Deb Evans

PhotoSource
VISION
VISION
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A
PHOTOGRAPHER
AND A
GUY WITH A CAMERA
Beauty can be seen in all
things, seeing and composing
the beauty is what separates the
snapshot from the photograph.
Matt Hardy
Which of my photographs is my
favorite? The one Im going to take
tomorrow. Imogen Cunningham
Youve got to push yourself harder.
Youve got to start looking for pictures
nobody else could take. Youve got to take
the tools you have and probe deeper.

William Albert Allard
You don't make a photograph just with a camera.
You bring to the act of photography all
the pictures you have seen,
the books you have read,
the music you have heard,
the people you have loved.

Ansel Adams
A great photograph is one that fully expresses
what one feels,
in the deepest sense,
about what is being photographed.


A great photograph is a full expression
of what one feels about what is being
photographed in the deepest sense and is thereby a
true expression of what one feels
about life in its entirety.


Ansel Adams
What is your Primary Focal Element?


Rules of Composition draw
viewers attention to the
Primary Focal Element
What is DIFFERENT
Areas of Contrast
Color
Light
Fill the Frame!
Every image does not have to be a tight close up!

BUT

There should be nothing in the image to distract
From the Primary Focal Element.

What is the
PRIMARY FOCAL ELEMENT?
What is your
PRIMARY FOCAL ELEMENT?
TOO BUSY! Too many
Distractions!
RULE OF THIRDS
Primary Focal Element should ideally be at an
Intersecting point or in one of the outer regions;

Basically,

Avoid bulls-eye center.
Composition Tip:

To add depth to your images, place elements in the

FOREGROUND,

MIDDLE,

and

BACKGROUND

Of your image.
No depth

Compose images with foreground, middle, and background elements.
Most images should be shot straight on

Images shot down make subject appear smaller.

Images shot up make subject appear larger.

If this fits with your vision, then do so.
If not, then shoot straight on.

(Watch your background, though)
Experiment
with
Camera
Angles
1098328636392116386097_380380083_n
FRAMING
Something thats yours

Normal Lens = 50 mm
Normal in photography refers to perspective.
The camera sees the world like you do.
Wide Angle Lens = <35 mm
Perspective changes.
Many consumer cameras zoom out to 18 mm.
Above image has no depth.
Everything in shot is background.
No depth

See the difference!
Composition is too busy. There is no primary focal element.
Zoom out? Or walk backwards?
Your choice could have comic effects.
Use a normal lens
Raise the camera angle a bit
Telephoto Lens = > 75 mm
Zoom in or walk closer?
Sometimes the answer
Is obvious.
Notice: Depth of Field
For portraits, 85 mm is a flattering focal length.
Zoom in. Zoom out.
Walk closer. Walk farther.

There is no right or wrong, but

the image will look very different.

Choose which will create the image you envision.
Direction of light:

Top
Front/Flat
Side (45-90)
Back
Directional light with low contrast

Directional side light
With high contrast


BACK LIGHT

Front/Flat light

Lighting can also
be used to call
Attention to your
Primary Focal
Element.
LIGHTING
Quality of light:

Direct
Diffused
Reflected

The larger the light source, the softer the light.
Direct light vs Diffused light
Reflected light
Finding Good Light
Lighting is more important than location.

Look for catch lights.
Using flash
Drawbacks:

Small, direct light source
Flat light
Must be used within range
FILL FLASH

Sometimes, the best way to use flash is to NOT use flash.
Slow
Sync
flash
Using Fill Flash Outdoors
EXPOSURE
Watch your numbers!
Fill your Cameras
Bucket of Light!
Which point of the triangle is the most important
for the Image you are creating?
2+2+2 = 6
THE EXPOSURE TRIANGLE
Shallow
Depth of
field
Great
Depth of
Field
normal
Aperture controls depth of field, affects creativity
SHALLOW DEPTH OF FIELD GREAT DEPTH OF FIELD
wide aperture (smaller number f 3.5
or smaller). Portrait mode.
small aperture (larger number f16,
f22). Landscape mode.

