b'dos photographic society members basic course - course 1 composite

The most common problem new photographers have:

Camera Shake• Images blurred

Camera not held still while the shutter was depressed.

• Adding to camera shakeCamera at arms length when taking shots.

CAMERA HANDLING

Tripods are the best way to stop camera shake. But if you don’t have one then at least hold on with both hands.

1. Right hand grips the right side of the camera.Forefinger should sit lightly above the shutter release, your other three fingers curling around the front of the camera.

2. Left hand supports the weight of the cameraHold underneath the camera or under/around a lens if you have a DSLR.

3. Steady stanceStand with feet a shoulder width apart.

4. Add extra stabilityBy leaning against a solid object like a wall or a tree or by sitting or kneeling down.

5. If you’re shooting using a view finderLine up your shot with the camera nice and close to your cheek which adds extra stability. Tuck your elbows into your sides

6. If you’re using a LCDDon’t hold your camera too far away from you. Tuck your elbows into your sides and hold the camera out a little from your face (around 30cm).

7. Hold your breathBefore you take your shot take a gentle but deep breath, hold it, then take the shot and exhale.

8. Squeeze, not jabGently apply pressure to shutter button rather than jabbing at it.

Give your digital camera tender loving care

Your camera should last a long time if you follow some basic steps:

• DO…• Use the strap!• Use lens covers – when lens is on camera, when lens is

in camera bag or in storage. • Use UV & Skylight Filters, Hoods (SLRs) to protect lens.• Regularly clean the camera body. • Check the LCD and clean it whenever necessary. • Handle all moving parts of the camera with care. Never

force hinges, buttons or dials if they seem stuck. • Turn off the camera before removing or disconnecting

the power source or a cable, or removing the battery or memory card.

• DO NOT…• DO NOT subject your camera to knocks, vibration, magnetic fields,

smoke, water, steam, sand or chemicals.

• DO NOT subject a camera to extreme hot or cold temperatures.

• DO NOT leave it in direct sunlight for long periods or in a car when it is hot.

• DO NOT point the camera lens towards strong sunlight for a prolonged time; it can ruin the sensor…as well as your eyes.

• DO NOT apply lens cleaning fluid directly to the lens. If fluid must be used, place a few drops on a lens tissue or camera cleaning cloth. Microfiber cloths are recommended

• DO NOT use canned air. Most consumer digital cameras are not air-tight. Canned air may blow dust into the inside of the lens. Use a blower or blower brush.

• CLEANING LENSES• The best way to preserve a lens is

not to touch it with your fingers.• Before wiping lens, hold the

camera upside down and gently blow off any grit and dust particles with a blower

• You can use a few drops of lens cleaning fluid to clean the lensbut it is not always necessary.

• Place the fluid on the lens cleaning paper or cloth, not directly onto the lens.

• Gently wipe the lens from centre outwards.• The best camera cleaning cloth is made of microfiber. Store in

a plastic baggie when not in use. Special lens tissue is also recommended.

BPS BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

Session #2Seeing LIGHT:• Backlight• Front Light• Side Light• Using Light - Rules To Remember• (Take some photos)

Seeing light:1.BACKLIGHTED IMAGE

Seeing light:2. SIDE LIGHT

Seeing light:3. FRONT LIGHT (Actually in “shade”)

REVISION of Session #2

Seeing light:RULES TO REMEMBER:

1. If the Sun is shining on your back, then it will be falling on the front of the object or person you wish to photograph.

2.CAMERAS ARE STUPID…PEOPLE ARE SMART!We have to think for the Camera.

Let’s go and take some photos with:1. BACK LIGHT2. SIDE LIGHT3. FRONT LIGHT4. “in the Shade”

(NO DIRECT LIGHT)

Submitting your photos for review

• Either (preferably) e-mail your 4 photos (e-mail sized, please) carefully labeled, like: - “yourname-backlight-pix.jpg”- or “yourname-frontlight-pix.jpg”

• To wpedghill@sunbeach.net• Or bring on CD or Flashdrive to next

session

BPS BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

Session #3

Seeing:• Form• Pattern• Texture• Using Light (Sunlight & Other Light)• (Take some photos)

BPS BASICPHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

Session #3

Seeing:Our eyes (and our brain) love Visual Effects.Perhaps all animals do because that would explain the patterns on Tigers and Zebras.

Good Photography (Image Making) uses these Visual Effects for impact

BPS BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE

Session #3

Seeing:• Form• Pattern• Texture• Using Light (Sunlight & Other Light)• (Take some photos)

Seeing:1.Form

FORM =• Shape• Outline• The Look of an

object that tells us whether it is flat or a cube or rounded.

Seeing:1.Form

FORM =• Shape• Outline• The Look of an

object that tells us whether it is flat or a cube or rounded

Seeing:2.PATTERN

PATTERN =• A design that is

repeated: lines, bars, checks, grids, etc.

Seeing:3.TEXTURETEXTURE =• A surface that

has holes, cuts, grooves, etc., that would make it feel rough to the touch.

Seeing:TEXTURE & PATTERNTEXTURE =• A surface that

has holes, cuts, grooves, etc., NOT NECESSARILY SMALL.

• PATTERN will quite often also have texture.

Seeing:4.USING LIGHT

FORMTEXTUREPATTERNcan only be seen when light falls on an object in a way that this visual effect can be highlighted.Good photography is about seeing light and taking a photo of an object when the light falling on it shows its FORM, TEXTURE and/or PATTERN at its best.

Seeing:4.More on USING LIGHT

FORMTEXTUREPATTERNcan only be seen when light falls on an object in a way that this visual effect can be highlighted.Good photography is about seeing light and taking a photo of an object when the light falling on it shows its FORM, TEXTURE and/or PATTERN at its best.

See the shadows? That’s seeing light! Those shadows tell us things…

What?

Let’s go and take some photos of:

FORMPATTERNTEXTURE