Various samples to inspire you on your own Alphabet Photography Scavenger Hunt!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Week 9: Types of Photography
Types of Photography
Photography is an expansive art form that includes more than just taking pictures of people, places and things. Both professional and amateur photographers may favor specific types of photography over others. While a professional photographer may work in photojournalism, an amateur may be particularly interested in macro photography. Read on to learn more about the various types of photography.
Photojournalism
Journalism that presents a story primarily through the use of pictures
Although amateurs may break into this field without formal training, photojournalism is often limited to professionals. One reason photojournalism is generally practiced by professionals is that serious photojournalists must be sure that their shots maintain the integrity of the original scene.
Photojournalism requires the photographer to shoot only the facts: no alteration or embellishment of the photo is permitted. Photojournalism pictures are often powerful images that engage the viewer with the news story. Knowing how to take such shots to capture the original emotion is often learned only through years of practice and experience.
A documentary photographer may shoot a series of images of the inner city homeless or chronicle the events of international combat. Any topic may be the subject of documentary photography. As with photojournalism, documentary photography seeks to show the truth without manipulating the image.
Action Photography
Sports photography refers to the genre of photography that covers all types of sports.
While professionals who take action shots may specialize in a variety of different subjects, sports photography is one of the fastest and most exciting types of photography. As with any action shot, a good sports photographer has to know his or her subject well enough to anticipate when to take pictures. The same rule goes for photographers taking action shots of animals in nature or of a plane taking off.
Macrophotography
Photography of a subject where the image is recorded in the same or larger than actual size
Macro photography describes the field of photography in which pictures are taken at close range. Once restricted to photographers with advanced and expensive equipment, macro photography is now easier for amateurs to practice with digital cameras with macro settings. Macro photography subjects may include insects, flowers, the texture of a woven sweater or any object where close-up photography reveals interesting details.
Microphotography
A photograph taken through a microscope, an enlarged picture of a very small item or area
Microphotography uses specialized cameras and microscopes to capture images of extremely small subjects. Most applications of microphotography are best suited for the scientific world. For example, microphotography is used in disciplines as diverse as astronomy, biology and medicine.
Aerial Photography
The taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position.
An aerial photographer specializes in taking photos from the air. Photos may be used for surveying or construction, to capture birds or weather on film or for military purposes. Aerial photographers have used planes, ultra-lights, parachutes, balloons and remote controlled aircraft to take pictures from the air.
Underwater photography is usually employed by scuba divers or snorkelers. However, the cost of scuba diving, coupled with often expensive and unwieldy underwater photography equipment, makes this one of the less common types of photography. Similarly, if an amateur has the equipment and the scuba know-how, taking shots underwater can be complicated, as scuba goggles are magnified and distort the photographer’s vision.
Artistic photography can embrace a wide variety of subjects. While a nature photographer may use underwater photography to create an art show based on sea life, a portrait photographer’s show may feature black and white artistic portraitures. In all cases, the photographs must have aesthetic value to be considered art.
Portraiture
Any likeness of a person, in any medium
Portraiture is one of the oldest types of photography. Whether the subject is your family or your pet, the goal of portraiture is to capture the personality of the subject or group of subjects on film.
In addition, a wedding photographer must have portrait photography skills. He may also have to employ glamour photography techniques to capture the bride and groom at their best.
Advertising Photography
Because photography plays a vital role in advertising, many professional photographers devote their careers to advertising photography. The need for unique and eye-catching advertising copy means the photographer may work with multiple types of photography, including macro photography and glamour photography.
Travel Photography
Involving the documentation of an area's landscape, people, cultures, customs and history
Travel photography may span several categories of photography, including advertising, documentary or vernacular photography that depicts a particularly local or historical flavor. A travel photographer can capture the feel of a location with both landscapes and portraiture.Week 9: Types of Photography
Types of Photography
Photography is an expansive art form that includes more than just taking pictures of people, places and things. Both professional and amateur photographers may favor specific types of photography over others. While a professional photographer may work in photojournalism, an amateur may be particularly interested in macro photography. Read on to learn more about the various types of photography.
Photojournalism
Journalism that presents a story primarily through the use of pictures
Although amateurs may break into this field without formal training, photojournalism is often limited to professionals. One reason photojournalism is generally practiced by professionals is that serious photojournalists must be sure that their shots maintain the integrity of the original scene.
Photojournalism requires the photographer to shoot only the facts: no alteration or embellishment of the photo is permitted. Photojournalism pictures are often powerful images that engage the viewer with the news story. Knowing how to take such shots to capture the original emotion is often learned only through years of practice and experience.
A documentary photographer may shoot a series of images of the inner city homeless or chronicle the events of international combat. Any topic may be the subject of documentary photography. As with photojournalism, documentary photography seeks to show the truth without manipulating the image.
Action Photography
Sports photography refers to the genre of photography that covers all types of sports.
