seek to influence coverage.

9. Do not intentionally sabotage the efforts of other journalists.

Ethics

Bring out your camera and let’s take good photos!

Capture that story!