Digicam Skills Acquiring Session

[hwzadmin]

Dear Members,
We will be releasing a series of write-up courtesy of PHOTOVIDEOi (www.photovideoi.com) that will help to build up your photography skills in various aspect. We do hope that through the knowledge sharing you will be able to gain more skills and continue to share with fellow forum members in future....

You will find the First part suitable for Compact Camera users below.....
First Part: COMPOSITION - Basics of Composition for Digital Photographers available shortly....

Subscribe to PHOTOVIDEOi magazine if you are keen to acquire more skills and information on Photography and related topics.

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1) Click here (http://www.photovideoi.com/sample/pvi-200710-sample.pdf) to see a sample copy of the PHOTOVIDEOi Magazine
2) Click here (http://www.photovideoi.com/subscribe.php) to subscribe today!

[hwzadmin]

Part one of a six part series

The Basics of Composition for Digital Photographers
By John Cosgrove

“C O M P O S I T I O N”

It has to be one of the scariest words in photography - Composition.
Mention it to a newbie and they go “what?” as it often conjures up visions of older camera club members working out complicated mathematical formulas or making imaginary lines all over the place on their black and white prints. To be honest most photographers just throw their hands up and say “What ever lah” when confronted with an expert trying to explain why using the rules of composition is good for their pictures, some listen most don’t and then resort to calling it art to cover their mistakes.
So here at PHOTOVIDEOi we decided to tackle the problem head on and we will try and explain just why understanding the many rules of composition is so important to photographers in the digital age.

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/5040501312.jpg

The camera of choice is a Canon G6 dCompact
The shooting mode is either Landscape (for a bigger depth of field) or Aperture Priority (to control the depth of field).

‘The pleasing arrangement’

Photographic composition is defined in many books and instructional websites as “The pleasing arrangement of subject matter elements within the picture area”.

We also know it as the juxtaposition of shapes, colours and objects that attract our eye to a particular photograph.
Looking at a particular arrangement of shapes and colours we will always only see what we want to see and generally ignore the rest. The camera unfortunately can see everything within the limits of the attached lens and will capture it all faithfully. Sometimes, when we get back home and look at the images we begin to notice things we didn’t see before like bushes, branches, red buckets, other people etc. intruding into our frame. Often we cannot remember why we took the photo in the first place.

Try it one day: go though the older images you have stored away and try to remember why you took this particular scenic view or that building shot.

Understanding the basic principles of composition will help you make the best of every situation. As great pictures are almost always never created by chance, it comes down to good planning on your part to increase your chances of success and grab your viewer’s attention with a well-taken photo. By developing your skills in the area of photographic composition you should create images that will attract the eye by suggesting movement, tension, drama, shape, depth and form.


How are photographic composition skills developed? Simple you look, you watch and you learn. Each and ever time you snap a picture take a moment to look all around the viewfinder. Look briefly at the way each element relates to the overall composition. Take the time to look through the many good photo magazines and books available and think about how they (the photographers) solved the problems of lighting and composition in each photo.
The old adage of “The more you shoot the better you become” really mean’s you have to get out there and shoot. Looking at books is great for inspiration but you really do have to get outside and shoot up a storm to learn how your camera works. Learn how to set up your camera, how each control works and what is its effect on the final image. Once you got it all figured out then its time to get on with your job – shooting great images.

But remember - Good or correct composition is almost impossible to define precisely as there are no cast in stone rules to follow, there are however some very formalised ideas that seem to work well for most photographers.
The rules of composition only provide a start point for photographers by offering them a way to achieve visually pleasing photographs.
Over the next six issues of PHOTOVIDEOi we will endeavour to look at most of the following principals and elements of composition: Center of interest, Subject placement, Simplicity, Viewpoint and camera angles, Balance, Shapes and lines, Patterns, Volume, Lighting, Texture, Tone, Contrast, Framing, Foreground, Background and Perspective.
The more you learn about composition the more you will find out that many of these confusing terms overlap and work together but it is important to learn how they work and what they do to your picture.

[hwzadmin]

Defining a Center of interest.

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/b6d6812ca1.jpg

Every photo you create should have only one principal idea or theme that attracts a viewer’s eye to it.

Called the ‘Center of interest’ (COI) it should explain just what you were trying to say when you pressed the shutter button. Without a COI the viewer can easily get confused as to why you took this picture. When there is only one COI your viewer easily understands you intentions.

Note: The term Center of Interest doesn’t mean you should always stick the subject smack in the centre of the frame, it is just used to describe the reason for taking the picture.

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/92a9467a17.jpg
A messy COI means you can't see what the photographer was trying to show you

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/f77a4b68ae.jpg
A strong COI makes it so easy to view and understand the photograph

A very good US Navy photography pamphlet I found describes it as: “When the center of interest is a single object that fills most of the picture area or one that stands out boldly, such as a white sail against a background of dark water, attention is attracted immediately to it. As may be expected, not all subjects are as simple to arrange or as bold and impressive. The center of interest may be a single object or numerous ones arranged so attention is directed to one definite area”. I think the US Navy got it right.

