photo 101 - basic photography and composition

Photo 101:Basic Photography and

Compositionby Melvin Chua

ObjectivesLearn the common terms and basic concepts in photography

Properties of light and how it affects composition

Frequently used rules of composition and how they are applied

What is Photography?

It is recording light patterns onto a sensitive medium through a timed exposure

Photography is the capture of light

Elements of Photography

Light

TimeMedium

Photography is about 3 basic elements…

Exposure

These elements are used to determine…

ExposureExposure is the total quantity of light allowed to fall on the light sensitive medium.

Proper exposure is achieved by balancing the 3 elements of photography.

ExposureImbalance in exposure may result to Overexposed or Underexposed photographs.

Overexposed

Underexposed

So how do we control the 3 elements to have a proper

exposure?

ApertureAperture helps control the amount of light able to pass through the lens and onto the sensor of the camera.

TimeMedium

Light

Measuring ApertureAperture is measured in f-stops or aperture stop.

Higher the f-stop = Less light is allowed to pass

Lower the f-stop = More light is allowed to pass

Shutter Speed

Shutter speed controls the amount of time the light falls on the medium.

Faster the shutter speed = Less light falls onto the medium

Shutter speed is measured in seconds.

Slower the shutter speed = More light falls onto the medium

Light

Medium Time

Let’s first establish the Aperture to Shutter Speed relationship…

The Water Bucket Analogy

=More water =

Less Time to Fill Bucket

Less water =

More Time to Fill Bucket

More Light =

Less Time to Expose Medium

Less Light =

More Time to Expose MediumAmount of water to fill the bucket =

Amount of light to get a proper exposure

ISO/ASAISO / ASA is a film convention that quantifies the sensitivity of the film to light.

In digital photography, ISO controls the light sensitivity of the camera sensor.

Higher ISO level= More sensitive medium is to light

Lower ISO level = Less sensitive medium is to light

Light

TimeMedium

Putting these 3 together…

The Exposure Triangle

Light

ExposureTimeMedium

Aperture

Shutter SpeedISO

Elements of Photography

Exposure TriangleDescribes the relationship between the aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

Increasing or decreasing the value of one will directly affect the exposure of an image.

Your desired exposure will always involve a combination of these 3 values.

The Window AnalogyAperture is the size of the window. A larger window lets more light in.

Shutter speed is the amount of time the window is open. The longer it is open, the more light comes in.

ISO is how sensitive your eyes are to the light coming in from the window.For example, wearing sunglasses make our eyes less sensitive to light (low ISO).

Loss or Gain of LightAperture

Shutter Speed

ISO

f/16 f/2.8

1/500 seconds 2 seconds

ISO 100 ISO 400

Less Light More Light

What are the three elements of photography?

Recap

What is exposure?

What controls the amount of light?

Recap

What controls the sensitivity of the camera’s sensor?

What controls exposure time?

Questions

What’s the difference between a snapshot and a

photograph?A snapshot is a picture taken without artistic intent.

A photograph is a well thought out image, involving artistry, technical skills and composition.

Elements of Photography

Light

TimeMedium

What is the most important element in a composition?

“The quality of the light is more important than the quantity of

the light.”

- Jo Avila

Getting to know Light

Diffused

Light has different properties we can leverage to make our photos more interesting…

Specular

Reflected Refracted

Colored

Specular Light

Specular Lighting creates defined or harsh shadows.

Adds strength to a photograph. Useful when taking pictures of men or powerful individuals.

Specular light comes from concentrated light sources such as the sun, or an exposed flash bulb.

Diffused LightDiffused Lighting creates soft, little or no visible shadows

Makes pictures feel softer, very useful when taking photos of women and children.

Diffused light comes from light sources with big surface areas such as a window or a soft box.

Converting Specular to Diffused

Use a diffuser to scatter light effectively from a specular light source.

A diffuser can be any material, from a simple cloth to a soft box, as long as it can scatter light emitted by your light source.

Diffuser Samples

And sometimes, it pays to be resourceful…

An experiment on Shadows

Subject is farther from light source

= Hard shadows behind subject

Subject is closer to the light source

= Soft shadows behind subject

Recap

What’s the difference between a snapshot and a photgraph?

Is sunlight specular or diffused?

When taking a baby’s portrait, what kind of light is best used?

How do we convert specular light to diffused?

Questions

Other Properties of Light

Reflected Light…Reflections can be

used to provide balance and symmetry

to an image.

Reflections can be enhanced by using a CPL Filter (Circular

Polarizer).

