Digital Photography Basics with Jason Barnette

What is Photography?Jason Barnette

Photojournalist and Travel Photographer

Photography Basics

What makes a great photo? It tells a story It has meaning It is powerful It is unique

Photography Basics

Photography Basics

Photography Basics

Photography Basics

Photography Basics

Composition and framing

Photography Basics

Composition and framing Use the space wisely

Photography Basics

Composition and framing Use the space wisely Keep the camera level

Photography Basics

Composition and framing Use the space wisely Keep the camera level Make sure you draw attention to subject of photo

Photography Basics

Rule of Thirds

Photography Basics

Rule of Thirds Divide a photo into thirds both horizontally and vertically

Photography Basics

Rule of Thirds Divide a photo into thirds both horizontally and vertically Horizon line should be on one of the horizontal lines

Photography Basics

Rule of Thirds Divide a photo into thirds both horizontally and vertically Horizon line should be on one of the horizontal lines Place main subject in either 1/3 or 2/3 of the frame

Photography Basics

Rule of Thirds Divide a photo into thirds both horizontally and vertically Horizon line should be on one of the horizontal lines Place main subject in either 1/3 or 2/3 of the frame Use “sweet spots” for perfect placement

Photography Basics

How to Choose Camera Equipment

Camera Bodies


Camera Bodies

Lenses


Camera Bodies

Lenses

Lighting (Strobes)


Camera Bodies

Lenses

Lighting (Strobes)

Accessories


Camera Bodies - Types Cellphones Point & Shoot DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) Medium Format Large Format


Camera Bodies – Brand Names Nikon Canon Pentax Sigma Olympus Sony


Camera Bodies – What to Look For Fully manual controls Uses something other than AA batteries Uses CF or SD memory cards Replaceable lenses Resolution is irrelevant


Camera Lenses – Types Fisheye: 10mm or smaller


Camera Lenses – Types Fisheye: 10mm or smaller Wide Angle: 10-30mm


Camera Lenses – Types Fisheye: 10mm or smaller Wide Angle: 10-30mm Normal: 35-70mm


Camera Lenses – Types Fisheye: 10mm or smaller Wide Angle: 10-30mm Normal: 35-70mm Telephoto: 85-200mm


Camera Lenses – Types Fisheye: 10mm or smaller Wide Angle: 10-30mm Normal: 35-70mm Telephoto: 85-200mm Supertelephoto: 200-600mm






Camera Lenses – Prime vs. Zoom


Camera Lenses – Prime vs. Zoom Prime lenses use a single focal length


Camera Lenses – Prime vs. Zoom Prime lenses use a single focal length Zoom lenses can vary greatly or only slightly


Camera Lenses – Prime vs. Zoom Prime lenses use a single focal length Zoom lenses can vary greatly or only slightly Prime lenses are sharper, lighter, cheaper


Camera Lenses – Prime vs. Zoom Prime lenses use a single focal length Zoom lenses can vary greatly or only slightly Prime lenses are sharper, lighter, cheaper Prime lenses are often the better choice for portraits,

landscapes, products, and marketing



landscapes, products, and marketing Zoom lenses are heavier, more expensive, more easily

broken



landscapes, products, and marketing Zoom lenses are heavier, more expensive, more easily

broken Zoom lenses are better for sports, editorial


Camera Lenses – Fixed Aperture vs. Variable Aperture


Camera Lenses – Fixed Aperture vs. Variable Aperture Cheaper lenses = variable maximum aperture


Camera Lenses – Fixed Aperture vs. Variable Aperture Cheaper lenses = variable maximum aperture Better lenses = fixed maximum aperture


Camera Lenses – Tips on Buying and Using


Camera Lenses – Tips on Buying and Using Get the right lens for the job


Camera Lenses – Tips on Buying and Using Get the right lens for the job Wide angle for tight spaces and large groups


Camera Lenses – Tips on Buying and Using Get the right lens for the job Wide angle for tight spaces and large groups Normal range for individual portraits and most common


Camera Lenses – Tips on Buying and Using Get the right lens for the job Wide angle for tight spaces and large groups Normal range for individual portraits and most common Telephoto for sports and wildlife


Camera Lenses – Tips on Buying and Using Get the right lens for the job Wide angle for tight spaces and large groups Normal range for individual portraits and most common Telephoto for sports and wildlife If you can be flexible during shoots, go with primes