In practical terms this means that you always either fill your frame with your subject or guide your viewer inside your image some way by using lines, shapes or textures to bring them to the COI.
If for example you were shooting your friends on the Great Wall of China with a wide angle lens, making them appear small in the frame asks the viewer to decide are you trying to show them a picture of the wall or a happy snap of the people in the middle of the frame. Another example is a picture of a few mates standing around your new car – what was the prime reason for the photo – your mates or the new car.

People always attract more attention in a photo and unless they’re the main reason for the photograph you should understand a few simple rules about what effect they have of viewers of an image.
A: When you include people just to add a sense of scale to your images don’t let them look directly at the camera. When you view an image with faces in it you always go directly to the eyes and often miss out the reason why they were placed there.
http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/ebbfa889ca.jpg

B: You should note that when your subjects are looking away from you in a picture, your viewers will always follow their gaze to try and see what they are looking at.

[hwzadmin]

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/a7a4099080.jpg

To make the COI prominent we need to look at the subject placement or as it is better known “The Rule of thirds” – to find out where do we stand or place everyone and everything in an image to give it order and balance.

Don’t place your subject right in the centre of the frame as it will divide the picture in two and confuses people. Think of the last landscape you shot, did you put the horizon right in the middle of the frame?

Try mentally dividing the viewfinder into thirds, vertically and horizontally and then locating the COI at one of the intersections of these imaginary lines. Then you can create a feeling of balance to the composition (to help you many DSLRs and dCompacts have guides built into their LCD screens).
The rule of thirds is an often well used but misunderstood term used on photo forums. The placement of your subject is critical to the understanding of why you took the photo in the first place.

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/1f4c781cac.jpg

For those a bit more in tune with things, the experts have been mooting the idea of ‘Dynamic Symmetry” as another version of the rule of thirds. Simply draw a diagonal line from one corner to an opposite corner and then draw a second line perpendicular to the first from a third corner. Where these two lines intersect is the location for your COI.

But good COI’s only work well when you apply the golden rule of photography: K.I.S - Keep it simple.
The simpler the picture is, the easier it is to understand its meaning and the stronger your statement.
Simplicity comes in the form of only including things that are relevant to your story. Don’t shoot big pictures to explain small pieces of the story. View the scene through your viewfinder and see if there is a way to shoot it better from another angle that is going to cut down background or foreground clutter. Only when you have investigated all angles do you finally shoot the scene. But always remember that the COI is only one story and your photo should include items that are relevant to that story – too many items only confuses your viewer who then be confused about what you were really shooting.

To clean up those messy foregrounds or backgrounds look at using the correct viewpoint or camera angle to assist you.
http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/9e4f68527a.jpg
When considering the overall composition of a scene, the camera angle is vitally important as it can convey tension or drama or excitement or even expose an unusual viewpoint of the subject.
Moving your subject within the camera’s viewfinder or changing the camera angle is the two of the simplest ways to control your images final overall look.
Remember when shooting people, a low camera angle hints at the person having or possessing strength and power while higher camera angles makes them look meek and small.
Tilting the camera and understanding the limitations of your lenses will help you to plan creative-angle shots that will help keep your images simple but effective. Never be afraid of trying out new angles, look at high lookdown shots or low ground-level images to show your viewers something they haven’t send before.

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/1c5336ac5b.jpg

Lastly for part one of The Basics of Composition for Digital Photographers, we need to look at how the balance in our pictures is achieved.

Balance in our photos is simply the way to make our pictures look harmonious. Each element in our picture has to relate to the other elements. Each and every shape, colour, line or shadow must be arranged correctly within the composition to give the impression of balance.

Composition is kept in balance by two different methods: formal balance and informal balance.

Formal Balance is where you have elements on both sides of a picture that equally balance the two halves of a picture i.e.: two mates smiling at the camera. This leads to very formal pictures but they often appear as static and boring compositions.


Informal Balance is much more fun as your subjects can be different in size or shape. Balance is achieved by making them appear equal regardless of their size differences. It’s harder to achieve but much more fun to look at.



Things to consider when trying to make your pictures appear balanced: think about where you are going to position subjects as an object placed further away from the centre can often appear bigger than one near the centre. Objects in the upper part of your image can seem heavier than objects of the same size in the lower part of a picture. Isolation can make objects appear bigger than they are.
Because we read from left to right objects on the right hand side of an informal balanced picture appear bigger and bolder than objects of the same size placed on the left side of the picture.

The directions in which figures, lines, and shapes appear to be moving within the picture area is very important to balance. When the feeling of direction is present within a scene, your viewer can easily relate to why you took the photo.

