COMPOSITION: BEGINNINGS
Regardless of who you are, there are a few mistakes that we all make sooner or later and they can absolutely destroy an otherwise terrific photo.
You are at a local park, the light is giving you that perfect glow we photographers are always searching for… in fact, the light is so perfect, that you're rushing to get the shot. You think you may NEVER get light like that again!
There's just enough breeze so that her hair is flaring out in that sexy, not messy way.
She has a ready, gorgeous smile - her posing is natural and automatic. In other words, it's one of those magic moments where everything just falls into place.
You quickly fire off 30 or 40 shots before the light is gone.
Later you review the photos and - TADAAA! There's a huge garbage can with refuse flowing all over the ground in EVERY shot. It is absolutely ruining every photo.
Yes, it can be removed with Photoshop (if you've invested the $700 to buy the program!), but to do it well is going to take hours and hours! Tedious to say the least. Not to mention that it's a pretty steep learning curve - just to figure out how to work the program.
If they were done for a portfolio or something along those lines, you'd have to repeat the whole tedious process for EVERY shot!
By the time you're done, you're no longer enjoying the magic of photography. You are sick of the shot and hope you never see it again.
Or, same photo session, but this time there are tree branches behind your model.
They were quite a ways back, so you didn't really pay much attention to them, but in the photo they are sharp as a tack and look like antlers sticking out of her head!
Let me repeat what was written above…Yes, it can be removed with Photoshop, but to do it well is going to take hours. Did you want to be a better photographer? Or did you want to learn to sit in front of a computer all day mastering Photoshop?
Or some of the shots have a drunk, off in the distance, passed out against a tree (or worse). Or kids playing in the background, or traffic.
I'm sure you get the idea.
What is the problem here?
We got so caught up with our model, the light, and so on…that we didn't check out the background in our viewfinder.
I KNOW this has happened to you! If not, you truly are a beginner - hang in there, it WILL happen!
Here's how to fix the problem. Before you start shooting, for just a moment ignore the model and scan all four corners (and the middle) of your viewfinder looking for these sort of problems.
Usually just moving your model - or yourself - a few feet one way or another will make all these problems disappear. You'll get the stunning portrait you were after and you will save hours of tedious retouching and reprinting. Or heaven forbid, a totally ruined session.
Of course knowing that you should do this is one thing, remembering to actually do it is another. So let's try to come up with a plan that will help us out.
Here's an analogy…
Structurally we want good strong photos, none of this amateur stuff we've been used to. What is there that is a good symbol of structural strength? Hmmm…let's see. The best example I can think of is a pyramid. With their wide bases, they've managed to survive in Egypt for about 5000 years!
How to make better photos? Start with a strong base!
Every time you are ready to depress the shutter button, say the word "B-A-S-E". Out loud!
It may take a few months, but eventually it will become a habit to say the word base every time you are ready to take the shot. Now here's what "B-A-S-E" means to us…
B - background. Through your viewfinder, scan the background for problem areas you don't want in the photo.
A - action. Make sure the action you are trying to capture is in focus and as large as possible. (We'll cover more on that in later lessons.)
S - shutter. Make sure (double check - don't assume) that the camera is set to the shutter speed you have to have to get the shot you want. (We'll cover more on that in later lessons.) It is very easy to forget and leave your camera on the settings you used for the last session you did, which is likely NOT the correct setting for this session.
E - eye. The f-stop is a numeric representation of how large the iris or "eye" of the camera is. It acts like the pupil in your eye, it needs to be open wider for more light, or closed down for less light. You need to make sure it is on the right setting or you won't get the shot. (We'll cover more on that in later lessons.) As with the shutter, it's easy to leave this on the wrong setting - OR to accidentally change it while focusing or changing lenses.
If you can get in the habit of saying the word "B-A-S-E" and doing the required checks before each shot, you will save literally thousands of shots.
One photographer I know relates this story of when he was just learning about photography…
"Before the move to St. Louis, when the Rams football team was still in Anaheim, I read in the newspaper that there was gong to be a cheerleader tryout that weekend!
Professional Cheerleaders! I couldn't let the opportunity to get photos of the tryouts slip by…so I got up early, drove down to the location and there they were! Hundreds and hundreds of gorgeous, physically fit, young women! CHEERLEADERS!
I grabbed my camera body, put on my best lens and put in a roll of 100 speed film. (This was in the day of film.) I started shooting as fast as I could. I managed to fire off about 3 rolls of 36 exposures before I was thrown out. Apparently, security guards have no sense of humor.
But, it was fun while it lasted.
I ran down to the lab and turned in the film. About an hour later I discovered that I had screwed up - big time!
The day before, I had been doing some experimenting with 3600 speed film and had forgotten to change the setting back to my normal 100.
Not one single shot turned out!"
An opportunity gone forever, if he had said the word B-A-S-E even one time, he would have noticed the incorrect settings and changed them.
Photo Exercise
2. Record everything in your notebook - including your pre-visualization.
3. When you bring the camera to your eye - say the word B-A-S-E. Out loud.
4. Check the background for unwanted elements.
5. Check to make sure the action is in focus and filling the frame.
6. Check to make sure the shutter speed is at the best option for that photo.
7. Check to make sure the f-stop is the optimal one for that photo.
8. Rinse and repeat…
Next time…another frequently overlooked pointer that can - actually, let's change that to WILL - immediately improve your photography
Sorry…I know I promised, but…
I apologize that I don't have my fairy images ready today. I had a wedding to shoot on Thursday and I'm helping to put together a video to show at the reception a week from today in Puerto Rico, where the bride is from. I will get to the fairies asap. Thanks for your patience.
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend. Happy Easter!
Mary Kay
Gold Leaf Productions
www.goldleaf-art.com
513-877-2995
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