1. Taking Good Photographs The Principles of Composition

2. Think about what the picture should look like before you take it. Photos send a message- what message do you wish to convey?

3. Center of Interest Determine what you want the viewer’s attention to be drawn to before you take the photo

4. Vertical and Horizontal For tall subjects (people standing, buildings, flagpoles), hold the camera vertically For flat objects (the horizon, a person sleeping), hold it horizontally

6. The Rule of Thirds

7. Horizons Horizons should always be placed one-third away from the bottom or top of the photo

8. Camera Angle Choose a unique viewpoint most people might not ever see Change angle to eliminate distracting things in the background

9. Camera Angle Hints To make someone look more impressive, shoot from lower than their shoulders up To make someone look less impressive, shoot from above Always get down to the same level as children

10. Your subject is not a bulls-eye Try several different viewpoints- do not always center your subject in the middle

11. Taking a Portrait Good portraits reveal at least one element of a person’s attitude, personality or mannerisms You want to “really capture” the subject

12. How to take a good portrait 1. Decide what is unique about the person 2. Make them feel comfortable: smile at them, have some small talk 3. Emphasize them, not their surroundings 4. Shoot the head and shoulders, with the eyes as the center of interest

13. Size and Scale Objects that are big seem more important, while small objects seem less important.

14. Which seems more important?

15. Climb high Landscapes and large groups should be shot from above- climb up on something to get a good angle

16. Camera Shake A blurry picture is often caused by not holding the camera still Solutions: Stand firm, hold your breath and press the shutter; don’t use zoom; use a tripod or solid surface

17. Lines and Patterns Lines lead the viewer’s eye to a point in a photo Patterns catch viewer attention

19. Moving subjects Always show the destination of a moving subject

20. Which is the better photo?