Giving it Your Best Shot-Photographic Composition and Techniques
Fine Arts
Photographic Composition and Techniques
Today we are going to learn about photographic composition and technique.
I believe that it?s not what you take a picture of, but how you take the picture that matters. We are going to talk about What is Composition? And it is how a photographer places their subject. Look at all four corners of the viewfinder before you shoot.
Let?s look at these photographs comparing composition.
The one on the left has Bad composition because it includes information in the photograph that is not of interest to the photo. Look at the plugs on the walls and the extra space..
Good composition focuses in on the important parts of the photo-subject, etc, paying attention to what you include.
I want to talk about what lighting does to a photo.
First, it creates a mood for the photo.
And also it can reveal the subjects shape, texture and form like what you see on the right. I?m going to talk about 3 Different types of lighting.
First is silhouette which crates light behind the subjects and underexposing the shot.
Next you can create a soft diffused light using natural light from a window.
Next you can create shadows with direct light.
What Is cropping?
Cropping is cutting down on the background. Simple, uncomplicated backgrounds will make a good picture better.
Part or all of the subject will run off the edge of the viewfinder. Less is more!
What does changing the viewpoint do?
From a low angle-photographer looks up at the subject, making it appear larger. This is best used for a dramatic effect.
From a high angle-photographer looks down at the subject, making it appear smaller. What is the ?Dutch-Angle?
Frame up the horizon off to the side. Used in many movies for a dramatic effect, What is framing?
Framing is placing a visual ?frame?around the subject. Architectural elements work well as frames, doors, windows, arches.
But you can also use natural elements.
What is depth of field?
It is the amount of your subject matter in focus.
There are 2 types of depth of field.
One is shallow.
And the other one is extreme or sharp depth of field.
What is shallow depth of field?
It is selecting the part of the photo you would like to be in focus.
To do this with a manual camera, move in close to subject and use a lot f/stop number To do this with a point and shoot camera -move close to your subject and have your background further away.
This is what we called Bokeh in the photography world.
What is extreme/sharp depth of field.
It is when all of your subject matter is in focus. This is good for landscapes or large group shots.
To do this with a manual camera, you use a larger f/stop number.
To do this with a point and shoot, you make sure everything in your subject is about the same distance from you.
Now I?m going to explain the Rule of Thirds.
Imagine your viewfinder has three vertical and three horizontal lines evenly spaced. Placing a subject at one of the intersections gives a moving subject room to move and direct the viewer's attention to the subject.
What are leading lines?
Perspective-creating the illusion of depth and distance. Lines in architecture and nature that lead the viewer?s eye to your subject.
To look for leading lines, place your subject at the end or beginning of a path, sidewalk, fence, hallway and etc.
Let?s look at how to use stop or freeze action.
Stopping or freezing your subject in action?
To create this, make sure you are using a fast shutter speed or an action setting on your camera-depending on the type you are using.
Now that we know a little bit about photographic composition, let?s look below and see what techniques we see.
We can see leading lines, cropping, framing, stop action, extreme depth of field, soft lighting and rule of thirds.
What about here?
What are some compositional or lighting techniques you see in this photo?
In these photos we see leading lines, dutch angle, silhouette with high contrast, framing, soft light, shallow depth of field and cropping.
I hope you learned a lot of valuable material.
If you have any questions, I?d be happy to answer them after the video.
I believe that it?s not what you take a picture of, but how you take the picture that matters. We are going to talk about What is Composition? And it is how a photographer places their subject. Look at all four corners of the viewfinder before you shoot.
Let?s look at these photographs comparing composition.
The one on the left has Bad composition because it includes information in the photograph that is not of interest to the photo. Look at the plugs on the walls and the extra space..
Good composition focuses in on the important parts of the photo-subject, etc, paying attention to what you include.
I want to talk about what lighting does to a photo.
First, it creates a mood for the photo.
And also it can reveal the subjects shape, texture and form like what you see on the right. I?m going to talk about 3 Different types of lighting.
First is silhouette which crates light behind the subjects and underexposing the shot.
Next you can create a soft diffused light using natural light from a window.
Next you can create shadows with direct light.
What Is cropping?
Cropping is cutting down on the background. Simple, uncomplicated backgrounds will make a good picture better.
Part or all of the subject will run off the edge of the viewfinder. Less is more!
What does changing the viewpoint do?
From a low angle-photographer looks up at the subject, making it appear larger. This is best used for a dramatic effect.
From a high angle-photographer looks down at the subject, making it appear smaller. What is the ?Dutch-Angle?
Frame up the horizon off to the side. Used in many movies for a dramatic effect, What is framing?
Framing is placing a visual ?frame?around the subject. Architectural elements work well as frames, doors, windows, arches.
But you can also use natural elements.
What is depth of field?
It is the amount of your subject matter in focus.
There are 2 types of depth of field.
One is shallow.
And the other one is extreme or sharp depth of field.
What is shallow depth of field?
It is selecting the part of the photo you would like to be in focus.
To do this with a manual camera, move in close to subject and use a lot f/stop number To do this with a point and shoot camera -move close to your subject and have your background further away.
This is what we called Bokeh in the photography world.
What is extreme/sharp depth of field.
It is when all of your subject matter is in focus. This is good for landscapes or large group shots.
To do this with a manual camera, you use a larger f/stop number.
To do this with a point and shoot, you make sure everything in your subject is about the same distance from you.
Now I?m going to explain the Rule of Thirds.
Imagine your viewfinder has three vertical and three horizontal lines evenly spaced. Placing a subject at one of the intersections gives a moving subject room to move and direct the viewer's attention to the subject.
What are leading lines?
Perspective-creating the illusion of depth and distance. Lines in architecture and nature that lead the viewer?s eye to your subject.
To look for leading lines, place your subject at the end or beginning of a path, sidewalk, fence, hallway and etc.
Let?s look at how to use stop or freeze action.
Stopping or freezing your subject in action?
To create this, make sure you are using a fast shutter speed or an action setting on your camera-depending on the type you are using.
Now that we know a little bit about photographic composition, let?s look below and see what techniques we see.
We can see leading lines, cropping, framing, stop action, extreme depth of field, soft lighting and rule of thirds.
What about here?
What are some compositional or lighting techniques you see in this photo?
In these photos we see leading lines, dutch angle, silhouette with high contrast, framing, soft light, shallow depth of field and cropping.
I hope you learned a lot of valuable material.
If you have any questions, I?d be happy to answer them after the video.