DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY CLASS
Learning by doing
See 10 ways to "make" great digital pictures
| Digital cameras have become wildly
popular and, many of them, wildly confusing. Some are instantly ready to
use - "point and shoot" right out of the box. But others have complex
controls, "menus," and instruction manuals that are like the NASA launch
room for a space probe. Some give you choices such as AF-Assist Beam, Tally Lamp, IS Mode, Auto Rotate, Distance Units, Noise Reduction - "Beam me up, Scotty!" We have learned the hard way that the most effective and quickest way to master this unruly little monster is to take pictures from the minute you get it out of the box. There are no film costs. Forget the rules for awhile. You can make dozens - hundreds of mistakes - that won't cost you a penny. And each picture is a lesson in living color or black and white. Picture subject too far away? Move closer for the next shot. Or use the optical zoom (or - last choice - the digital zoom that we believe doesn't do a very good job). Picture seems yellow. Or too dark. Or off color. Go to the menu and look up "white light." This section will usually give you a choice of sunlight, fluorescent, tungsten, cloudy day. Look at the light and make the right choice. Your next picture should be much better. Every time you go out with your camera you can try a different menu item. Some instruction manuals are as clear as a 2,000-word definition of E=mc2. Use the "help line" provided by the camera manufacturer. Of course, you will probably reach a techie in Bombay. But many of these are very knowledgeable and will often spend a great deal of time with you. Don't hang up until you understand how to solve the problem. We practice the philosophy of "shoot until you learn" in classes held in various scenic locations of Williamsburg. Students are give rudimentary instructions and some general tips about composing ("making - not taking") pictures. We also preach that many "bad" digital pictures can be rescued with computer software such as Photoshop Elements or the software included with with your camera. Then we critique the pictures on this website for the instruction of everyone who wants to take better digital pictures. See the first pictures submitted at right and below. We use only the first names of workshop participants to protect their privacy while we provide "constructive criticism." If you live in or near the Williamsburg, Virginia area and would be interested in participating in Photo Walk-abouts or private lessons in Digital Darkroom Work, email us and we'll send details. |
Critiques and suggestions
of the participants of the Colonial Williamsburg Photo Walk-around in
May.
Picture by Joyce
Good composition techniques. The stockade fence on the right makes a good framing device. The light path helps the two figures stand out. Best of all, the two costumed interpreters are doing something, interacting with each other. Suggestion for Joyce's picture
Get closer to the subjects. This almost always produces a better picture. We cropped the picture in Photoshop Elements but could not get an acceptable level of sharpness. Better initially for Joyce to move closer and crop in the camera. Or use an optical zoom. Judy's picture
This is a well composed picture. It could have been even better by moving in closer on the food/basket to become a bottom frame for the two women. It also would have been more effective by asking the women to do something connected with the food, e.g., one could be holding up the basket and showing the other. Or waiting on a customer. People looking right at the camera or too much like a snapshot. |
| Eric's picture
Eric uses the stockade fence in an usual way to frame the two boys who are dressed in Colonial costumes. They create strong lines of direction for the eye leading back to each of the two boys. Their faces are a little too dark in the shadows of their hats (a common problem). Use a flash or, better yet, using the "bracket" feature of more advanced digital cameras to shoot the "corrcect" exposure - plus two more shots, above and below this original exposure. |
Suggestion for Eric's picture
Crop the picture in Photoshop Elements or other software. Use the "brightness, lightness" tool to decrease the shadows in the faces and bring out the green color of the grass. Actually the compositions on the left and right both "work" but the colors of the left picture could be improved in what we call the digital darkroom provided by software. |
| Julia's picture
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Barbara's picture
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| Anne's picture
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Anne's picture of a relaxing costumed guide is casual and well composed. We used Photoshop Elements to sharpen the image and improve the color cast through "auto color." The fact that she is not looking at the camera makes it more natural. However, the picture would have been better if she were facing to the left. Figures looking out of the frame of the picture are a little distracting. A person looking "into" the picture creates a psychological "line of direction" that keeps the viewers looking at the picture. People tend to look where they see others looking. Note: We refer to Adobe Photoshop Elements as good software to correct pictures. But other equally good correction software is often supplied with the camera on CD and in various photo/draw programs. |
|
Carol's picture uses some very good composition techniques. Figures in bg. add dimension. Ropes create lines of direction leading to seated soldier and add an usual frame to the picture. |
 We only suggest
minor changes that we made here with Photoshop Elements. We sharpened
the picture and used Color variations to create a richer, darker texture
to the figure and the grass. Good picture, Carol! |
 Carol's
second picture. Good subject. Good action. But we're bothered by the
angle of the fence and the picture seems a little dark. |
 Our suggestions. Use
Photoshop Elements to straighten the fence line, lighten the picture.
