Beginning Photography
Composition RulesGood Composition is the key element of a good photograph.
Instead of looking at composition as a set of ‘rules’ to follow –look at it as a set of ingredients used to make a great photograph. The following slideshow explains five of the ingredients of composition that I like you to concentrate on this semester. They’re not ‘rules’ – just things to consider when setting up a shot. |
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Photograms
A photogram is a photographic image made without a camera by placing objects directly onto the surface of a light-sensitive material such as photographic paper and then exposing it to light. The usual result is a negative shadow image that shows variations in tone depending upon the transparency of the objects used. Areas of the paper that have received no light appear white; those exposed through transparent or semi-transparent objects appear grey or black. This process was also further developed by a man named Man Ray. His exploration of photograms also became known as rayographs.
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PinHole CamerasA pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens but with a tiny aperture, a pinhole – effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through the aperture and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box, which is known as the camera obscura effect.
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Camera Parts
Scavenger Hunt
Lets go on a scavenger hunt! Interpret the attached list as you wish. Think outside of the box. Try and take the images in a creative way. Consider camera angles, lighting and camera settings. Photos should be straight out of the camera. No editing, cropping or special camera effects through apps or editing tools on your phone.
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Birds Eye & Ants Eye
Students should take photos from extreme camera angles for this assignment. Lie on the ground and shoot from the eyes of an ant. Climb high and shoot from an arial view. Placing an object in the view of the camera will help give the illusion of depth to your photographs. Another way to get extreme angles is to pretend you are Alice, in Alice and Wonderland. What would the world look like when she is small and when she's a giant?
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LandscapeLandscapes are great subject matter for beginning photographers. Landscape images can take on an urban or rural feel. They may contain cityscapes or waterscapes. No matter where you decide to take your images there are several things to consider when capturing the perfect photo. Try a few of these tips the next time you shoot landscapes; search for the best focal point, think about your horizon line, work with the weather, shoot during the "Golden Hours" and change up your point of view.
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Famous Photographers
If you want to take truly memorable and moving photographs, you can learn something by studying the pictures of famous photographers. Some of the most beloved artists are deceased, but some are still delighting us with their photographs. The list above includes some of the more famous photographers that still impact our lives today.
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Tessellations
Stop Action & Panning
Layer Mask CollageLayer Masking is a fancy photoshop word for a digital collage or montage. Instead of erasing images to blend together, you can use black and white masks that hide and reveal your imagery. This is what photoshop is all about! Students will combine four images of their own into one digital collage.
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Miniature WorldsImaginary worlds can be built using miniature items brought in from home. Students will explore the idea of miniature worlds by forcing their focal point and perspective through the camera. Students will be urged to explore macro settings on their devices and attempt the art of Tilt-Shift photography while editing their images.
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Mythical AnimalsStudents will use a combination of several Photoshop tools to create a new and unique species of animal. This project allows students to showcase their firm understanding and capabilities of using digital software.
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Gradient MapsGradient mapping in Photoshop is applied using an adjustment layer. The Gradient Map adjustment layer alters the image by applying a gradient map to the image. Unlike a gradient fill, which fills an area by using a linear or radiant blend of colors, the gradient map applies the gradient by using the lightness and darkness values in the image as a map for how the gradient colors are applied.
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