Amini-Evan


 * Composition, Focus, & Lighting **

What is important about focus? How do you get good focus in digital SLR photograph? Focus is an important element when taking photographs. Focus helps create a center of attention around your subject and lets the viewer know what the photographer is trying to display. In some cases, a photographer might focus on a specific item (like an animal or person), or create a focus on the whole landscape (like mountains or group shots). A good way to adjust your focus on a digital camera is to play around with the shutter speed and depth of field. In order to get good focus, you want to enlarge the depth of field, because then most of your image will be in focus (make it smaller if you want to focus on a specific object). Also, you need to make sure your shutter speed is ideal for the conditions. For action shots, you want a lower shutter speed, but for still shots using a tripod, you could use a slower shutter speed to allow the camera more time to think (shutter speed is measured in in fractions of seconds). Overall, you want to adjust your shutter speed and depth of field in order to get the best focus when taking photos.

Explain in your own words what depth of field is and why it’s important to making quality photos.

Depth of field is the range of focus on an image, or the amount of the shot that is in focus. The larger the depth of field, more of the shot will be in focus; whereas, the lower depth of field will decrease the amount of the shot in focus. Depth of field is an important aspect when taking photos, because it allows the photographer to create a frame or area of emphasis for the viewer of the photograph to see. A photograph can drastically change based upon the depth of field (how much of the shot is in focus).

What is the exposure triangle and why is it important to making quality photos?

The exposure triangle is the three main elements that need to be considered and depth with when taking photos, which include ISO, aperture, and shutter speed. A change in one of these elements will impact the others and you can’t simply isolate your thinking into one element, but instead use all three; thus why it is called the exposure triangle. This triangle is important when taking photos, because it can help improve the focus of the shot, graininess, and the motion of the shot. A great photograph usually has a balanced exposure, as exposure affects the light, color, and motion of the photograph. All of this can be done by adjusting the elements of the triangle.

What are the 5 compositional techniques we use in photography?

The five compositional techniques we use in photography are rule of thirds, framing, level horizon, leading lines, and focus. The five compositional techniques help create a photograph into a work of art (do not think of them as rules, but instead of tools). Rule of thirds is the division of the photograph into three parts. Focusing your subject in one of these parts where the thirds intersect help create a more artistic and pleasing image. Avoid placing your subject in the horizon or middle of photograph, as there is little compositional technique in this. Framing is using the elements found in your shot to surround your main subject (like a door, trees, window, etc). Your frame doesn’t need to go completely around the edges of your image, but instead might just be on one or two sides of the photograph. Also, make sure the frame does not take away from the photograph. Level horizon is another great compositional technique, which is the use of a natural horizon (like an ocean or hills) to add composition and interest to the image. Make sure your horizon is straight, as diagonal horizons can create confusion to the viewer. Leading lines is another great technique, which is the use of elements (like roads, buildings, or bushes) to lead the viewer toward the area of focus. The lines do not always have to be straight, as diagonal and curved lines can create harmony and pleasure to the photo. Lastly, focus is the use of depth of field to either focus sharply on a specific object in a scene or broaden the area of interest. The amount of focus used can affect the outcome and perspective of a photograph. Overall, the elements of photography are a great way to create the best photos possible.

What lighting techniques come from natural sources and which come from a trifocal? When would you use one vs another?

There are two types of lighting; natural light and artificial light. Some techniques for natural light are sunlight, filtered sunlight (from a cloudy day), moonlight, or firelight. These types of lighting techniques help of photo have a more natural and habitual feel. Artificial light comes from lighting that is man made, like a flash on a camera, a studio light source, or light in the room (like a trifocal), and much more. This type of lighting is good for having a balanced light source or creating drama in your photographs. You would want to use natural light when trying to shoot less dramatic and more “candid” photographs, like of flowers, trees, or animals. Natural light, when used right, is able to demonstrate the way your subject is naturally supposed to look. On the other hand, you would want to use artificial light if you need to take more control on your subject’s shadowing and light balance. A good artificial light can nearly appear natural, but you are able to adjust the bounce that it produces on the subject. Artificial light can create more drama and character, which is why it's good for portraits, single/focused objects, and much more.

In terms of lighting what kinds of light sources do you already have experience shooting photos with?

When it comes to using light sources, I have experience shooting photographs with both natural and artificial lighting. For natural lighting, I have taken many photos of the landscape and my family when on vacation (using the sunlight) and many photos of random people, places, and things that I had no intention of deciding between natural and artificial light. I have experience shooting photos with sunlight, moonlight, and filtered light, but only have worked with firelight once or twice. When it comes to artificial light, I have taken less artistic photos that consist of friends, myself (snapchat), and flash photography in low light situations. I used mostly flash lighting and light in the room (light bulbs, lamps, etc), but have never worked with studio light. I have used natural and artificial lighting sources many times to create images, but never truly thought about which one would be better for my subject(s).

Written By: Evan Amini