Skills talk I: Making pictures rather than taking pictures. Bringing faith to life through the power of image

An introduction to Shine.

Photography and the law: Trespass Obstruction Government sites Data Protection

What makes a good or a bad picture?

Work involves: Making people see your point of view. Good composition. Technically good images – ie not blurred. Common problems Under or over-exposed Out of focus /blur die to handshake Blur due to too lower shutter speed. Insufficient depth of field Harsh light and unwanted flair

Taking the photograph Basic skills

Exposure Over/under Bracketing Manually adjusting Backlit scenes Reflective surfaces

A57 bridge over Trent: 2 stops underexposed

A57 bridge over Trent: 2 stops overexposed

A57 bridge over Trent: correctly exposed.

Light The golden hour Using balance flash Using negative space Graduated filters Polarisers.

Shutter speed The inverse rule 1/60 th handholding 1/125 walking 1/500 running 1/1000 aircraft. Panning 1/60.

Blur due to lack of focus. Make sure you focus the lens before you take the picture. Some cameras do this Automatically – but it is not failsafe.

Blur due to handshake. On average, people can hold a camera steady for no less than 1/60 th second. Some specialised lenses will allow you to handhold for longer periods – these are called image-stabilised or vibration-reduction lenses. One lens element moves in the lens to counteract the jogging movement in your hand.

Blur due to subject moving fast - Red Arrows: Shot at 1/60s

Red Arrows: Shot at 1/250s Still not that sharp – need 1/500s!

Aperture & lenses Larger aperture = smaller number, Narrow zone of focus. f1.4/ f8 /f11/ f16 (Depends on lens & distance from subject.)

Rob Lowe: X Factor Youth Project. F8 Too much depth of field

Rob Lowe: X Factor Youth Project. F2.8 Depth of field controlled

Using flash Off camera is better. Softening flash. Fill flash. Second curtain flash sync.

Bright sunlight: Shadows and lens flare

Bright sunlight: Use hood and flash to lighten shadows

Camera settings Low ISO film/rating. Long exposure for landscapes. Highest quality files. Avoid in-camera styles.

Taking the photograph Composition.

Use your spare lens! Rule of 1/3rds. Foreground detail. Use of leading lines. Spirals, circles, curves. Triangles, Framing, in-camera cropping.