Photo 11: Introduction to Digital Imaging

Instructor: Sue Leith, sleith@csus.edu Office Hours Monday 1 -2 MRP 2011

Visual Checklist

Does the photograph have technical excellence?

Good Exposure

Sharp Focus

Good Contrast

Does the photograph have compositional creativity?

Rule of thirds

Framing

Selective Focus

Reflection

Panning

Juxtaposition

Decisive moment

Linear perspective

Silhouette

Repetition

Contrast in subject matter

Does the photo have any editorial relevance, merit or emotional impact?

Does the photo communicate effectively? Photos should move, excite, entertain, inform or help the viewer understand the world around them.

Is the photograph of something no one has ever seen before or is it a unique or interesting photo of something everyone has seen?

Does the photo communicate quicker, stronger, better or more eloquently than a simple sentence could describe?

Does the photo have enough impact to move the viewer?

Is the photo clean, interesting, and well composed enough to stand on its own?

Does the photo go beyond the trite and obvious?

Is the photo mindless documentation?

Strengthening Composition:

Find a strong center of interest

Get closer

Focus. Carefully – nearest area that’s important to be in focus.

Meter. Carefully – is the scene average or do you need to increase or decrease exposure?

Use depth of field (DOF) for creativity – Use tripod if necessary

Use Shutter Speeds for creativity – Use tripod if necessary

Photograph from different angles – Try to show things in a different way

Use Light – directional is best; Overhead is worst

Sun low in sky – use long shadows for mood

Beware of Background – Move yourself or your subject if distracting or soften/blur with a shallow DOF

Photograph what you KNOW – Friends, Family, Home, Job, etc.

Think about categories – is image appropriate, strong for category?

Avoid large white EMPTY areas (like sky) especially in corners/edges.

Could cropping strengthen the composition?

YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIND BEAUTIFUL THINGS TO PHOTOGRAPH,

YOU HAVE TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM BEAUTIFULLY.

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