Karly's Photography 101

Transform your snapshots into PHOTOGRAPHS…

1. Get closer
a. Decide what you are taking a picture of and make that person/object your focal point- ZOOM (optical zoom).
b. Use your camera vertically and horizontally.
c. Eye contact- the eyes are the windows of the soul and a glimpse of a subject’s personality

2. Beware of the background
a. One of the most common problems in portraits is a background that distracts from the subject; move the subject and/or camera to a different spot, so the subject(s) become more dominate. Examine through the viewfinder and if you don’t like it, do something about it before you shoot. Crop in the camera!

3. Composition and the “rule of thirds”
a. Make someone look their best: Ideally take a 3/4, head, or full body picture…Never cut one off at the legs, waist o r anywhere where in-between…it looks awkward. Avoid the posed look. Allow people to be themselves in a relaxed un-posed position. Ask questions, make people laugh, shoot quickly and know when to stop taking pictures.
b. As a general rule your picture will look less dull and static if your person/object is off-centered a bit (create a feeling of motion)…mentally divide the picture into thirds horizontally and vertically and use any of the intersection points for the positing of your person/object…the viewfinder is not a target.

4. Lighting
a. Early morning or late afternoon sunlight is less harsh and it produces softer, more flattering lighting. The worst lighting conditions are from 10 to 2 each day. If necessary to photograph at that time find open shade.
b. Don’t have your person/object face the sun while taking a photo…unless you want bold colors and dark shadows.
c. ALWAYS turn your flash on if taking a photo during mid-day
d. If in half shaded/sun area use your flash to fill the inconsistencies
e. Usually a flash is need at dawn/dusk
f. Beware when taking photo in front of windows—automatic cameras will pick up on the light coming from the windows, not the light around your person(s)/object(s). Your person/object will appear to be a shadow.
g. Scenic shots: Scenic pictures can be extremely boring in a few months/years. They don’t always turn out great because most camera flashes only work up to 6 feet. Suggest buying a post card for fabulous scenic shots, save your pictures with people.
h. Focus When using an automatic setting be sure the camera focuses on the right person/object. Often the camera will pick the item in the middle. Focus camera on desired person/object and then move camera to desired position while holding the button half-down. Be quick! Do not worry about taking too many pictures and do not wait until you're absolutely certain all the knobs and buttons are in their correct position…"Shoot First, Ask Questions Later."
i. Details count When using a digital camera use highest image quality and size. Higher resolution produces a finer, colorful picture. Carefully select clothing for your subject(s)—for a special event/age wear pressed/collared shirts and appropriate color/cut for the season. Chose a photo-developing place wisely! Older machines produce grey photos among other things. My favorite online affordable sites is snapfish.com

PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE!!!! The potential for success rises with the number of pictures taken.
Family photographs you take today are an investment in what will soon be your past… a gift to your future posterity.

Digital Camera Features

Resolution—determines picture quality Resolution is a key factor in how big you can print and how much you can crop your pictures. It also affects camera cost. The higher the resolution, the greater the cost. Resolution is the digital version of square footage. In other words, how many pixels (picture elements) are there on the sensor that creates the picture? The sensor is the digital equivalent of film—only it is used over and over. Resolution is expressed by the number of horizontal pixels on the sensor multiplied by the number of vertical pixels.

Type of lens—affects quality and versatility Is it made of glass or plastic? Glass gives much better quality pictures. Is it a zoom lens or a nonzoom lens? A zoom lens adds costs but also great versatility. With a zoom lens, you can magnify subjects or shrink them to include more area in the picture. If you choose a zoom lens, what is the zoom range? 2X? 3X? More? The greater the zoom range, the greater its versatility.

What is optical zoom? Optical zoom lenses physically extend to magnify your subject. A motor controls the lens movement. When you press the switch to "W" or "T," the subject is either magnified or reduced in size. The "W" stands for "wide-angle" (reduce). The "T" stands for "telephoto" (magnify).

Picture taking modes:

Auto - When you aren’t sure which setting you need, auto mode is your perfect fallback. The camera will set the exposure, the focus and the flash to fit the shot you’re taking. (You can still modify the flash settings, so you can turn off the flash if you are in a “no-flash-photography” environment or turn on fill flash on a sunny day to avoid harsh shadows on your subject.)
Landscape - The Landscape mode should be used for distant scenes. The camera will focus on subjects far from the camera and uses a slower shutter speed to capture more detail. The slower shutter speed can make the pictures slightly more prone to blurring due to camera shake—so consider putting the camera on a tripod to steady it.
Action - Use the Action or Sport mode to capture fast-moving photo subjects, like kids, pets and athletes—the camera will use a faster shutter speed to keep moving objects sharp. You can help the camera along by focusing in on the subject and pressing the shutter button halfway down to engage the setting, then clicking at just the right point in the action.
Close-up - Whether you’re taking pictures of your prized tulips or focusing in on a baby’s tiny hand, the close-up setting will automatically choose a shorter focus distance just 8 inches away from you. That way, you can get close enough to get exquisite detail in your pictures.
Video - Sometimes a still image just doesn’t tell the whole story. Most of today’s digital cameras offer a video setting. Use the video mode to make a mini movie of favorite people and things in action.
Night - Night mode is customized for low-light conditions, allowing for a slightly longer exposure—and capturing great details in the process. The longer exposures can make your images more prone to camera shake, so consider using a tripod for these shots.
Portrait - The Portrait setting helps you take better pictures of people or single subjects. It allows the camera to focus on a person, pet, or favorite flower, while softening the focus on background objects or scenery.