Refracted Light

Light can be refracted or bent. You can use it to

add more depth to your pictures.

Colored Light

Colors can be natural...

Colors can be artificial...

Reds and Yellows can make pictures look warmer...

Blues and Greens can make pictures look cooler...

Recap

What property of light can be used to bring symmetry to a picture?

What property of light can be used to bring more depth to a picture?

Questions

Improving Composition

Choose Your Focal LengthFocal Length is the distance between the lens and the recording medium.

Measured in millimeters.

50 mm 10 mm

Longer focal length =

Closer and magnified

Shorter focal length =

Wider and expansive

Use Depth of FieldThe zone of acceptable sharpness in front of and behind your subject.

The term Circle of Confusion or Bokeh describes the amount of blur needed to render a part of the photo as unsharp.

Use aperture and proper distance to control depth of field

Aperture and DOFlow F-stop = less DOF

f/1.8

high F-stop = more DOF

f/16

Use low F-stop for portraits

Use high F-stop for landscapes

Use f/8 to f/11 for general photography

Distance and DOF

The closer the subject, the less DOF.

The farther the subject, the more DOF.

Finger Focusing Example

Choose Your Shutter Speed

Motion can be either frozen or captured.

Fast shutter speed freezes motion

Slow shutter speed captures motion

Choose Your ISOHigh ISO settings are susceptible to image noise.

Lower ISO = Less noise

Noise is a random brightness or darkness of color information in an image.

Use noise to your advantage!

Understanding your Subject

The physical properties of your subject, either individual or relative to the environment.

Use these properties as foundations of a great composition.

A photograph is a story about your subject.

TextureTexture refers to the properties held and sensation caused by the external surface of objects received

through the sense of touch.

It is revealed in a photograph by variances

in tone, depth and shape.

Wood and lightning are popular examples.

Shape and FormBoth shape and form uses space to emphasize their outline.

Shape is 2-dimensional. The object looks flat and only

has length and width.

Form is 3-dimensional. The object looks like it has

length, width and depth.

Both CANNOT exist without the presence of space.

Pattern and RhythmPattern refers to elements in a photo that repeats itself in a predictable manner. Usually

lines and shapes.

Rhythm refers to the conjugation of elements in the

photo but in a non-uniform way.

ContrastContrast is the

dissimilarity of colors between two elements in a picture, usually the foreground/subject and

the background.

Variety

Variety is the mixture of different elements in a

photo with similar properties.

ScaleYou can capture scale and size in a photo by placing

objects of different sizes beside each other.

One of the objects in the photo should generally be familiar to your viewer.

Perspective

Perspective is the way how an element in the photo appears to the eye produced by the position of the

photographer.

Perspective can also affect the size and scale of your subject.

Seeing things differently

Worm’s Eye View Human’s Eye View Bird’s Eye View

Subject appears larger.

Subject appears normal.

Subject appears smaller.

Can 2 of these properties appear in the same

picture?

Exercisetexture

shape

form

pattern

rhythm

contrast

variety

scale

perspective

motion

Questions

Understanding the big picture

How do you make the entire photograph more interesting? Here are some guidelines…

Rule of ThirdsDivide up the view mentally into nine equal segments.

Portrait shots stress attention on the subject’s eyes.

Most landscape shots put the horizon along one line.

Put points of interest on the intersections of those lines.

BalanceBalance between the weight of the elements in a picture.

Informal balance have elements of unequal weight, but still manages to

both draw attention.

Formal balance have equally weighted elements.

Elements are like in a seesaw battle for attention.

SymmetrySymmetry creates 2 divisions in your image that are

identical to each other.

Mirror images are best examples.

Framing

Framing isolates the subject by confining it to a space within other elements of the photo.

Imagine a picture frame within your photograph.

Leading LinesUse natural lines that lead viewers deeper to your photo

or pointing towards your subject.

Negative SpaceNegative Space is defined as any empty

area in your photo that isolates your subject.

Selective Focus

The use of Depth of Field to isolate your subject from the rest

of the photo.

Can 2 of these guidelines appear in the same

picture?

ExerciseRule of Thirds

Balance

Symmetry

Framing

Leading Lines

Negative Space

Selective Focus

The Last Rule

Know the rules first before you break them!

The Rule of Breaking the Rules

Questions

Thank You

Credits

Photos by:

John Melvin Chua

Ryan Capulong

Joyce Paulo

Mary Rose Uy

Cocoy Lopez

Jonathan San Juan

Reyna Luto