Photography

“Are we using 1,000 words where a picture should be?”

-Matt Thompson, newsless.org

Why add photos to stories?

• To – reflect – add emotion – add color– give a sense of a person – or a place

• People are more likely to look at stories with photos.

First thing’s first -Hold the camera correctly

• Use two hands– Your right should hold the body of the camera– Your left should support the weight from below

The Moment• Find the irregular in the every day• Catch the moment– Patience – Practice

The decisive momentBy Henri Cartier-Bresson

Dead Space• Fill the frame“If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not

close enough.” – war photographer Robert Capa• Avoid head space or dead space

bad

Rule of Thirds

• A.K.A. the golden ratio• Avoid a perfectly centered photo• Makes photos more balanced and interesting

Framing

• Use objects to frame your subject and lead the viewer to the main point

Patterns

• A pattern of lines or shapes in your photos makes for a more interesting composition.

Lighting• If your photos are too

dark, use the flash, get closer or increase the shutter speed.

• Too bright? Turn off the flash, back off or decrease the shutter speed.

Focus• An unfocused photo is usually worthless. • If your photos are blurry:– Hold the camera properly to keep it still– Increase the shutter or film speed– Move into the light or add artificial light

Unfocused photos can work if the blur is intentional and used for a purpose.

Shoot From All Angles

• Get on the ground• Stand on top of things• Tilt your camera• Avoid the 6 x 8: Positioning the camera about

six feet high and about eight feet from the subject

Three types of photos for a slideshow

• Wide – give viewers perspective

• Medium – drill in on the purpose

• Tight – capture the details

Tips and Tricks

• When cropping through a body, don’t cut at the joints

• Don’t take photos through glass• Don’t shoot from behind – always get two

eyes and an ear• Mugging – when people pose for you, take

those photos and erase them later

PRACTICE• Practice• Practice• Practice• Practice

“The only reason anyone is a better photographer than you is that they’ve probably taken thousands more photos than you.” – Multimedia journalist Richard Koci Hernandez

This PowerPoint presentation can be reproduced as long as credit is given to Karen McIntyre.