Photography: Some Basics

1) Basics Photography – from Greek Photo (light) Graphé (writing) A blend of art and science Began in early 1800s Began with chemical process; now electronic (digital cameras)

2) Interpreting Images and Photography Vocabulary and Techniques

Subject The main object or person(s) emphasized in the photograph. –What does the photograph seem to say/show about the subject? –Look at Position Lighting Expression Actions Etc… –How do these affect the EMOTION and MESSAGE?

Setting Actual physical surroundings or scenery, whether real or artificial. –How does the setting affect the way we see the subject, or the overall message of the work?

Foreground/Background Foreground –The part of the scene or picture that is or seems to be toward the front. Background –The part of the scene or picture that is or seems to be toward the back. * How does the foreground/background affect our understanding of the subject?

Different types of shots Long Shot –The subject is shown at a relatively small scale (from far away). Emphasizes setting. Wide Shot –Subject takes up full frame, or most of it. We look at whole subject, within setting. Mid Shot –Closer in – shows part of the subject in detail. The photographer wants us to look closer. Close Up –A certain feature takes up the whole frame. Detail or emotion is important here.

Reindeer Herding: Interpret these 3 photos using terms you’ve learned.

Composition: The Rule of Thirds The rule of thirds is the simplest rule of composition. All you do is take your frame and overlay a grid of nine equal sections. This means you split the vertical space into three parts and the horizontal space into three parts. Here's what that looks like:

Generally you want to place important elements where the grid intersects.

3) Tips for your photographs

Think about your shots Before you even lift your camera, look at your subject and think about –What you think is interesting –What you want to emphasize –How you want your image to look (composition)

Move around When you’ve chosen your subject, try moving around and seeing how it looks from various angles or perspectives. A shot from above, from below, from close up or far away will have very different effects.

Take a lot of photographs! Shoot a lot more than you need (if you’re using digital) Take multiple angles and shots of the same subject… experiment!!! Go through what you’ve shot and pick the very best. –The more you shoot, the more options you have. –The more you practice taking good photographs, the better you’ll get.