I'm a-learnin'

After taking the first class for my camera, I got outside to play with what I've learned. I thought I would share some of the fun, mostly for memory sake (I learn by "writing" it down) but also that maybe you're interested in this info to be a better photographer yourself. Maybe, just maybe, some of the photographers I've admired can lend a little more learning for me :)

While I learned lots of things about lenses and focusing (oh, how cameras can be used to play tricks on the eyes!), I played with photo composition this time. All of these were shot at dusk, flash off, SOC (straight out of the camera, no photoshopping)

Composition- How will the print look?

Curves- The curve of the landscape can affect the beauty of the photo. Think about the beach. Just staring out at the vast ocean or looking at the waves breaking on the shore- what's more appealing to the eye? This is a wall in the backyard, same wall, taken from each end (ignore the toys I didn't feel like moving).

Another wall in the yard- it gives depth to the picture

Leading Lines- where will they lead your eye in the photo? Standing just an inch over or moving the camera just a bit over can make all the difference. This wall is between my yard and the neighbor's house. Same zoom, same distance away from the wall (well, the best I could), just moving more to the left.

Sometimes you have to get down on the ground

Framing- use the surroundings to convince the viewer of a sense of depth or to focus in

Fill the frame- something I learned from my mom, actually. Do you want to see that the yard needs weeding or that there was a great wild bunny out there? Granted, sometimes, that picture you want needs to include scenery for the affect of the picture-the air around a volleyball player taking a diving shot

Also in that first picture- leave more space on the side of an object in motion, or even one that is perceived in motion (this bunny was happily eating weeds, not going anywere, until I got about 2 feet from it trying to pet it)

Light/Dark- The eye is naturally drawn to the darkest (or lightest) part of the picture. If I'd had a just-tall-enough subject, this would have made great framing too.

Turn the camera- holding the camera a different way may lend to a better, more inviting photo. (Move around, too) What do you think? Which one makes you want to sit on the porch to enjoy a sunset or a quiet morning? Hmm, I think I need to do that more often! Wanna come sit with me?

I have to do some manual reading (gasp!) to work on tricks with focusing and such. The next class I want to take is about getting off the auto mode. Then, one about using indoor/outdoor lighting to their full potential with photograhy.