Basic Photography I

“Snapshots to Great shots”

© PinoDomenicoPhoto.com 2014

What makes a great photo?

1. Composition– Line / Shape / Perspective– Pattern– Texture– Color– Balance

2. Capturing the Decisive Moment• You lose 100% of pictures you don’t shoot• Sometimes you have to wait to be born (timing)

Line / Shape / Perspective

Bricks form a regular Pattern with a grainy

Texture

A ¼ sec exposure makes water a smooth texture in background and an irregular cracked-ice pattern of moonlight in foreground

Sailboat masts form a regular pattern. Airborne fish form an irregularly spaced repeating pattern

Look for Complementary Colors

Balance & SymmetryLook for Reflections andNatural Symmetries

Place Subject on 1/3Of background

Symmetry created in post process

Capture the Decisive Moment

How do you know it’s a great shot?

1. You can feel it when you look at it.• Learn to think with your right-side brain

2. You can check to see what elements of composition it contains

• Like a fine wine you can describe it’s attributes (just don’t discount how it makes you feel).

3. Everyone likes it• Rely on “The wisdom of crowds”

How do you take a great shot?

• Manage the Scene– Move around to see all the “angles”– Place your subject on “one third” of the frame– Find the right time for each right space– Keep shooting!

• Manage the Subject– Place your subject in the best setting in the area– Pose (and frame) your subject– Pay attention to the light – esp. faces

...Is the frame well composed? Can you “feel” it?

Manage the Scene

• It’s important to move around to “see” all the viewpoints – keep moving around

• Is there a nearby spot where the light is best?

• What’s in the background? Choose the best setting & lighting.

• No objects sticking out of people’s head and sides(Wires, poles, branches, microphones, cars, boats, other heads?)

• Find the right place and time– Note passing locations (look for “Found Art”)

– Scout locations in your spare time (like a Pro)• Get out on foot and look at the possibilities• Where will the light be at a particular time of day?

Work the

SceneLeft:Coming down to “dog” height makes this walkway seen much larger and lanterns seem taller/larger.

Right:Shot at an angle and without a personal reference, top seems shot from an aircraft – below tells viewer that it’s shot from a much higher location on land.

(Scala, Amalfi Coast)

Manage the SubjectTop:Placing a person between statues shows sizeBelow: Background separation adds depth

Top: 1/3 rule Rules.Below right, exposed for outside snowy day.Below left, exposed for flower – whited out b/g

Great Places for Portraits

In the House1. By the Window, from the side – “sculptured”2. Window at your back – better lit

Outside1. Under a bridge or overhanging structure2. Against textured background – bricks?3. Touring

• One third rule• Work the scene – be creative / novel

Some of My Favorite Places• Boston

• By the Charles, Memorial Dr, from The Sonesta to Mass Ave• Paul Revere Park – near City Sq, Charlestown (Best view of Zakim Bridge)• Harborwalk – esp. Boston Harbor Hotel area• Pier’s Park East Boston – great view of Boston harbor-scape• Boston Public Gardens (incl. under bridge over pond!)• Top of the Hub – Observation deck (place camera against glass to min. reflections)• Commonwealth Ave – esp. in winter, with lights on trees• Atlantic Ave – Waterfront area • Libraries and Museums

– Back of MFA , and across the street on foot bridge– Courtyard of Boston Public Library

• Near Boston• Winchester – {Family/kids candids} Stone Zoo, {Family Portraits} back of Winchester Library• Medford {Portraits} – Fellsmere Park, Craddock Bridge (behind Brookline Bank, High St)• Billerica {Autumn scenes} – Elsie Ave, off River St, Nutting Lake (Eastside) Middlesex Tpk.• Chelsea – O'Malley Park, Admiral Hill – interesting view of Mystic Br. and industrial Boston

My Favorite Times

• Magic Hour – 1hr to/from Sunrise/Sunset– Also late afternoon & Early morning

• Dusk – Blue Hour (right after Sunset)

• Moon-face days:– Day before full Moon, at Sunset– Day after full Moon, at Sunrise

• Moon-shine days– Day after full Moon at Dusk (over water)

About the Light

• Overcast is most even light – no shadows...also not much contrast...(sometimes you want shadow)

• Bluish (“cold” tones, color temp 5000°Kelvin+)– Daylight - Outside– Flash– Some LED lights and some car headlights

• Reddish (“warm” tones, color temp 3000-4500°K)– Incandescent Light – Inside (aka. Tungsten)

• Greenish– Fluorescent and CFL (at any color temp)– Mercury street lights

• Color Cast – an unwanted tint that affects the photooften result from camera setting or “mixed” color temps

Help From Your Camera

• Use “Sports” scene when zooming (faster shutter)

• Use a Tripod for “Fireworks” and night scenes• Use a Reflector, to avoid silhouetted faces against

bright backgrounds (daytime)...unless you have a powerful flash

• Use HDR (Rich Tone) for high contrast scenes...if you have it

• Use Higher ISO for dimly lit scenes (night scene setting)• Cell Phones(S2-5) have special features – investigate!

• Metering, Panorama, “Smile”, Object removal...many more.

How to Pose people(First get rid of, or hide, any foreign objects)

• Singles– Weight on rear leg & Flex the front knee– Women – if it bends, flex it (C and S curves), Hands on Hips?

– Avoid cutting off near joints

• Groups (2-4, more, and many more)• Face to face and back to back / \ or \ /• Double FTF*BTB \ / \ / (w/ crossed arms?)• Symmetrical: 45 deg. Interleaved ////-\\\\• Casual: Ask them to Interact – rest on neighbor, whisper, etc.• Stack larger groups: Standing...hands-on-knees...1st row kneel/sit• Take a Good Look...Rearrange? (you must direct them one at a time)• Take 3-4 shots (tell them you will take several)• Tell them to look at you (demand it), “3-2-1-hold it” {&repeat}• “Crazy” picture always LAST