CEI - Digital Photography (Lesson)

Digital Photography Lesson

With the evolution of technology came digital photography. Digital photography is a form of photography that uses electronic photodetectors to form an image. Before, pictures were captured on a photographic camera and the images were saved on a roll of film. That film had to be sent off to be developed into the picture. There were no previews of the picture and you had to wait for the results. Today, most of us are taking pictures with some form of digital devices such as a digital camera, iPad, or mobile phone. The images are stored in a computerized container that allows the images to be saved, viewed immediately, shared electronically at the push of a button, edited to easily change the properties of a photograph, and printed at your leisure. To enhance your picture and get desired results, you can apply image capturing techniques.

Photographic Composition Techniques

Photographic composition techniques are merely guidelines used to arrange elements within the frame of a digital camera to help capture the desired focal point in the best capacity. These composition techniques are used to influence viewing behavior. The main goal is to lead the viewer’s eye to the focal point. Many compositional techniques that can be applied to help achieve this goal; however, in this lesson, we are going to only focus on three of them: rule of thirds, framing, and point of view.

Rule of Thirds

The phrase “picture-perfect” today does not apply to a well-balanced, centered picture. It can be an obscured, off-centered picture and be evocative and beautiful. As most of us are novice photographers, we take pictures for memory or to capture the moment. We are not thinking about angles. We are trying to angle the camera to get everything in the picture that we desire and are most likely trying to position the camera to get everything centered in the frame. Centering the photograph in our minds is the best way to draw attention to the focal point. That is not actually true. The human eye's natural tendency is to focus on an off-centered spot on a rectangular surface. The photographic composition technique, rule of thirds, best supports this natural tendency.

The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that states that an image should be placed to the left or right third of an imaginary grid of nine equal parts where the lines of the grid intersect, leaving the other two-thirds more open thereby creating a negative space. This effect naturally moves the viewer’s eye to the off-centered area. This feels more natural to the viewer and the image is more compelling and pleasing.

To apply the composition technique of rule of thirds, imagine a three column and three rows grid placed over a scene. Place the focal point in an off centered area along the imaginary lines near the spot where a horizontal and a vertical grid line meet. Take a look at the example below and see how the rule of thirds is applied.

Framing

Framing is another composition technique you can use to draw attention to your focal point. This technique uses elements in a scene to visually create a frame around your subject making it stand out. It also can provide context and tell a story through the image. For example, a photographer might photograph a prom couple under a designer arch. The outline of the arch creates a visual frame around the couple and draws your eye further into the image.

There are endless things that can create a visual border for your subject. A few elements that can be useful for framing a focal point are:

• Arches
• Trees, branches, foliage
• Buildings
• Windows
• Rock formations
• Doorways
• Bridges
• Shadows

A frame should be effective, but not take away from the attention and focus of the subject. Also, a frame does not have to go all around the subject. It can be a partial frame. Take a look at the stunning photo below. Do you notice how the trees frame the couple in the photograph?

Point of View

The point of view composition technique in photography means the angle from which the camera shoots. This composition technique engages the viewer and allows them to be a part of the action or involves them with the subject. Changing the angle at which you are shooting can change the impression your photo makes on a viewer.

Point of view changes with the changing of angles. Are you focusing up at the subject or down? Are you shooting from eye level? What is in between you and the subject? These different angles change the scale of the scene, object, or subject and therefore give a different point of view. For example, a shot of a basketball player shown as though you were looking through the player’s eyes (the net of a basketball goal and other players’ hands reaching for the basketball as it is freely in the air are visible but not the players’ faces and bodies). This angled shot allows the viewer to feel like they are becoming the subject and experiencing the event firsthand.

Shooting at a Low Angle

Imagine when you were a child looking up at your parents. Your parents loomed larger than you. In an instinctive sense, you knew your role was as the child and they were the parent; therefore, you must obey them. What comes with knowing that was the understanding that there were boundaries, a sense of being inferior, and a dependency. When capturing an image from a low-level angle, the subject appear bigger and more important. You can help the viewer feel that the subject is powerful, in control, domineering, or cavalier. That subject could evoke fear or a sense of being overwhelmed. There are some power dynamics between the subject and the viewer when shooting at a low angle beneath the subject. Take a look at the images that were shot from ground level and angled upwards. What do you feel about the subject as the viewer looking up?

 

Shooting at a High Angle

Shooting from below a subject makes the viewer feel inferior to the subject. However, shooting from above the subject does the opposite. It makes the viewer feel superior and minimizes what is below. The higher angle can give you a better perspective of the world below possibly triggering emotions of freedom. It can reveal patterns, lines, forms, and textures that can’t be seen from eye level. For example, being surrounded by tall trees, at eye level, the perspective may be that of clutter or just a bunch of tall trees. Yet capturing the scene above the subject, you can see patterns and textures of all the trees and the surroundings. The point of view changes for the viewer and the feeling suggests awe. How does your point of view change with each image below that was shot from above the subject?

 

Shooting from Eye Level

Can you think of the most common angle you use when you take pictures? Eye level is a familiar viewpoint; therefore, this is typically how you take a picture. An eye level shot refers to when the camera is angled at the same level as the subject. Taking an eye level shot tends to be the easiest and quickest way to get the job done. For viewers, it helps them connect with the subject of the photo because it is a realistic view. You also see more of the subject. Take a look at some examples of images taken at the eye level of the subject.

Ethical Image-Capturing Techniques

Digital images are found throughout the internet and are easily accessible. This does not mean that you have the right to use the images. We must be good digital citizens by applying and using ethical image-capturing techniques. Take a look at the video below to learn more about following digital ethical standards in regard to the use of images.

 

 IMAGES CREATED BY GAVS