1. The Photo Commandments
(or, um, suggestions)
Courtesy of:

2. I. Be Active and Move!
Move yourself, move your camera, or move objects to get a better composition
point your camera in different directions

3. I. Be Active and Move!
Move yourself, move your camera, or move objects to get a better composition
move your body higher or lower

4. II. Be Quick, Be Ready, or Wait
Be ready at all times to capture that perfect "decisive moment" or wait for one

5. II. Be Quick, Be Ready, or Wait
Be ready at all times to capture that perfect "decisive moment" or wait for one

6. III. Fill the Picture Frame with Essentials
The choices you make on what to include the frame affects the meaning of the photo.

7. IV. Minimize the Unnecessary
Do not include extra stuff that distracts the viewer. NO CLUTTER!!!
Do not ignore the background. Be aware of everything in the frame.

8. IV. Minimize the Unnecessary
clutter in the background takes away from the picture

9. IV. Minimize the Unnecessary
background objects that are NOT clutter

10. IV. Minimize the Unnecessary
foreground objects that are NOT clutter

11. IV. Minimize the Unnecessary
Do not include extra stuff that distracts the viewer. NO CLUTTER!!!
Do not ignore the background. Be aware of everything in the frame.
clutter in the background takes away from the picture

12. V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
Don't put objects directly in the center.
Or maybe you should.
Huh?
To the side usually makes a dynamic photograph. Centered objects are static.

13. V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
When photos follow the rule of thirds, it helps the eye to move across the image.

14. V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
When photos follow the rule of thirds, it helps the eye to move across the image.

15. V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
When photos follow the rule of thirds, it helps the eye to move across the image.

16. V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
When photos follow the rule of thirds, it helps the eye to move across the image.

17. V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
Subjects in the center of a mostly symmetrical photo give a formal look

18. V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
Subjects in the center of a mostly symmetrical photo give a formal look

19. V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
Subjects in the center of a mostly symmetrical photo give a formal look

20. VI. Honor the Orientation of the Picture Plane and the P.O.V
Horizontal, Vertical, or Skewed
Low Angles, High Angles, and Unusual Angles
horizontal

21. VI. Honor the Orientation of the Picture Plane and the P.O.V
vertical

22. VI. Honor the Orientation of the Picture Plane and the P.O.V
looking slightly down

23. VII. Honor ALL Shapes From positive/negative shape
From shadows and light

24. VII. Honor ALL Shapes From positive/negative shape
From shadows and light

25. VII. Honor ALL Shapes From positive/negative shape
From shadows and light

26. VIII. Honor the Elements of Art and Principles of Design
line, color, value, texture, shape, form, space
unity, balance, dominance, repetition, rhythm, contrast, theme/variation

27. IX. Use a Tripod for Shutter Speeds at 30 and under
If there is not enough light, the camera might want a longer shutter speed. With a longer shutter speed comes "shakey" blurred photos.
On digital cameras, you can adjust the ISO to avoid this problem

28. X. Break the Rules when it will Improve the Photograph
Know what the rules are, but break them if it will produce a better photo.

29. Is that all?
NOPE

30. Photography Bill of Rights!

31. i. Show the Eyespace Show the area your subject is looking into.
eyespace cut off, giving a sense of unease

32. i. Show the Eyespace Show the area your subject is looking into.
eyespace shown

33. i. Show the Eyespace Show the area your subject is looking into.
eyespace shown upwards

34. i. Show the Eyespace Show the area your subject is looking into.
eyespace shown looking down

35. ii. Beware the Sprouting Pole
Trees, poles, or any other objects that come out of someone’s head look strange.
pole-head

36. iii. Show Space
Portraits have a sense of space if there is at least 4 feet of nothingness behind a person.
Photos have a sense of space if they have objects in the foreground, midground, and background.
pole-head

37. iii. Show Space
subject is right up against wall, no sense of space is shown

38. iii. Show Space
nothing is right behind the subjects

39. iii. Show Space
objects in the foreground, midground, and background show space

40. iii. Show Space
objects in the foreground, midground, and background show space

41. iii. Show Space
nothing is right behind the subjects

42. iv. Show the Unexpected
Notice odd things in life and capture them with your camera.

43. iv. Show the Unexpected
Notice odd things in life and capture them with your camera.

44. iv. Show the Unexpected
Notice odd things in life and capture them with your camera.

45. iv. Show the Unexpected
Notice odd things in life and capture them with your camera.

46. iv. Show the Unexpected
Notice odd things in life and capture them with your camera.