The Basics of Photography - Assignment #6

THE BASICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Learning Goal

Get comfortable taking pictures with a camera and 

exploring different photo composition techniques.

The best camera is the one that you have with you.  This is a common quote among photographers, especially Chase Jarvis: check out his work here.  A better camera is not always available and there are important basic concepts that should be followed to get a great photograph.

Some links to great phone photographs.
10 of the best iphone photographers
iPhone Photography Tips
iPhone photography awards

Check out this photo from Media Arts Student Sierra Murray - it shows framing

Check out these wildlife photographs Best Wildlife Photos 2014

Your 1st Task

Find on the internet what you think THE BEST PHOTO EVER! Post it to your blog and write 2-3 sentences about why you think this is the best photo ever! 

Be ready to defend your stance to your classmates. 

You have 15 minutes to complete this.  

Simple camera tips

• Hold the shutter button down halfway to focus your subject. Press the shutter all the way down to take a photograph. If using a smart phone, tap the screen to focus.

• Keep the camera as still as possible when taking a picture.  Use a tripod when available or lean on something or set your camera down on something. This will keep the image focused. 

• Don’t use flash.

• Try different camera angles, get low to the ground, hold the camera high up.

• Move in close to the subject you want to photograph. Don't zoom in!
• HAVE A SUBJECT, there should be one thing that stands out in each photograph this is your subject.

Each person needs to take their own photographs but please go in groups of 2 or 3. 

You will need to take a photograph of the following:

1) 1 low angle = looking up at subject
2) 1 high angle = looking down at subject
3) Building or Machine
4) Landscape = no people just nature, make sure horizon line is straight
5) Pattern = repeated shapes
6) Framed (remember seeing Sierra's example above?) = subject has a frame around it
7) Rule of thirds = subject is not in the center
8) Person or people - they must give you permission
9) Interesting shape(s) or texture(s)
10) Macro = close-up of detail
11) Your choice

Success Criteria for photos
How will I know I have taken a great photo?

• it is in focus
• the lighting correct (not too dark, not too bright)
• it is obvious which photo it is, does a pattern photo look like a pattern
• the photo interesting
• all 10 photos included
• there is a subject
• SEE EXAMPLE PORTFOLIO BY Tonkin and Phillips 

This does not mean you take 11 photos.  Take lots of photos of the same subject matter (i.e. photographing a flower - take 10 shots of that flower, experiment with angle, moving in closer, lighting, etc) You should take somewhere from 50-100 photos

HOW TO HAND IN YOUR PROJECT 

• Be sure to save these photos on your student drive.
• Rename them (i.e DC32234 becomes Pattern) and upload them to your blog. If there are any faces in your photos you must have their permission to upload their photo to your blog.
• Edit in Camera Raw if you would like (open Adobe Bridge - right click on your image and choose open in Camera Raw) 

Success Criteria	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Level 4
-Photographs have the subject in focus, not blurry,  -lighting is not over or underexposed.	5  5.5	6  6.5	7  7.5	8  9  10
Each photograph is a great representation of each topic. It is obvious which photo it is supposed to be.	5  5.5	6  6.5	7  7.5	8  9  10
Creativity: The portfolio shows a variety of photographs that are interesting, (i.e. different angles, subjects, colours, textures).	5  5.5	6  6.5	7  7.5	8  9  10
Blog post: All 11 photographs are included and labelled correctly.	5  5.5	6  6.5	7  7.5	8  9  10
Total				/40