Understanding the factors required to create pictorial balance is essential for you to produce good pictures. To gain this understanding, you should always test your feelings for balance as you look through your cameras viewfinder. Once you gain an understanding of the principles of pictorial balance, achieving a pleasing balance to your photographs becomes an easy process.


That wasn’t such a heavy lesson was it?



Next part we’ll take a long hard look at Perspective and its role in composition.

[tomatoman]

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/a7a4099080.jpg

To make the COI prominent we need to look at the subject placement or as it is better known “The Rule of thirds” – to find out where do we stand or place everyone and everything in an image to give it order and balance.

Don’t place your subject right in the centre of the frame as it will divide the picture in two and confuses people. Think of the last landscape you shot, did you put the horizon right in the middle of the frame?

Try mentally dividing the viewfinder into thirds, vertically and horizontally and then locating the COI at one of the intersections of these imaginary lines. Then you can create a feeling of balance to the composition (to help you many DSLRs and dCompacts have guides built into their LCD screens).
The rule of thirds is an often well used but misunderstood term used on photo forums. The placement of your subject is critical to the understanding of why you took the photo in the first place.

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/1f4c781cac.jpg

For those a bit more in tune with things, the experts have been mooting the idea of ‘Dynamic Symmetry” as another version of the rule of thirds. Simply draw a diagonal line from one corner to an opposite corner and then draw a second line perpendicular to the first from a third corner. Where these two lines intersect is the location for your COI.

But good COI’s only work well when you apply the golden rule of photography: K.I.S - Keep it simple.
The simpler the picture is, the easier it is to understand its meaning and the stronger your statement.
Simplicity comes in the form of only including things that are relevant to your story. Don’t shoot big pictures to explain small pieces of the story. View the scene through your viewfinder and see if there is a way to shoot it better from another angle that is going to cut down background or foreground clutter. Only when you have investigated all angles do you finally shoot the scene. But always remember that the COI is only one story and your photo should include items that are relevant to that story – too many items only confuses your viewer who then be confused about what you were really shooting.

To clean up those messy foregrounds or backgrounds look at using the correct viewpoint or camera angle to assist you.
http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/9e4f68527a.jpg
When considering the overall composition of a scene, the camera angle is vitally important as it can convey tension or drama or excitement or even expose an unusual viewpoint of the subject.
Moving your subject within the camera’s viewfinder or changing the camera angle is the two of the simplest ways to control your images final overall look.
Remember when shooting people, a low camera angle hints at the person having or possessing strength and power while higher camera angles makes them look meek and small.
Tilting the camera and understanding the limitations of your lenses will help you to plan creative-angle shots that will help keep your images simple but effective. Never be afraid of trying out new angles, look at high lookdown shots or low ground-level images to show your viewers something they haven’t send before.

http://images.hardwarezone.com/upload/files/2008/05/1c5336ac5b.jpg

Lastly for part one of The Basics of Composition for Digital Photographers, we need to look at how the balance in our pictures is achieved.

Balance in our photos is simply the way to make our pictures look harmonious. Each element in our picture has to relate to the other elements. Each and every shape, colour, line or shadow must be arranged correctly within the composition to give the impression of balance.

Composition is kept in balance by two different methods: formal balance and informal balance.

Formal Balance is where you have elements on both sides of a picture that equally balance the two halves of a picture i.e.: two mates smiling at the camera. This leads to very formal pictures but they often appear as static and boring compositions.


Informal Balance is much more fun as your subjects can be different in size or shape. Balance is achieved by making them appear equal regardless of their size differences. It’s harder to achieve but much more fun to look at.



Things to consider when trying to make your pictures appear balanced: think about where you are going to position subjects as an object placed further away from the centre can often appear bigger than one near the centre. Objects in the upper part of your image can seem heavier than objects of the same size in the lower part of a picture. Isolation can make objects appear bigger than they are.
Because we read from left to right objects on the right hand side of an informal balanced picture appear bigger and bolder than objects of the same size placed on the left side of the picture.

The directions in which figures, lines, and shapes appear to be moving within the picture area is very important to balance. When the feeling of direction is present within a scene, your viewer can easily relate to why you took the photo.

Understanding the factors required to create pictorial balance is essential for you to produce good pictures. To gain this understanding, you should always test your feelings for balance as you look through your cameras viewfinder. Once you gain an understanding of the principles of pictorial balance, achieving a pleasing balance to your photographs becomes an easy process.


That wasn’t such a heavy lesson was it?



Next part we’ll take a long hard look at Perspective and its role in composition.

any updates thus far ???

[kittukumara110]

Wow! its really amazing,
This information is very very useful for beginners to learning Digicam Skills Acquiring.

*hyperlinks removed*

[aptget]

2) Click here (http://www.photovideoi.com/subscribe.php) to subscribe today!


Errr..... subscribe but the last issue is NOV 2008 ?

[233mmx]

this is an old thread, will be closed from now on