Camera Lenses – Tips on Buying and Using Get the right lens for the job Wide angle for tight spaces and large groups Normal range for individual portraits and most common Telephoto for sports and wildlife If you can be flexible during shoots, go with primes If you don’t have much money to spend, buy one or two

zooms (worth three primes)



zooms (worth three primes) Start with 50mm prime



zooms (worth three primes) Start with 50mm prime Have at least one lens with an aperture of f/1.8 or f/1.4


Lighting (Strobes) Internal flashes are weak, narrow, consume battery power


Lighting (Strobes) Internal flashes are weak, narrow, consume battery power External flashes, also known as Strobes, are more

commonly used




commonly used Light modification kits, bounce boards, diffusers



commonly used Light modification kits, bounce boards, diffusers Remotes, such as Pocket Wizards, help fire strobes

remotely, but are not required



commonly used Light modification kits, bounce boards, diffusers Remotes, such as Pocket Wizards, help fire strobes

remotely, but are not required Light stands, clamps, special adaptors


Accessories


Accessories Bags, cases, protection


Accessories Bags, cases, protection Tripod, monopod


Accessories Bags, cases, protection Tripod, monopod Filters (UV, CPL, ND)




Accessories Bags, cases, protection Tripod, monopod Filters (UV, CPL, ND) Remotes


Accessories Bags, cases, protection Tripod, monopod Filters (UV, CPL, ND) Remotes Sensor and lens cleaning

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – Aperture

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – Aperture Aperture determines how much light enters the camera

body through the lens

Camera Basics


body through the lens Uses a scale called the F-Scale and looks like f/5.6

Camera Basics


body through the lens Uses a scale called the F-Scale and looks like f/5.6 The larger the aperture, the smaller the number

Camera Basics


body through the lens Uses a scale called the F-Scale and looks like f/5.6 The larger the aperture, the smaller the number The smaller the aperture (larger the number) the more

limited the Depth of Field

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – Exposure (Shutter Speed)

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – Exposure (Shutter Speed) Exposure is the amount of time the sensor is exposed to

light

Camera Basics


light Minimum exposure times are required for different

situations

Camera Basics



situations Human action: 1/125

Camera Basics



situations Human action: 1/125 Sports: 1/1000-1/2000

Camera Basics



situations Human action: 1/125 Sports: 1/1000-1/2000 Wildlife: 1/500

Camera Basics



situations Human action: 1/125 Sports: 1/1000-1/2000 Wildlife: 1/500 General rule for exposure: shutter speed should be faster

than 1 / focal length

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO ISO determines how sensitive your sensor is to light

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO ISO determines how sensitive your sensor is to light Similar to ASA during days of film

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO ISO determines how sensitive your sensor is to light Similar to ASA during days of film Lower the ISO, the less sensitive (requires more light)

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO ISO determines how sensitive your sensor is to light Similar to ASA during days of film Lower the ISO, the less sensitive (requires more light) Typical ISO settings:

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO ISO determines how sensitive your sensor is to light Similar to ASA during days of film Lower the ISO, the less sensitive (requires more light) Typical ISO settings: 100 ISO = Sunny days

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO ISO determines how sensitive your sensor is to light Similar to ASA during days of film Lower the ISO, the less sensitive (requires more light) Typical ISO settings: 100 ISO = Sunny days 400 ISO = Cloudy days/indoor with strobe/portraits

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO ISO determines how sensitive your sensor is to light Similar to ASA during days of film Lower the ISO, the less sensitive (requires more light) Typical ISO settings: 100 ISO = Sunny days 400 ISO = Cloudy days/indoor with strobe/portraits 800 ISO = Pre-Dawn, post-dusk, very low light situations

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – ISO ISO determines how sensitive your sensor is to light Similar to ASA during days of film Lower the ISO, the less sensitive (requires more light) Typical ISO settings: 100 ISO = Sunny days 400 ISO = Cloudy days/indoor with strobe/portraits 800 ISO = Pre-Dawn, post-dusk, very low light situations 1600 ISO = Indoor sports

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – White Balance

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – White Balance Determines what is white depending on color temperature

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – White Balance Determines what is white depending on color temperature Most cameras have about 7 pre-set settings

