Digital Cameras for Teachers
Taking Photos - Composing Your Shots
Composing Your ShotsMost of us learn to pose our subjects in the middle of our camera frame, have them say "cheese" and then snap an uninteresting picture like all the others. But wouldn't you prefer pictures that jump out, reveal the subject's personality, that frame the beauties of nature, and provide a feast for the eyes? There is no "best" way to compose image an image — since in photography, rules were made to be broken, and the best shots disregard the rules altogether.
With that being said, the following are suggestions that may make your picture something worth looking at again and again:
1. Remember the rule of thirds. Our natural inclination is to place the subject right in the middle of the picture, where it is framed by the viewfinder. But try this instead: mentally divide the image area into thirds. Then position the main subject elements at spots where the dividing lines intersect, thus placing your subject in context with the background.
2. To add life to your images, compose the scene so that the viewer's eye is naturally drawn from one edge of the frame to the other. This gives a dynamism to your picture that makes it extraordinary, not static.
3. Shoot your subject from unexpected angles. Don't be afraid to climb up on a ledge or crouch on the ground to catch your subject from a unique point of view. You may get a reputation for being an eccentric photographer, but when you show them your great pictures, they'll understand.
When photographing children, getting at eye level or even shooting them looking up at the camera can capture the wonder and innocence of little ones
.
4. Get close to your subject. You may have heard the rule about providing a margin around the subject of your camera, but look at photo contest winners -- this rule is often disregarded. You want to get close enough to see details such as the ant crawling on the flower petal or the wise eyes of your grandmother.
Fill the frame with your subject, and notice patterns and perspective.
5. Capture the subject's personality by taking candid shots when the subject is in the act of some activity. Not only will their expression be natural, but the picture will reveal the subject in a way that a stiff posed shot cannot.
Digital Cameras for Teachers
EOU Malheur County Center (541) 889-7468 or (541) 889-6222
