Student Camera Concepts Student Camera Concepts ExamplesExamples

ConceptsConcepts The underlying The underlying principles that apply principles that apply

regardless of the camera you are regardless of the camera you are using.using.

Includes such things as how sharpness Includes such things as how sharpness and exposure affect your images and and exposure affect your images and the way they are perceived by the way they are perceived by viewers.viewers.

Understanding concepts answers the Understanding concepts answers the "why" kinds of questions you might "why" kinds of questions you might have about photography.have about photography.

Off-center Off-center compositioncomposition

Puts the object of Puts the object of interest to the side interest to the side instead of in the instead of in the centercenter

Makes the picture Makes the picture more interesting more interesting instead of making instead of making it look like a “mug-it look like a “mug-shot”shot”

Rule of thirdsRule of thirds When taking When taking

picture mentally picture mentally draw a 3x3 grid.draw a 3x3 grid.

Have subject line Have subject line up with an up with an intersection.intersection.

Gives appearance Gives appearance of visual motion.of visual motion.

BackgroundBackground

Picture that adds Picture that adds to the to the photographic story photographic story rather than rather than detracts from it. detracts from it.

Pay close attention Pay close attention to the background to the background of your picture, of your picture, because its an because its an important conceptimportant concept

Using objects in the scene to frame the subject of the photograph

This makes the subject seem more like a portrait

By using this element, the subject of the photo is more emphasized

FramingFraming

Capturing someone or something while they are in motion and in a natural state

Tells the viewer what the subject is doing

ActionAction

-Helps the eye to -Helps the eye to “wander” around a “wander” around a photograph using photograph using lines.lines.

-Lines could be -Lines could be diagonal, S-shaped, diagonal, S-shaped, or curved.or curved.

-Lines can also tie -Lines can also tie together objects together objects within a photograph.within a photograph.

Unifying ElementsUnifying Elements

Lines pull the eye in the direction you intend.

Unifying ElementsUnifying Elements

Close ups or different angles give a perspective viewers might not have considered.

Shooting up or down rather than straight on gives the viewers’ eye something unusual to see capturing their attention.

Light and the angle from which it comes is another effect to consider.

Special EffectsSpecial Effects

Using special effects Using special effects in a photograph in a photograph adds more interest.adds more interest.

The water running The water running in a spiral shape in in a spiral shape in this picture adds this picture adds more interest than a more interest than a picture without the picture without the moving water.moving water.

Special EffectsSpecial Effects

Nose room leaves Nose room leaves room between the room between the person’s face and person’s face and the edge of the the edge of the frameframe

Nose RoomNose Room

High Angle shot High Angle shot adds interest adds interest

Portrays a feeling of Portrays a feeling of superioritysuperiority

High Angle ShotHigh Angle Shot

This type of technique also adds interest to the photograph

This should make the viewer inferior

Low Angle ShotLow Angle Shot

Chest HighChest High

Good for Good for interviewsinterviews

Portrays a feeling Portrays a feeling of neutralityof neutrality

SharpnessSharpness

Reveals richness Reveals richness of detailsof details

Viewer looks at Viewer looks at the most sharp the most sharp part of the picture part of the picture firstfirst

PanningPanning Moving the camera Moving the camera

in the same in the same direction as a direction as a moving subject moving subject produces an image produces an image where the subject where the subject is relatively sharp is relatively sharp against a blurred against a blurred backgroundbackground

Color has a dramatic Color has a dramatic effect on photographs.effect on photographs.

In this photograph, the In this photograph, the color reflected on the color reflected on the windows is the same windows is the same as the color of the sky as the color of the sky above the building.above the building.

Color BalanceColor Balance

Color BalanceColor Balance Has a dramatic Has a dramatic

effect on the effect on the composition of your composition of your shotsshots

Have “visual Have “visual weight” compared weight” compared to the darker parts to the darker parts of the photoof the photo

Viewer’s attention Viewer’s attention is drawn to the is drawn to the colorful spotscolorful spots

WeatherWeather

Rain, snow, Rain, snow, fog, and mist fog, and mist add interest to add interest to your pictureyour picture

Front LightingFront Lighting Light falls on Light falls on

subject from subject from camera’s positioncamera’s position

Decreases visible Decreases visible shadowsshadows

Minimizes surface Minimizes surface detailsdetails

Light comes from Light comes from behind subjectbehind subject

The side facing The side facing camera is in camera is in shadeshade

Back LightingBack Lighting

Back LightingBack Lighting

Light comes Light comes from behind from behind subjectsubject

The side The side facing facing camera is in camera is in shadeshade

Side LightingSide Lighting

Light falls mainly Light falls mainly on one sideon one side

Adds texture and Adds texture and volumevolume

Shadows Shadows emphasize emphasize surface detailssurface details

Top LightingTop Lighting Lighting from Lighting from

overheadoverhead Casts shadows in Casts shadows in

eye socketseye sockets Can occur Can occur

outdoors at noon outdoors at noon or indoors if or indoors if ceiling lights are ceiling lights are dominatedominate

DepthDepth Depth is using a point that gives people a Depth is using a point that gives people a

scene of how far away it really is scene of how far away it really is

DepthDepth

DistanceDistance

Distance shots add Distance shots add a different a different viewpoint to the viewpoint to the photographphotograph

Adds interest by Adds interest by the subject being the subject being far away and from far away and from a new anglea new angle

Taking the picture from a very close perspective.Taking the picture from a very close perspective. Adds emphasis on the subject.Adds emphasis on the subject.

Close UpClose Up

CreditsCredits

Digital PhotographyDigital Photography document on document on shared driveshared drive

Digital Camera ConceptsDigital Camera Concepts PowerPoint presentation on shared PowerPoint presentation on shared drivedrive

PhotographsPhotographs from personal from personal collectioncollection