intro to photography week 2

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INTRO TO PHOTOGRAPHY

(03-0411-1104)6:30 – 8:00 PM

WEEK 2

Elaine Mesker-Garcia

elaine@emgimages.com

What makes an image grab your attention?

What is the difference between a “snapshot” and photograph?

Review – How do you control exposure?

Shutter Speed Aperture/Fstop ISO

Shutter Speed

Lengthening the amount of time that your shutter is open increases the amount of light hitting your

image sensor. Keep in mind that if there is movement

in your scene (even small movements) that the longer the shutter is open the more blur you’ll get in your shot.

Aperture / F-Stop If you increase the aperture of your camera

increase the size of the hole in your lens more light is able to get in quickly.

You then also decrease the depth of field in your shotyou need to get your focus spot onnot everything in your shot might be in focus.

↑ Aperture = ↓ DOF

Depth of Field (DOF) Depth of Field (DOF) =

amount of your shot that will be in focus. Large depth of field =

most of your image will be in focus whether it’s close to your camera or far away

small aperture = large f/stop # (i.e. f/22) Small (or shallow) depth of field =

only part of the image will be in focus and the rest will be fuzzy

large aperture – small f/stop # (i.e. f/2.8)

Depth of Field

Large DOF Shallow DOF

ISO

Increasing the ISO setting increases the camera’s sensitivity to light.

The ambient light will have more effect and you’ll have less need for flash.

Keep in mind that increasing ISO also increases the grain or noise in your shots.

Example of Graininess or Noise

ISO 100 ISO 3200

To Flash or not to Flash? The problem that point and shoot

camera owners face when it comes to using flash to light a scene is that many point and shoot cameras offer a photographer much less control over how powerful the flash is and what direction the light is pointed - in comparison to a DSLR with a dedicated flash unit that can be bounced in different directions at different levels.

Use Flash as Last Resort A flash should only ever be thought of as a

secondary light source. In almost every situation that you will want to

photograph there will be some level of existing ambient light. This light is important as it is the natural light of the scene you’re trying to capture.

Your flash should be used to supplement existing light rather than as the primary way of lighting a scene.

If you use a flash as the primary source of light it will look artificial.

Tip #1: Take A Step Back One of the simplest ways to decrease the impact of

the light coming from your flash is to put a little more distance between you and your subject..

Stepping back further away from your subject doesn’t mean that you can’t fill the frame – youcould use your camera’szoom lens (although thiscan increase the effect ofcamera shake) or simplycrop the shot later onyour computer.

Tip #2: Diffuse It

One of the most effective ways of doing this is simply to find some semi opaque material to place over your flash.

You can stick a little white tissue paper over their flash or use some opaque tape.

Use white tape or tissue paper to make it look more natural light (don’t use colored material)

Tip #3: Use Night Mode Recall that Night Mode will take a shot with a

slower shutter speed while still shooting the flash.

You get a little more ambient light from the scene while still freezing the action with the flash

You won’t give youpin point sharp images– but they can be fun &very effective (particularlyif there is some nicecolored lights in the room).

Tip #4: Decrease Flash Output Some point and shoot cameras have the

ability to tell the camera just how much flash you want it to use – check your camera’s manual.

If you do, dial back your flash output by a stop or two to see what impact it has.

Tip #5: Add/Adjust Light

Turn on more lights in a room, move your subjects to a better lit position near a lamp or light (or move the light to them).

Another way to increase the impact of ambient light on a subject is to think about reflective light. Point the light towards a light wall so it “bounces” back onto the subject.

Tip #6: Tweak Your Settings One last way to decrease the impact

your flash has on a scene is to tweak some of your camera’s exposure settings – particularly those that impact how the camera treats light like ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed.

What else can you control?

CompositionRule of ThirdsFocal pointFill Your FrameChange your Angles & Perspective

Rule of Thirds

The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As follows.

Rule of Thirds The theory is that if you place points of

interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced

Studies show that your eyes usually go to one of the intersection points most naturally rather than the center of the shot

Works with this natural way of viewing an image rather than working against it.

Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds

Focal Point What is the central point of interest? What will draw the eye of the viewers of this

picture? What in this image will make it stand out from

others? What is my subject? Focal point is important because when you

look at an image your eye will generally need a ‘resting place’ or something of interest to really hold it.Without it you’ll find people will simply glance at your

shots and then move on to the next one.