Then use the Variations tool to add more color to the vest, bucket and
rope. |
Julia's picture of a
monitor by the Palace gate is well framed by the outline of the brick
gate. We were able to improve the look of the picture by using
"sharpen," and "brightness/contrast" tools of Photoshop Elements
software. Suggestion: Shadows can muddy faces. Mount a sheet of aluminum
foil wrap on cardboard and have a helper reflect light from the sun on
the figure's face to soften the shadows. A flash could also be used but
be careful it doesn't make the whites in the picture flare or too white.
Barbara has caught a
dynamic angle of the picture almost everyone takes, the carriage at the
Palace. But the horizon line created by the carriage was slightly crooked. We quickly corrected
that in Photoshop Elements by using a custom rotation 2 degrees to the
right. But that created another problem, a crooked blue line around the
picture showing the original orientation. Solution: crop the picture to
eliminate the line and give even more emphasis to the carriage.
TEN WAYS TO "MAKE" GREAT DIGITAL PICTURES
1. You don't take great pictures, you MAKE them. You are the thinking human being behind that camera box. Too far away? Get closer by walking or the use of your zoom. Use the optical zoom as much as possible; avoid the digital zoom that can reduce the quality of your pictures. Experiment with different angles to eliminate extraneous background images - other people, trees, etc.
2. Decide what is the subject of your picture. Example - If you are shooting an historic building, is the feature the building structure? Or a feature of the building - an ornate gate, a tower, flowers around the building or in the courtyard? Or a carriage arriving in front of the building. Whatever you choose, concentrate all of your thinking and visualizing on how best to feature that subject.
3. If your digital camera offers multiple menus, learn how to use the most important ones first. If you are only shooting pictures for the web, use 72 dpi (the "small" setting on some cameras) or for really important scenes, choose 300 dpi or more (the "large" setting on your camera). Choose the lighting conditions - sometimes called "white" balance. You will often have icon settings for sunlight, cloudy days, fluorescent lights, flash.
4. Compose your picture using some of the basic composition techniques:
a. "Rules of thirds." Draw lines resembling a tic-tack-toe board in your mind as you look at a scene. Put people, important objects close to where these lines intersect.
b. Don't put a person in the dead center of your picture. Put him or her left or right of this center line.
c. Don't put the horizon line in the center of your picture.
Note: Check out a book from the library of famous photographs or paintings and notice how many of the pictures conform to these "rules."
5. Focus. Focus. Focus.
a. When photographing a person or animal, focus on the eyes. If the eyes are in focus, the entire picture seems to be. When photographing small children or animals, try to get down to eye level with them for more interesting pictures than looking down on them.
b. For important scenics, use a tripod. Or rest the camera on a fence post, table, etc.
c. When shooting hand held, don't take your picture looking into the picture monitor on the back of the camera. Looking through the eye piece with the camera against your cheek, creates a more steady base.
6. Watch out for extreme light/dark in your picture area. Many digital cameras don't compensate well for dark shadows combined with bright sunlight. You may want to move your subject to light shade. Or wait until lighting conditions change with the time of day.
7. Use software that came with your camera or separate programs such as Adobe Photoshop Elements can help you correct many "mistakes" in your pictures. Crop to get closer to your subject and eliminate distracting detail. "Sharpen" edges with software tools.
8. Eliminate bad or margin pictures in your camera or when you download them into your computer.
9. Practice with your digital camera regularly. Shoot at different times of day. Try different controls in the menu to see which work best for you.
10. Review your pictures carefully and critically. Which came out best? Why? Which contained mistakes in focusing, choice of angle or light, or? What would you do if you re-shot the same picture? Soon you will be shooting great digital pictures.