8.17.2024
8.24.2023
Take Better Smartphone Photos - Mexico City
- Lightroom App (Free. *You will be prompted to try the paid version by accepting the 'Trial version of Lightroom Classic.' Just skip this unless you want to purchase that subscription.)
- VSCO - (Free)
- Camera +2 ($3.99)
- Halide Camera ($5.99)
- ProShot ($4.99)
- ProCam 7 ($5.99)
3.13.2021
Right Up Our Alley: Single Take Drone Shot
3.06.2021
Landscape Photography
Landscape and travel photography were talked about in one package along with some tips from a photojournalism perspective and seeing vacation pictures as a story. Below are videos we watched and some I promised you. I also provided links to some of the award winning photos we looked at such as World Press Photos, iPhone Photography Awards, Sony World (World Photography Organisation) and UK Landscape Photograpy Awards.
- World Press Photo Contest
- Sony World Photography Awards
- IPPA Awards (iPhone Photography Awards)
- Landscape Photographer of the Year
2.15.2021
Understanding Light for Better Photos
- The Magic/Golden Hour
- Mid-day Sun
- Open Shade
- Fill Cards and Reflectors
- White Balance and the differences or light temperatures between sunlight, fluorescent light, tungsten bulbs, and candle light.
- Blue Hour
- Direct Flash
2.12.2021
1.30.2021
Week 3: Exposure
This week we went over the exposure triangle and went in-depth into shutter speed, ISO and aperture or f-stops. We discussed the how the time of an exposure, the sensitivity of the film or sensor and the size of the lens opening affects and exposure along with the quality of the image. Aspects such as depth of field, motion blur and stop action, and grain or noise impact your image. Here are different short explanations of exposure.
I mentioned camera shake and the resulting motion blur as the most common mistake make by budding photographers. Some ways to beat camera shake is by using a higher shutter speed if hand holding your camera, a larger aperture, a higher ISO, properly holding your camera and positioning your body, or use of a tripod or other support.
- Four Reasons Your Photos are Blurry, And How to Avoid Them
- How to Avoid Camera Shake for Sharper Photos
If you are using your iPhone or Android as your main camera, there are apps, both free and for purchase which give you manual control. With these apps, you can override your camera phone's automatic settings and adjust the shutter speed, aperture, ISO and focus yourself.
1.24.2021
Week 2: Composition
In our second class, we talked about the basic rules of photographic composition. Below are my list along with videos and links. I've also added a widget linking to a Pinterest page with all kinds of useful charts, graphs and examples.
I mentioned several photographers, but most notable mentioned were Henri Cartier-Bresson, who coined the concept of the "Decisive Moment" and Ansel Adams. Others whose work we looked at included: Alfred Steiglitz, Elliot Erwitt, Susan Meiselas, Alex Webb, Paul Strand, Edward Weston who did significant work in Mexico as did Cartier Bresson.
The so-called rules of photographic composition are, in my opinion, invalid, irrelevant and immaterial” – Ansel Adams
- 1. Intention: Know what you are photographing. Make your choice for a reason for photographing. Have a focal point. Contemplate Your Images. Think. Slow down.
- 2. Simplicity: Keep it Simple. Simplify the scene to your subject/most interesting visual element. Leave out clutter that takes away from what you want to say.
- 3. Rule of Thirds (vertical and horizontal) compose at a cross point in your frame. Avoid the middle!
- 4. Horizons: use rule of thirds and avoid centering horizons
- 5. Balance: keep the visual weight of your pictures equalized.
- 6. Leading Lines: lines and curves draw you into the photograph
- 7. Geometry: S-Curves, Cirles, Lines, Triangles. Use Shapes to draw your viewer in.
- 8. Patterns: repeating visual patterns created in the natural and unnatural world.
- 9. Symmetry: geometrical balance and harmony.
- 10. Point of View: eye-level; worm’s eye; birds eye; side view; back view; close-up; distant. Look for the best, most interesting point of view..
- 11. Framing: finding a visual frame in the scene: window, arch, hole and frames within frames.
- 12. Backgrounds: clean unobtrusive or interesting backgrounds. Avoid Mergers (things growing out of subject’s head). Look and See!
- 13. Avoid Mergers: Watch Background and things growing out of your subject.
- 14. Rule of Odds Use an odd number of elements in your composition for more compelling photographs.
- 15. Silhouettes and Shapes
- 16. Scale: show the size and create impact by showing the size contrasts between elements in your picture. Compare and contrast large and small objects.
- 17. Lead Room: Leave space to move in the direction your subject is moving either in front or behind showing where they’re going or have been.
- 18. Space: Positive and negative space can be used for strong impact.
- 19. Color: use strong contrasting colors to communicate.
- 20. Texture: communicate how if feels (rough, smooth, bumby, scaley, leathery, etc.)
- 21. Depth of Field: Use selective focus and blur the background to convey your intention.
- 22. Fill the Frame: Think, compose and include only essential photo elements.
- 23. Layering: create depth and dimension by layering elements in your photos.
- 24. Recapitulation: use elements to draw viewer’s eye around picture like a pinball machine.
- 25. Break the Rules After you know and understand the rules, break them.
1.16.2021
Photo Class Mexico 2021
Welcome everybody. For our first week, we started off looking at photos from recent news and their impact. Pictures we looked at primarily included: an image of U.S. Senate assistants carrying ballot boxes by Caroline Brehman; Leah Millis of Reuters photo of the Capitol draped in smoke; Ashley Gilbertson's photograph of Capitol Police Officer Goodman diverting rioters; and several from Associated Press photographer Andrew Harnik.
Next, we looked briefly at the history of photography. In the following weeks we will discuss several aspects of photography so you can take better pictures.
Henry Fox Talbot v. Louis Daguerre