For Better Pictures - Put Your Camera Down

By Thomas T. Dean

Sometimes you have to put your camera down to make a great image. I know what you are saying. How can you make a great image by putting your camera down?

First, putting the camera down and walking around your subject area gives you time to get to know the area. It gives you the opportunity to look at your proposed subject from different perspectives. This is especially important if you are shooting in a new area.

Secondly, putting the camera down lets you become comfortable with the environment of the area you want to shoot. The best images are conceived in your mind and then are captured by your camera. You should take your time and explore all the possibilities.

A. Discover the high areas and low areas.

• Should you shoot from a low perspective?
• Should you shoot from a high perspective?
• Should you shoot head on?

B. Find where the wildlife is.

• Is there an opportunity to get closer to the wild life if you wait for a while?
• Does the wildlife have a pattern of movement in the area?
• Are there noticeable pathways such as deer trails?

C. See the way the light plays across the landscape.

• What does the landscape look like at morning light or evening light?
• If you shift your perspective, does it affect the light?
• Are there opportunities to shoot after sundown?

D. Find the best side of a building if you are shooting architecture.

• What if your photograph parts of a building rather than the entire building?
• Is there a better side to the building other than the front?
• Does time of day change the way the building looks because of heavy shadows or lack of shadows?

Perhaps the greatest advantage of all is that you open yourself up to more images than you originally anticipated. The obvious image is not always the best image. When you put the camera down and walk around you expose yourself to all the opportunities.

Thomas T. Dean has been an avid photographer for over 30 years. Visit his website for more information and photographic examples. http://www.thomasdeanimages.com/

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People Pictures - Different Types, Different Problems

By Tedric Garrison

Basically there are only three types of "people pictures": Formal Portraits, Informal Portraits or Candid Portraits. Each of these areas could easily be considered a specialty in and of itself. There are literately thousands of books or articles already written about each of these. Keep in mind all the things you learned about the basic elements of photography. (Line, Texture, Light, Size, and Shape) Even though you may only have one subject, that subject may have facial features you may or may not want to emphasize. Light is a key factor, but not the only factor when it comes to taking a good portrait.

The Formal portrait (also called a flattering portrait) is usually (but not always) done in a traditional portrait studio. This is where lighting is highly controlled. Most shots are head and shoulder, with the body turned at a 45% angle. The point here is to flatter the subject. So in most cases you must accentuate the subject's positive features and minimize the negative ones.
It takes a well trained eye to spot the best features and emphasize that in a portrait; but it takes even more skill to know how to minimize a negative feature. The list below is only a partial listing of common problems to look out for:

Wrinkled Face
Use diffused lighting. Lower the main light. Use a 3/4's pose instead of close-up.

Double Chin
Raise main light. Tilt chin upward. Use higher camera angle.

Long Nose
Use low camera angle. Use side lighting. Add makeup to tip of nose to eliminate shine.

Baldness
Use low camera angle. Little or no hair light. Blend head with background on purpose.

Large ears
Turn head so camera only sees one ear. Place exposed ear in the shadows, if at all possible.

Glasses
Tilt head downward slightly. Raise ear piece slightly to angle the lens down. The camera will flatten the overall image making it look more natural than it feels.

Over Weight
In group shots, place the largest subject in the middle or behind others to hide their size. By themselves; shoot head and shoulders (from an angle) or use props to distract viewer from subject's size.

The old cliché that says: "smile and look at the camera" is not always the best way to do a portrait. Many informal or candid portraits don't have the subject looking at the camera at all. The biggest difference between an informal portrait and a formal portrait is usually lighting and location. Informal portraits are usually shot outdoors with available lighting. Personally, I do like to use a fill flash outdoors, but that's not quite the same as having: a background light, a main light, A fill light, a hair light, and a key light like many studios use.

Informal as the name implies usually means more relaxed. Clothes are more comfortable and often there are props or objects that have to do with the persons personality included in the shot. Although they can be planned, informal portraits usually give the feeling of being spontaneous. The biggest difference between an informal portrait and a candid shot is awareness of the subject. Whether or not the subject looks directly at the camera, they are aware of it when taking an informal portrait.

Candid Portraits (sometimes called Character Studies) are taken without the subject being aware of the photographer. The candid shot is a favorite of mine at weddings, because it tends to reveal more of the true personality of the subject. Candid shots document the moment. They can become a specialty in and of themselves. Think of candid shots like taking pictures at a sporting event. You follow the subject (the one holding the ball) with your camera and wait for that peak moment. The instant before the true love’s first kiss, the moment before baby's first step (or first fall), that second when a senior throws his cap in the air at graduation; these are all good examples of a great candid shot. A good candid usually includes a good peak moment.
This Article Written By: Tedric A. Garrison Cedar City, Utah

Tedric Garrison has done photography for over 30 years. In college; Tedric was an Art Major, and firmly believes that “Creativity can be taught.” Today; as a writer and photographer he shares his wealth of knowledge with the world, at: http://www.betterphototips.com