1. Compiled by Michelle Padilla
Photography Basics
Compiled by Michelle Padilla

2. “You don’t take a photograph, you make it.” Ansel Adams

3. Rules of Composition
There are really no set “rules of composition”. What works, works. There are certainly plenty of things that usually don’t work well. I suggest you just take a ton of pictures.

4. Rule of Thirds Move your main subject away from the center of the picture. Very symmetrical images seldom work.

5. Rule of Thirds Many professional photographers try to place the object where lines intersect.

6. Get close! You want the things you are interested in the most to fill the picture.

7. Avoid Distractions Check how the subject interacts with the background – avoid trees growing out of heads etc.
On the “View”. Rosie was standing right in front of the “V” and it looked like she had antenna. Think about instances when you have seen things like this and talk to your students about them. Perhaps even take some shots that are set up like this to illustrate how distracting it can be.

8. Avoid messy chops Particularly chopping arms off at the wrist, legs at the foot, etc. Chop so it looks deliberate.

9. Try to hold your camera level, so horizons are level, buildings are upright. Or tilt it very deliberately for effect, but avoid slight tilts.
Good example of the “Rule of Thirds”

10. Strong Lines If there are strong lines in the scene, try to get them to disappear into the corner.

11. Use “S” curves. The eye enjoys following “S” curves or zig-zags.

12. Monotonous content Some images would make awesome jigsaw puzzles.
A neat class project is to cut up a monotonous picture and have the students increase the scale.

13. Using Layers One of the easiest ways to recover 3-dimensions from a two dimensional photo is to use layers of light and texture.

14. Use reflections Our brains seems clever at resolving 3-D scenes with the aid of reflections.

15. The Golden Hour Learn how to adjust the light on your camera for night shots, fireworks, etc.

16. No Smiling! Never ask people to smile (or say cheese) – you always get silly grins. Say something that amuses them to get a more natural effect.

17. Use Motion Motion is a great thing to capture in film
Use Motion Motion is a great thing to capture in film. Sometimes it is difficult to make out faces, so grandma might like a more posed photo.

18. Get some vertical photographs

19. Take photos at eye level.

20. Consider Point of View

21. Looking up to something makes it appear larger
Looking up to something makes it appear larger. And looking down on something makes it appear smaller.

22. Capture all expressions (not just smiles)

23. Know when to break all the “rules”
RULE – 3rds. Never center a subject
RULE - Include the whole subject in the photo
RULE - Never take a photo of the back of the subject.

24. Most importantly, Have fun!

25. Additional Resources
HP Using Digital Photography to enhance your child’s learning
Kids and Teens: Photography
Photography Ideas and Tips for Kids
Digital Camera Help
Training materials copyright and created by Bernalillo Public School Education Technology Department © Permission to reproduce for K-12 teacher training or classroom use is given as long as authorship credit is retained.