GEOMETRIC PHOTOS
COLOR
COLOR: Monochromatic
COLOR: Analogous
COLOR: Complementary
PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS
1. BACKGROUNDS
When taking a portrait, you want it to be clear this is about your SUBJECT. Avoid busy backgrounds. Avoid MERGERS (things sticking out of the head). And shoot with a shallow depth of field to blur out the background.
2. APERTURE
When shooting portraits, it's best to set a wide aperture (around f/2.8-f/5.6) to capture a shallow depth of field, so the background behind your subject is nicely blurred, making them stand out better.
Shoot in Aperture Priority mode to control depth of field; in this mode your DSLR will helpfully set the shutter speed for a correct exposure.
3. SHUTTER SPEED:
As a general rule, make sure your shutter speed is higher than your effective focal length. For example, at 200mm use a 1/250 sec shutter speed or faster.
This also means you can get away with slower shutter speeds when using a wide-angle lens - such as 1/20sec with an 18mm focal length.
4. COMPOSITION
Whatever composition you decide to use, be deliberate!
5. LIGHT!
You are using 400 ISO (don't forget it!) you need light to make these photos happen. Avoid direct sunlight or sun at high noon (less flattering on the face.
Look for:
6. FOCUS
Our eyes naturally want to meet other's eyes even when we are just looking at the photograph. Make sure the eyes are in focus when taking a photos of the face
7. MOVE IT!
Don't become stagnant. Move around! Try out these 6 different poses:
When taking a portrait, you want it to be clear this is about your SUBJECT. Avoid busy backgrounds. Avoid MERGERS (things sticking out of the head). And shoot with a shallow depth of field to blur out the background.
2. APERTURE
When shooting portraits, it's best to set a wide aperture (around f/2.8-f/5.6) to capture a shallow depth of field, so the background behind your subject is nicely blurred, making them stand out better.
Shoot in Aperture Priority mode to control depth of field; in this mode your DSLR will helpfully set the shutter speed for a correct exposure.
3. SHUTTER SPEED:
As a general rule, make sure your shutter speed is higher than your effective focal length. For example, at 200mm use a 1/250 sec shutter speed or faster.
This also means you can get away with slower shutter speeds when using a wide-angle lens - such as 1/20sec with an 18mm focal length.
4. COMPOSITION
Whatever composition you decide to use, be deliberate!
- Leading Lines
- Rule of Thirds
- Point of View
- Symmetry
- Asymmetry
5. LIGHT!
You are using 400 ISO (don't forget it!) you need light to make these photos happen. Avoid direct sunlight or sun at high noon (less flattering on the face.
Look for:
- Open Shade
- Natural Light
- Window Light
- Interesting Shadows
6. FOCUS
Our eyes naturally want to meet other's eyes even when we are just looking at the photograph. Make sure the eyes are in focus when taking a photos of the face
7. MOVE IT!
Don't become stagnant. Move around! Try out these 6 different poses:
- Full Body Standing
- Full Body Sitting
- Half Body (be careful not to cut off at "Joints")
- Close up portrait
- Profile/shooting from a dramatically different angle
- Details (hands/shoes/eyes/etc.)
PERSONALITY COLLAGE
COMPOSITION
"There is no better time to crop a bad composition than just before you press the shutter release."
Bryan Peterson
Bryan Peterson
FRAMING
SYMMETRY
SIMPLICITY
RULE OF THIRDS
LEADING LINES
MIXED MEDIA
MASTER A MASTER
For this assignment, find a photographer you LOVE. This will likely be the same photographer you did your POTD on. You must choose your photographer BEFORE you get started.
DUE by Monday April 9th:
-Claim them by writing your name & their name on the board. FCFS.
-Pick 5 things/themes about this photographer that you'd like to focus on with your own work and submit them via comments on this assignment. For example, if I were doing Uta Barth as my Master, I'd choose the following words:
ambient
painterly
series
film
abstract
DUE Tuesday April 16th:
5 Photos to edit in class
DUE Thursday April 19th:
Edited photos due by end of class
You will be graded on the following:
5 deliberate photos taken specifically for this assignment
Composition
Exposure
Editing
Accurate Emulation
Personal Voice
Creativity
DUE by Monday April 9th:
-Claim them by writing your name & their name on the board. FCFS.
-Pick 5 things/themes about this photographer that you'd like to focus on with your own work and submit them via comments on this assignment. For example, if I were doing Uta Barth as my Master, I'd choose the following words:
ambient
painterly
series
film
abstract
DUE Tuesday April 16th:
5 Photos to edit in class
DUE Thursday April 19th:
Edited photos due by end of class
You will be graded on the following:
5 deliberate photos taken specifically for this assignment
Composition
Exposure
Editing
Accurate Emulation
Personal Voice
Creativity
SONG SERIES
WORKING IN A TRIPTYCH
You are to create TWO geometric photos (1 person, 1 place or thing). We will be editing in class Feb 6th & Feb 8th.
Final images are due at THE END OF CLASS February 8th.
I expect further exploration on your part to complete this assignment. You will need to spend deliberate time and be careful and meticulous about your work (craftsmanship matters!). Your images will be graded on the following:
-Craftsmanship
-Creativity
-Photo Basics (exposure/composition/etc).
-Effort/Time
I will be selecting some from class to print and display in our mini gallery!
Final images are due at THE END OF CLASS February 8th.
I expect further exploration on your part to complete this assignment. You will need to spend deliberate time and be careful and meticulous about your work (craftsmanship matters!). Your images will be graded on the following:
-Craftsmanship
-Creativity
-Photo Basics (exposure/composition/etc).
-Effort/Time
I will be selecting some from class to print and display in our mini gallery!