Average = f8, f11
long lens (focal length of 80 or higher) wide-angle lens (focal length of 30
or smaller)
Average = 50 mm
camera is physically closer to subject camera is physically farther from
subject
focusing point is closer to camera focusing point is middle of scene
Shutter speed is the most important when your subject is moving.
100 ISO - Less grainy, good for shots with plenty of light.
200 ISO - Still not very grainy, don't need as much light as ISO 100.
Grain will be more noticeable when printed in larger formats.
400 ISO - Good average ISO. Mainly used for shooting lower-light
outdoors or indoors without a flash, but with an ample amount of light.
Slightly more grainy than ISO 200, but not by much.
800 ISO - Very grainy, but will give 8x the light sensitivity of ISO 100.
What you need to know:
How to set:
Different shooting modes
How to change White Balance
How to change Exposure Compensation
How to change Drive Modes
How to change ISO
How to Metering Modes
How to change Focusing Points


P
VS
Green Box
(and other auto modes)
PORTRAIT MODES
tell the camera how to set the exposure,
focus mode, and shooting mode based on what you
are shooting
Nikon
Example of
Action Mode vs
Portrait Mode
Example of
Landscape vs Portrait Modes
P
Control Flash
Control White Balance
Set preferred ISO

SHIFT EXPOSURE
PROGRAM SHIFT

On Canon EOS cameras, you do this by
turning the main control dial on program
AE mode simple!

With P. Set exposure. Then shift to
adjust your shutter speed and/or
aperture.
Nikon Drive Mode:
Drive Mode: CL. Set the Mode Dial to CL for
continuous low speed shooting. Press and
hold the shutter button for continuous
shooting. D300S Action Mode 02
Canon Drive Mode:

Picture styles tell
the camera how to
record your image

WHITE BALANCE
Interesting lighting?

Dont fix it with White Balance.
Exposure compensation
What you need to know:
How to set:
Different shooting modes
How to change White Balance
How to change Exposure Compensation
How to change Drive Modes
How to change ISO
How to Metering Modes
How to change Focusing Points


TROUBLESHOOTING
Secrets to Shooting SHARP Images
Determine WHY your images are not sharp:

Camera Shake
(entire image is out of focus) Shutter Speed is Too Slow
Subject Movement
(moving subject is out of focus, background is sharp)

Part of Image is in Focus,
But its not the right part Depth of Field is TOO Shallow


Other possible problems:
Lens Malfunction
Low Res Image blown up too large
If REASON is:

Camera Shake
Shutter Speed is Too Slow
Subject Movement


Solutions:
Minimum Shutter Speed varies depending on lens and how fast
your subject is moving.

When shooting in low light, watch your numbers!

Hold camera securely brace yourself.

Use lens vibration reduction if available.

Give lens time to lock focus before you fully press shutter button.





Part of Image is in Focus,
But its not the right part Depth of Field is TOO Shallow


Solutions:
The shallower your depth of field, the more precise your FOCUSING
point must be.

Carefully watch where the focusing point is (red dot).
Increase the depth of field in your image (could be a problem in low
light situations).


FINAL THOUGHTS AND TIPS

Shoot LOTS!! PRACTICE, but EDIT. Theyre not all going to be winners (at
least while youre learning). Review the images that didnt work out try
to determine WHY What went wrong? (Only way you can fix it for next
time.

Get it RIGHT in the camera! (Ill just fix it in Photoshop.)

Experiment with your settings and modes, but always switch back to
your defaults when youre through. (Do NOT miss a photo because your
settings were wrong.)

It WILL be hard at first, but it WILL get easier. Dont give up, but dont
lose the fun either PHOTOGRAPHY IS FUN!

FINAL TIP

Print your photographs!!

A study showed that only 13% of digital images are ever printed!

I know some people who just keep all their images on the memory
card IN the camera.

The best photographs deserve to go on your WALL!
Visit with the pros at PhotoSource for advice and the best custom
printing of your winners.
Q&A
Deb Evans
debevansphotography@yahoo.com
www.debevans.photography
www.photosourcetx.com