Fill Your Frame

While empty spaces can be used effectively in photos to create stunning results, you’re much more likely to get a ‘wow’ from those looking at your photos if your shots are filled with interest.Use your legsUse your zoomCrop during processing

Angles & Perspective

Change your perspective and your angles:Take pictures from on topPut the camera on the floorTake it a wonky angleUse lines & angles to your advantage

Additional Composition Tips Look at reflections & shadows Get horizons straight Look for ways to “frame” images Be mindful of your background

Move to avoid trash bins, people in background

Change perspectiveWait for cars or people to pass

Horizon is straight, Rule of Thirds

Camera Modes - Automatic Automatic Portrait Mode Macro Mode Landscape Mode Sport Mode Night Mode

Camera Modes – Semi Automatic

Aperture Priority Mode Shutter Priority Mode Program Mode

Portrait Mode Your camera will automatically select a large

aperture (small number) which helps to keep your background out of focus (ie it sets a narrow depth of field – ensuring your subject is the only thing in focus and is therefore the centre of attention in the shot).

Portrait mode works best when you’re photographing a single subject so get in close enough to your subject (either by zooming in or walking closer) so that your photographing the head and shoulders of them).

If you’re shooting into the sun you might want to trigger your flash to add a little light onto their face.

Macro Mode Lets you move your closer into your subject to take a

close up picture. It’s great for shooting flowers, insects or other small

objects. Keep your camera and the object you’re photographing

parallel if possible or you’ll find a lot of it will be out of focus.

You probably won’t want to use your camera’s built in flash when photographing close up objects or they’ll be burnt out.

Lastly – a tripod is invaluable in macro shots as the depth of field is so small that even moving towards or away from your subject slightly can make your subject out of focus.

Landscape Mode This mode is almost the exact opposite of

portrait mode in that it sets the camera up with a small aperture (large number) to make sure as much of the scene you’re photographing will be in focus as possible (ie it give you a large depth of field).

It’s therefore ideal for capturing shots of wide scenes, particularly those with points of interest at different distances from the camera.

Sports Mode Photographing moving objects is what sports mode (also

called ‘action mode’ in some cameras) is designed for. It is ideal for photographing any moving objects including

people playing sports, pets, cars, wildlife etc. Sports mode attempts to freeze the action by increasing

the shutter speed. When photographing fast moving subjects you can also

increase your chances of capturing them with panning of your camera along with the subject and/or by attempting to pre focus your camera on a spot where the subject will be when you want to photograph it (this takes practice).

Night Mode Also called ’slow shutter sync’ Used when shooting in low light situations and sets your

camera to use a longer shutter speed to help capture details of the background but it also fires off a flash to illuminate the foreground (and subject).

If you use this mode for a ’serious’ or well balanced shot you should use a tripod or your background will be blurred

However it’s also fun to take shots with this handheld to purposely blur your backgrounds – especially when there is a situation with lights behind your subject as it can give a fun and experimental look (great for parties and dance floors with colored lights).

Aperture Priority Mode (A or AV) you choose the aperture and where your

camera chooses the other settings (shutter speed, white balance, ISO etc) so as to ensure you have a well balanced exposure.

Aperture priority mode is useful when you’re looking to control the depth of field in a shot - usually a stationary object where you don’t need to control shutter speed.

Shutter Priority Mode (S or TV) Shutter priority is very similar to aperture priority mode but

is the mode where you select a shutter speed and the camera then chooses all of the other settings.

You would use this mode where you want to control over shutter speed (obviously).

For example when photographing moving subjects (like sports) you might want to choose a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion.

On the flip-side of this you might want to capture the movement as a blur of a subject like a waterfall and choose a slow shutter speed.

You might also choose a slow shutter speed in lower light situations.

Program Mode (P) Some digital cameras have this priority

mode in addition to auto mode In those cameras that have both,

Program mode is similar to Auto but gives you a little more control over some other features including flash, white balance, ISO etc.

Check your digital camera’s manual for how the Program mode differs from Automatic in your particular model.

Using photography to tell a story How can you take a more interesting

photograph?

How do you create an emotion with your image?

In Migrant Mother, Dorothea Lange produced the seminal image of the Great Depression.

Burst of Joy is a Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Sal Veder, taken in 1973. The photograph came to symbolize the end of United States involvement in the Vietnam War.

Types of Photography

Street / urban Landscape Nature Macro Architectural Portraiture Photojournalism

Assignment Take a photo at a unique angle.

Take a photo that is an example of a specific genre discussed.

Bring in digital files for lab work.

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