Photographic Techniques and Terminology

1. Photographic Techniques and Terminology

2. Photographic Art • Art (defined): the quality, production, expression, or realm, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing, or of more than ordinary significance. • Photographic Art: Taking a simple photograph and making it more appealing or significant. • How do we do this?

3. Leading Lines • By using horizontal, diagonal and vertical lines you can help the viewer to see the photograph as you want them to see the photograph. Watch the video below for examples of leading lines. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRkAT_u19KE

4. Line • Lines - also referred as “Leading Lines” can be used to lead the eye to the point of interest and prevent the eye from wandering. • Lines can put emphasis on distance or illustrate a relationship to foreground and background elements • using lines incorrectly can have the opposite effect and lead the eye away from the point of interest. • There are three different kinds of lines; horizontal, vertical and diagonal.

5. Vertical Lines • Vertical lines can suggest dominance, power and growth. • Some excellent examples include tall structural designs and trees. • When shooting vertical lines its important to change your position to a place underneath the vertical lines. Shooting up at the vertical lines gives the feeling of power and growth.

6. Horizontal Lines • Horizontal lines can suggest peace, calmness and a sense of restfulness. Some prime examples include fallen trees, the ocean, beaches and horizons. • Layering horizontal lines can strengthen the composition and can be successful in generating patterns and rhythm.

7. Diagonal Lines • Diagonal lines can suggest action, stimulation and depth. • The use of diagonal lines can help draw the eye through a photo. • The best way to utilize diagonal lines is to present them from the bottom left of the photo to the top right, this is because our eyes naturally scan from left to right.

8. Composition of a Great Photograph • By combining all of the elements we have talked about so far and using what tools you have available to you with your camera, you can soon start taking ordinary images and turning them into extraordinary photographs. • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkJOIuPvvFA&feature=related

9. Shallow depth of field– Camera focus is on the front of the photograph while the back is blurry.

11. Deep depth of field– the entire photograph is in focus.

12. Contrast • The opposite color is one that compliments the other, results in a high-contrast photo. Using colors which are close to each other on the color wheel will create a low-contrast photo.

13. High Contrast Photos

14. Juxtaposition • A placing or being placed side by side, often done in order to compare/contrast two objects, to show differences. • This is a symbolic comparison, not a color comparison.

15. Examples of Juxtaposition

16. Examples of Juxtaposition

17. Examples of Juxtaposition

18. Mass • Mass in photography refers to how many objects are in the picture. • Light mass is when a picture has very few items in the picture. • Heavy mass would be a picture filled with different objects or points of focus.

19. Example of minimal mass

20. Example of medium and heavy mass

21. Rule of Thirds • Divides the photo into thirds both horizontally and vertically. • If you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines, your photo becomes more balanced. • Perhaps the most well known principle of professional photographic composition