#1) Focus and Hold Still Photog’s Tips: Be sure your camera is set to automatic focus Hold the shutter button half way down to let the focus adjust and then press the rest of the way Brace yourself Slow Down

Focus and Hold Still Automatic Focus on the Lens Shutter Button

Focus and Hold Still Elbows In Both hands on camera; One on shutter; One on base of camera Neck Strap on Neck

Focus and Hold Still EPIC FAIL

Focus and Hold Still Brace Yourself

Focus and Hold Still EPIC FAIL

#2) Lighting and Color Photog’s Tips: Look for good lighting situations Avoid bad or low lighting situations Avoid over-exposing an image with too much light Interesting lighting can tell a great story Bright colors Use variation in colors Look for repeated colors Use school colors as often as possible

Lighting & Color Underexposed Adjust the settings or add flash

Lighting & Color Overexposed Adjust the settings or turn off flash

Lighting and Color Good Lighting And Natural Color

Lighting and Color Interesting Lighting and Color While this image has been post- processed, the intent of the flame as lighting and color is thoughtful.

#3) Rule of Thirds Photog’s Tips: The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. Some images make sense centered; Others make a bigger impact “off center.” The rule of thirds states than an image is most pleasing when its subjects or regions are composed along imaginary lines which divide the image into thirds The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally.

Rule of Thirds

Some images need to be centered

Rule of Thirds Other images intersect one of lines rather than being centered in between them – known as “Rule of Thirds”

Rule of Thirds “Off Centered” captures the whole scene and tells an amazing story

Rule of Thirds

#4) Leading Lines Photog’s Tips: Look for repetition to help tell the story Lines lead into the image or into a key point in the image

Leading Lines

#5) Fill the Frame Photog’s Tips: Get close Zoom in Focus on the main subject Eliminates distracting background

Fill the Frame

#6) Backgrounds Photog’s Tips: Backgrounds can be busy and distract from your focal point Use creative backgrounds to your advantage

Backgrounds EPIC FAIL

Backgrounds Captures action and tells the story of a huge crowd

#7) Perspective and Camera Rotation Photog’s Tips: Images can be taken horizontally and vertically They can even be taken in “tilt” mode Look for the unexpected to tell the story Move your body Move your position

Perspective and Camera Rotation

#8) Natural Framing Photog’s Tips: Natural framing is a photography technique where items being photographed are used as internal frames. These photographed frames can be natural such as trees, doorways, windows, or actual picture frames. What is used as a frame does not matter with this composition technique. What matters is that the item in your photograph frames the real subject of the image.

Natural Framing Framing in the foreground with nice in-focus subject

Natural Framing Framing in the foreground with foreground in focus

Natural Framing Framing in the entire images tells the story and focuses on the face.

#9) Objects tell a story, too! Photog’s Tips: Look for objects that represent a whole story where your caption or copy can still cover students. Avoid random objects or clip art that distracts from the purpose of the page and takes up valuable real-estate. Can bring beautiful color to a page Still use creative composition when shooting still- life.

Objects tell a story, too! This image went in a package that had copy and coverage about a Veteran’s banquet. The food was prepared by students.

Objects tell a story, too!

#10) Have fun and be safe! Photog’s Tips: Enjoy the experience! Make your subjects laugh, if possible. Look for people in their natural element so they will feel comfortable. Sometimes your subjects will have fun ideas, too!

Have fun!

Safety First Be aware of your surroundings. Know your boundaries. If possible, shoot with a partner. Let’s watch a video where a football player runs into the photographer. photographer-on-sidelines html

QUIZ TIME! The following images would all be excellent for placing in a yearbook. Write what “rules” of composition you think they follow and why. Some may have more than one answer, so be sure to defend your answers thoughtfully and completely!

Quiz Time - #1

Quiz Time - #2

Quiz Time - #3

Quiz Time - #4

Quiz Time - #5

Remember… The best camera is the one you have with you! Be Prepared!