While professionals who take action shots may specialize in a variety of different subjects, sports photography is one of the fastest and most exciting types of photography. As with any action shot, a good sports photographer has to know his or her subject well enough to anticipate when to take pictures. The same rule goes for photographers taking action shots of animals in nature or of a plane taking off.
Macrophotography
Photography of a subject where the image is recorded in the same or larger than actual size
Macro photography describes the field of photography in which pictures are taken at close range. Once restricted to photographers with advanced and expensive equipment, macro photography is now easier for amateurs to practice with digital cameras with macro settings. Macro photography subjects may include insects, flowers, the texture of a woven sweater or any object where close-up photography reveals interesting details.
Microphotography
A photograph taken through a microscope, an enlarged picture of a very small item or area
Microphotography uses specialized cameras and microscopes to capture images of extremely small subjects. Most applications of microphotography are best suited for the scientific world. For example, microphotography is used in disciplines as diverse as astronomy, biology and medicine.
Aerial Photography
The taking of photographs of the ground from an elevated position.
An aerial photographer specializes in taking photos from the air. Photos may be used for surveying or construction, to capture birds or weather on film or for military purposes. Aerial photographers have used planes, ultra-lights, parachutes, balloons and remote controlled aircraft to take pictures from the air.
Underwater photography is usually employed by scuba divers or snorkelers. However, the cost of scuba diving, coupled with often expensive and unwieldy underwater photography equipment, makes this one of the less common types of photography. Similarly, if an amateur has the equipment and the scuba know-how, taking shots underwater can be complicated, as scuba goggles are magnified and distort the photographer’s vision.
Artistic photography can embrace a wide variety of subjects. While a nature photographer may use underwater photography to create an art show based on sea life, a portrait photographer’s show may feature black and white artistic portraitures. In all cases, the photographs must have aesthetic value to be considered art.
Portraiture
Any likeness of a person, in any medium
Portraiture is one of the oldest types of photography. Whether the subject is your family or your pet, the goal of portraiture is to capture the personality of the subject or group of subjects on film.
In addition, a wedding photographer must have portrait photography skills. He may also have to employ glamour photography techniques to capture the bride and groom at their best.
Advertising Photography
Because photography plays a vital role in advertising, many professional photographers devote their careers to advertising photography. The need for unique and eye-catching advertising copy means the photographer may work with multiple types of photography, including macro photography and glamour photography.
Travel Photography
Involving the documentation of an area's landscape, people, cultures, customs and history
Travel photography may span several categories of photography, including advertising, documentary or vernacular photography that depicts a particularly local or historical flavor. A travel photographer can capture the feel of a location with both landscapes and portraiture.Week 9: Homework :)
Since there was some dispute between my precious shutterbugs & myself about whether or not I handed out "homework" last week, I decided it might be helpful for me to post it here. Feel free to print it out if they want a copy of this for future reference! :)
DO NOT WAIT UNTIL TUESDAY NIGHT!!
Assignment: Take a Portrait Outdoors
Save your top three pictures for me.
- Plan your portrait session to occur late in the day. An hour or so before sunset, the light can get golden and very complementary for portraiture. A good alternative is midday in bright overcast conditions.
- Set up your location before getting any of your models involved. Look for a simple, nondistracting background in even, indirect light, such as open shade. Be sure to avoid dappled & direct sunlight.
- Turn off your flash. There is one exception: if you want to add a tiny bit of light in the eyes (a catch light), you may want to use your flash in combination with natural light.
- If you’re using a point-and-shot, select the Portrait mode.
- Once you’re ready, invite your models to come and arrange themselves. If you’re photographing a group, make sure everyone is close to each other and nobody is getting blocked. Arranging the taller people in the back will help. Consider positioning your subject(s) off-center for a nice environmental portrait. Try implementing the Rule of Thirds.
- Help your subject*s) feel comfortable. If humor comes naturally to you, use it to make people feel more at home. Telling them they look great can be more effective that endlessly shuffling them for a perfect composition.
- Scan the scene for any distracting details. Are there any stray hairs in your subject’s faces? Check to make sure everyone is looking at the camera.
- Make absolutely sure you’re focusing on the eyes. Once you have your focus sharp, you can turn off your autofocus (if your camera lets you). This will keep the camera from trying to get the focus sharp as you shoot. Just remember to turn your focus back on when you’re done or if the distance changes between you and your subject.
- Put your finger on the shutter button, talking casually and genuinely while you wait for the perfect moment, when your subject looks relaxed and natural.
- Shoot as many pictures as there are people I the photo – up to 7-10 photos. The more people you have in the portrait, the greater the chances that someone will be blinking, yawning, making a strange face or looking off in the wrong direction.
