Photographic Techniques

Photography and Composition

Techniques

Photography and Composition TechniquesLesson Outcomes: To identify effective photographic techniques.

I don’t know any photographic techniques.

I can identify some of the photographic techniques used in magazine photography.

I can identify photographic techniques and explain their effect.

I can apply effective photographic techniques to my own magazine.

I have creative ideas of how I can use photography in my magazine.

Composition Techniques

Composing your shot:

The way everything is arranged in your shot is called the composition. By paying attention to the framing of your shots, you can improve and enhance them.

Be clear on your subject. What story are you trying to tell with the shot?

Imagine you're painting a picture. You can decide exactly what you want the painting to look like: Which people or objects are in the painting, where they are located on the canvas, and what kind of background is in place.

Rule of Thirds: Points of interest (the focus of

your image) should be placed at the intersections of these lines for the most visually appealing shot.

Basically, the important stuff should be kept along the lines and the focus should be at one of the four crosses.

Examples:

Shot Type

Consider these:

Look at this guy…what has he done wrong?

If there’s an idea you like, recreate it…

You don’t have to follow the ‘rules’ – so long as you justify if in your evaluation…

Student’s example:

Composition: Near or far?

Experiment!

Activity 3: Can you recognise any of the compositional techniques used in this

image? What effect do these techniques have on the image?

Can you recognise any of the compositional techniques used in this image?

Background is vital in telling your story…

What effect does the road in the background of this image have on the audience?

Tip: When positioning your subject, always consider your Background




Using leading lines attracts the viewer’s focus where you want it to go. This type of shot is particularly nice in your double page spread…




Using leading lines attracts the viewer’s focus where you want it to go.

Consider these…

This student managed it…But then…




Use of diagonal lines:

Tip: When positioning your subject, always consider your Angle, and the

effect it creates.

Angles

Focus:Adjust the settings on the camera to

alter the depth of field.Be thinking about shot composition –

what is in the frame, what are you revealing to the audience and what are you keeping hidden?

Experiment!

Depth of Field:

Depth of Field:

Depth of Field:

Examples:

Tip – Mise-en-scene

Consider everything you put in your frame (mise-en-scene)

Props Costume Background/setting Make-up/hair Lighting Colour

Three golden rules…

Camera Position (location)LightingFraming

People Positioning

People Positioning - tips

1. Heads together2. Limit empty space3. Diamonds4. Triangles5. Perspective

Triangles:

Rows:

Rows with perspective:

Rows with diagonals:

Direction:

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

1.Rule of Thirds 2.Leadroom/Noseroom 3.Distracting Backgrounds

4.Positioning 5.Headroom

Rule of Thirds Leadroom/Noseroom Distracting Backgrounds

Positioning Headroom









Education

Photographic Techniques