(From Snapshots to Photographs) The Big Six 1. Get Closer! 2. Strong center of interest! 3. Good lighting 4. Compose boldly: thirds/angles 5. Frame your subject 6. Simple backgrounds 1. Get Closer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ■ If an image isn’t interesting-it’s probably because you weren’t close enough.
(you don’t need to include the whole
Grand Canyon!) Not this!!!!!!! This!!!!! You Don’t Need Everything! You’ve already seen the top! Don’t need the whole body. 2. Strong center of interest! ■ What am I supposed to focus on? ■ Make sure viewer knows your subject. Not this!!!!!!!!!!!! Clear simple subject. Simple can be beautiful Isolate your subject. 3. Good Lighting! ■ “Photo” is Greek for light. ■ Good light is essential for a good photo-graph. ■ Shoot during the “magic” hours-just after sunrise & just before sunset. ■ Keep sun and other light sources behind you! (unless going for a silhouette-then use fill flash). Not this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! “Magic” Hour-Late afternoon Late day “glow” Late day “glow” and shadows Sunsets & Silhouettes 4. Compose boldly! ■ Try imaginative angles ■ Look for the unusual ■ Don’t need the whole body ■ Rule of thirds Dutch or “Batman” Angle Get low to the ground! See everyday in a new way Change Angles Look for the unusual Use reflections! Use mirrors Rule of thirds-don’t center Rule of thirds gives room Rule of thirds-object Rule of thirds-landscape 5. Frame your subjects ■ Look for “natural” frames. E.g. trees, rocks, bridges, doors. Bridge as a frame Frames all around you! Frames in nature Frames at the Ranch! 6. Simple backgrounds ■ Isolate your subject by shooting against simple backdrops. ■ Use shallow Depth of Field to isolate subject. ■ Watch out for trees, poles, and anything busy in background. Shallow depth to highlight Simple backgrounds Cool Bokeh (blurry “lights”) Shallow great for macro Summary. So…..a Big 3? ■ Light! (photo)