TIP: To minimize blinking eyes, ask your subjects to close their eyes while you get ready. Once you’re ready, have them open their eyes just before you take the picture.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tip 8 - Know Where To Put the Horizon
Whether you choose a horizontal or a vertical orientation, try to keep the horizon perfectly level, because even the slightest tilt can distract the viewer. You can always crop it to have a level horizon after the fact, if you need to, but do your best to take pictures with a level horizon right out of the gate.
It's typical to put the horizon smack dab in the middle of your viewfinder, but this is another easy thing to improve! Us the Rule of Thirds we learned about last week, and place the horizon line on the upper or lower third dividing line. You can be more extreme and place the horizon even lower or higher - but whatever you do - try to create something a little more interesting than just a horizon in the middle of the picture!
Jim Miotke suggests a that to figure out whether to put the horizon in the top or bottom third, ask yourself, "Which is more interesting and pretty - the sky or the land/sea in the foreground?" If it's the sky, place the horizon low (you will show more of the sky this way). If the foreground is more interesting, then put the horizon high (so you capture more of the sea/land).
In this image above, Beverly Burke placed the horizon near the middle of the composition; it is also slightly tilted.
The second image (below), is more dynamic and balanced...not to mention MUCH more interesting! Beverly placed the horizon near the lower third and has the gorgeous sky taking up more of the frame. See what difference placement of the horizon makes?
~ excerpts taken from Better Photo Basics: The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Taking Photos Like the Pros, by Jim Miotke
It's typical to put the horizon smack dab in the middle of your viewfinder, but this is another easy thing to improve! Us the Rule of Thirds we learned about last week, and place the horizon line on the upper or lower third dividing line. You can be more extreme and place the horizon even lower or higher - but whatever you do - try to create something a little more interesting than just a horizon in the middle of the picture!
Jim Miotke suggests a that to figure out whether to put the horizon in the top or bottom third, ask yourself, "Which is more interesting and pretty - the sky or the land/sea in the foreground?" If it's the sky, place the horizon low (you will show more of the sky this way). If the foreground is more interesting, then put the horizon high (so you capture more of the sea/land).
The second image (below), is more dynamic and balanced...not to mention MUCH more interesting! Beverly placed the horizon near the lower third and has the gorgeous sky taking up more of the frame. See what difference placement of the horizon makes?
~ excerpts taken from Better Photo Basics: The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Taking Photos Like the Pros, by Jim Miotke
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Eyes of Faith - Week 3
Faith is taking the first step even when
you don't see the whole staircase.
~Martin Luther King, Jr.
~Photograph by Zachary
Tips 6-7
Tip #6: Place Your Subject Off-Center
· Focus on only the most important details OR
· Focus on one well-chosen, interesting detail
By simply suggesting the entire scene instead of actually photographing all of, you can take photos that create more impact.
Tip #7: Place Your Subject in the Upper Third
Why? Because viewers will feel more connected and engaged when they view portraits with the eyes positioned higher in the composition!
· Keep the eyes in the top third of the frame.
· Most common mistake: centering the eyes on the vertical axis
Eyes of Faith - Week 2
You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.
CS Lewis
~Photograph by Olivia
~ Photograph by Zachary
Monday, January 17, 2011
Getting Started (Tips 1-5)
Last week, we began to learn tricks and tips that will help you make better photos. Let's review!
Tip #1: Take Charge of Your Composition
Tip #2: Choose One (and Only One) Subject
Tip #3: Keep It Simple
Tip #4: Fill the Frame
In case you are curious, I'm not making up these tips. I'm teaching you things organized in a book by Jim Miotke called Better Photo Basics: The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Taking Photos Like the Pros.
Here's a bonus tip for the week --
Tip #5: Get Even Closer! Mr. Miotke suggests that you can take photos that create more impact by simply suggesting the entire scene instead of actually photographing all of it. "Let go of that urge to get everything in and concentrate on a detail, such as an intricate carving, the talons on a bird, or a child's tiny hand holding her father's pinky finger." So, practice sharpening your focus on the subject - and get even closer with the zoom lens on your camera!!
Tip #1: Take Charge of Your Composition
Tip #2: Choose One (and Only One) Subject
Tip #3: Keep It Simple
Tip #4: Fill the Frame
In case you are curious, I'm not making up these tips. I'm teaching you things organized in a book by Jim Miotke called Better Photo Basics: The Absolute Beginner's Guide to Taking Photos Like the Pros.
Here's a bonus tip for the week --
Tip #5: Get Even Closer! Mr. Miotke suggests that you can take photos that create more impact by simply suggesting the entire scene instead of actually photographing all of it. "Let go of that urge to get everything in and concentrate on a detail, such as an intricate carving, the talons on a bird, or a child's tiny hand holding her father's pinky finger." So, practice sharpening your focus on the subject - and get even closer with the zoom lens on your camera!!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Eyes of Faith - Week 1
And God saw that the light was good,
and He separated the light from the darkness.
Genesis 1:4
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| ~Photograph by Justine |
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