Camera Basics

Camera Basics – White Balance Determines what is white depending on color temperature Most cameras have about 7 pre-set settings An incorrect white balance can ruin a photo, but can be

corrected with editing software

Photography Law

Photography Law - Copyright

Photography Law

Photography Law – Copyright A photograph is automatically protected the moment it is

created

Photography Law


created You can register photos, but not necessary

Photography Law


created You can register photos, but not necessary U.S. Copyright Office suggests you add the following to all

appearances of your photo: Copyright Symbol + Name + Date taken

Photography Law


created You can register photos, but not necessary U.S. Copyright Office suggests you add the following to all

appearances of your photo: Copyright Symbol + Date Taken+ Name

Example: © 2011 Jason Barnette

Photography Law

Photography Law - Releases

Photography Law

Photography Law - Releases Only required when shooting individual or group portraits,

children, or on private property

Photography Law


children, or on private property Not required for shooting on public property, including

streets, sidewalks, parks, beaches, and any government-owned and operated property

Photography Law




Also not required if photos are used for editorial, educational, or non-profit uses

Photography Law




Also not required if photos are used for editorial, educational, or non-profit uses

You do not need a release as long as the person has no reasonable expectation of privacy

Photography Law

Photography Law – Your Rights

Photography Law

Photography Law – Your Rights You have the right to shoot any photo on public property

Photography Law

Photography Law – Your Rights You have the right to shoot any photo on public property You can shoot any person on public property

Photography Law

Photography Law – Your Rights You have the right to shoot any photo on public property You can shoot any person on public property You do not have to surrender yourself or camera gear to

any individual or police officer on public property

Capturing Great Photos

Capturing Emotion


Capturing Emotion Spontaneous



Capturing Emotion Spontaneous Better with a long lens from a distance


Capturing Emotion Spontaneous Better with a long lens from a distance Be gentle, respectful, and use good judgement


Capturing Emotion Spontaneous Better with a long lens from a distance Be gentle, respectful, and use good judgement Don’t draw attention to yourself


Capturing Emotion Spontaneous Better with a long lens from a distance Be gentle, respectful, and use good judgement Don’t draw attention to yourself Mimic the emotions you are capturing



Telling a Story


Telling a Story ALL photography is about telling a story



Telling a Story ALL photography is about telling a story Stories have characters, mood, setting, time of day or

year



year Use the environment to tell the story rather than words



year Use the environment to tell the story rather than words A great story-telling photo does not need a caption


Photojournalism


Photojournalism Photojournalism is the art of telling a story with photos

instead of words



instead of words If you can use an action verb to describe a photo, it is

photojournalism



instead of words If you can use an action verb to describe a photo, it is

photojournalism All photos should tell a story, regardless of purpose or

intent



Position


Position Forget eye-height and experiment


Position Forget eye-height and experiment Different positions suggest different moods


Position Forget eye-height and experiment Different positions suggest different moods Standing higher, looking down suggests the subject is

small, weak, powerless



small, weak, powerless Sitting low, looking up suggest the subject is larger than

life, dominating, powerful



small, weak, powerless Sitting low, looking up suggest the subject is larger than

life, dominating, powerful Canted angles should almost always be avoided



Working with the Greatest Light Source: The Sun


Working with the Greatest Light Source: The Sun #1 problem in amateur photography: fighting the sun


Working with the Greatest Light Source: The Sun #1 problem in amateur photography: fighting the sun Best hours of day to shoot outside: 3 hours after sunrise,

3 hours before sunset



3 hours before sunset Always place sun behind you



3 hours before sunset Always place sun behind you The sun changes position and inclination in the sky

depending on time of year




depending on time of year Use an almanac or online sun plotter to determine angle

and position of sun




depending on time of year Use an almanac or online sun plotter to determine angle

and position of sun Sometimes, waiting on the sun is the most important part


Amateur vs. Professional

A professional is simply someone who earns a living primarily from photography



A professional can do something an amateur cannot




A professional knows how to handle all situations




A professional knows how to handle all situations

A professional is also a businessperson


5 Rules for a Great Photographer

Never Set the Camera Down



Never Draw Attention to Yourself




Don’t Become Part of the Story





Always Charge Your Batteries





Always Charge Your Batteries

Be Prepared for Anything

Education

Digital Photography Basics with Jason Barnette