Agenda

Overview Tips for Taking Good Photos

Editing Photos

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Producing Good Photos• Composing

• Editing

GadgetsI’m not a gadget person. My focus is always

composition, using whatever camera is available.

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Frame the Photo

◦ Hands, feet, headsAre they all in, if that is the desired look?Pay attention to how much sky and foreground are showing. Is it the look that you want?

◦ Camera angleBest not to point camera down at subjects, unless you are going for that particular look. Get level.

◦ Body and face looks and anglesAre subjects slouching, legs hanging open, faces looking down, etc.

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Frame the Photo Examples

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• Feet are cut off• Some eyes are closed• Can’t see some faces• Too much “sky”

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• Nicely framed• Even “sky/foreground”• All faces are showing• People are smiling

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Camera pointing down at Sophie.

Camera at eye level with Sophie.

Sun and Lighting

◦ Time of day and sunlightMid-day is the worst time of day to take photos outside. When the sun is directly above, there is too much bright, glaring, overhead light. Photos appear washed out.

◦ ShadowsWatch out for bodies and faces in part shade, part sun.

◦ Position versus sunBest not to take photos into the sun. Have your back to the sun, but watch for your own shadow and watch for subjects squinting, looking into a bright sun.

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Good lighting in late afternoon. Good contrast and sun position. Otavalo, Equador.

Bright sun overhead and shadows make the subject too dark.

Flash or No Flash

◦ GlareIf a flash reflects off of something in the background, it can produce unwanted glare.

◦ Wash out Colors can appear washed out with a flash.

◦ Low light motion and blurrinessIn low light situations, you might not need a flash, but motion can appear blurry. Too much distance can cause blurriness also.

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Flash or No Flash Examples

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Low light without a flash and motion, caused this photo to be

blurry.

Glare from flash and

washed out colors.

Photography in Classrooms and Schools

◦ Be aware of the background

Can clutter be cleared up?Cables and other distracting “stuff”

laying around?

◦ Kids love to make hand signals

We can’t use these photos.

◦ Remember sky/ground ceiling/floor and framing

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Photography in Classrooms and Schools Examples

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Hand signalsToo much clutter around the room distracts from the

subject.

Photography in Classrooms and Schools Examples

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Too much ceiling.

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Good examples of classroom photos.

Framed well. Minimal clutter.

Photos of Groups

Try to line up in even rows without some people too far in the foreground and others too far back.

If the back of the group is too close to a wall you might get unwanted shadows.

Can everyone see the camera. If not, their face will not be in the photo.

I like to get kids to wave, but remind them not to cover someone else’s face.

If outside, try to have your back to the sun, watch out for your shadow. If the sun is too bright people will have to squint.

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• One girl way in the front of the rest makes it too difficult to see the others far in the back.

• One boy is holding a box in front of his face. This happens frequently with hands waving also.

• One girl in front of screen with glare

• Some students behind others and not visible

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Photo by SAAM photographer.

Action Shots

◦ People speakingIt can be really difficult to take a photo of someone while they are talking. Try to time the photo when they are in between words to avoid funny faces.

◦ Hand MovementTry to time the photo in between hand motions to avoid blurriness.

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No meaningful expression. Background too dark.

This one is better. Could use to express making a point. Light background is better contrast.

My Four Favorite FixesCropping

Lighting, Color, ContrastStraightening

Red Eye

Picasa Demo

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