Capturing Life's Moments: Photography Tips and Techniques by Dr. Randy Sleeth

1. Comments (links) at …http://www.people.vcu.edu/~rsleeth/OBTC2010_Randy_Sleeth_Photo_Comments.html Photography Tips and Techniques … will add more picsto the resentation!!! Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

2. Brief Outline of Session • Introduction5 minutes • Comments and Examples15 minutes • Hands-On Practice40 minutes • Discussion & Critique30 minutes Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

3. Overview • Photographs can integrate meanings in behavior and portray displays of human potential • Digital pictures can demonstrate applications to learning • Application of Principles will improve the results • Participants may try applying (with available cameras) some photography principles Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

4. If … “A picture is worth 1000 words” then … “1000 words is worth a picture.” Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

5. Now, for an extremely fast overview of guidelines:my point is not to teach the tips but to show that they exist and there are many of them Then, some examples … Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

6. “The best thing about digital is the instant feedback” • View images immediately • Erase unwanted images • Go home with wanted images • Suffer no delays waiting to analyze a shot • Experiment without wasting film. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

7. “The rule of thirds” • Primary Rule of compositional theory • Split images into thirds both horizontally and vertically • Note resulting four axis points (next slide) • Consider the eight potential compositions • Place subject in or around an axis point • Find composition with best harmony. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

8. 2 1 4 3 “The rule of thirds” Four axis points … Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

9. Think Boy Scout:”Be Prepared (1)” • Stay prepared: • Take unexpected photos • Always have a camera • Notice unexpected photo opportunities • Take advantage of limited opportunities • Create angles and frames • Remain poised for a shot • Use simple motions for expressions and movement • Catch comfortable subjects at what they do well. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

10. Think Boy Scout:”Be Prepared (2)” • Subjects will come to you • Stay ready for unexpected opportunities • Think and act creatively • Prepare angles and framing • Keep open to possibilities • Great portraits do not require great smiles—or even faces. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

11. Perspective: “Add interest with your viewpoint” • Perspective is everything • Walk around subjects to change perspective and find best viewing angle • Seek happy surprises: just move around • Focus on hands • Ask people to close their eyes • Use props to gain comfort • Relax with humor. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

12. “A mother comes to life with her child” • Apply metaphorically • Seek subjects “giving birth” to something • Seek subjects “acting parentally.” Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

13. “Attend to surroundings” • Two pictures are better than one • Create sense of place with an “establishing shot” • Begin with head-to-toe picture • Then go in for the close-up • Never pass up a close-up • Attend to the scene perimeter • Seek symbols and details to reflect the focus of the scene or event • Look for “something different” (angles & frames). Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

14. “Get friendly” • Build upon existing familiarities • Seek calm and cooperation • Talk • Gain full attention • Announce intention to take pictures • Start snapping • Avoid pressure; just take the pictures • “It’s not life or death.” Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

15. “Group people for cooperation & relaxation” • Make wanted images happen • Use groups to create photogenic comfort • Move people very close together • To break down defenses • To gain comfort • To add richness to composition • Remember: group shots make great shots. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

16. “Emphasize Emotion Over Vision” • Learn that your feelings exceed your thoughts • Organize intellectually; respond emotionally • See for yourself, not as others see • Emphasize content over form • Keep the message more important than the composition. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

17. “Say something with your photographs” • Photographs become artist’s language • Photographs speak with dreams and metaphors • Photographs offer emotion, intellect, and imagination (seen through form and content) • Educated viewers, accept, understand, relate to, and sometimes purchase your images. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

18. “Maintain visible rapport with viewers” • Photographic images deal reality: • Assumed • Constructed • Well seen • Images “have a point” to the extent they communicate with viewers • Successful images always use photographer’s eyes to share emotion or intellect with viewers. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

19. “Present a unique vision, consistently” • We work on a relatively level playing field • We separate ourselves with unique vision • Quality images require • Consistency • Thought • Understanding • Open mind • Zen of photography: • Open mind sees all • Camera snaps at infinite. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

20. “Challenge the obvious” • Force a different view for deeper understanding of subject and subtleties • Work in series to demonstrate interest and deliberation • Find the unusual in ordinary or familiar objects • Challenge viewers with abstracting • Move close in to make ordinary objects seem wonderfully unusual. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

21. “Keep it simple” • Complex images not always intellectual • Art often sees less as more • Simplicity communicates vision effectively • The “eyes” have it • Both foreground and background contribute • Simple backgrounds help • Cropping can cut out distractions. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

22. “Be yourself & have Fun with your own style” • Let photography influence growth and style • Let style emerge from ideas and interests • Show positive mood and passion in subjects • Explore to find connections and styles • Find unusual in the ordinary • Find ordinary in the unusual. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

23. “Gain confidence in your own taste” • Follow your interests: • “This is what I like” • “This is what I want to be doing” • Form a thick skin: • You will not know you are right • You will know what you like. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

24. “Take lots of pictures” • Let your camera do the math • Seek interesting details … • Move around – laterally and vertically • Look through viewfinder • Find angles and perspectives that work • Take plenty of pictures • Watch for little things • Find angles that add drama • Use contrasts to emphasize subjects • Know that what draws your attention may never happen the same way again. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

25. “Take LOTS of Pictures” • Note: Actions and reactions occur quickly • Shoot quickly and often • Electrons are cheap • One great shot justifies 100 other tries • Prefocus: Avoid “Hole in the Middle” • Get in tight to capture emotions • Depict relations in tight close-ups • Use power of extreme close shots • Keep subjects equidistant from camera • Focus on eyes • Move around to view all scene elements. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

26. “Close is Intimate” • We care about seductive frame-filling faces • Let viewers experience affection and attraction • Tell subjects to think about what they romance • Speak to bring out expressions • Show warmth and playfulness; get same back • Know smallest expression changes make and break images • Shoot a lot • Electrons are still cheap • Perfect moments are still rare. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

27. “Dial in the Diagonals – to Increase Appeal” • We all like pictures with diagonals and S curves (think of the Nike “swoosh”) • Forego straight head and shoulders shots • Look for triangles • Position subjects comfortably • looking sideways • arms around legs • head toward camera. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

28. “Pose & Compose” • Position subjects close: shoulder-to-shoulder • Fill frames with faces • Organize groups members into rows • Place important people in important places • Position camera chest-high to avoid unflattering perspective distortion • Low camera emphasizes torsos and necks • High camera enlarges heads over bodies. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

29. “Know your setting” • Get to most critical places for action • Know what will define setting(ends of races are rarely interesting) • Make your images different • Pre-focus to prepare for action • Search and employ the best vantage points. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

30. Plan and set up … • Avoid shooting into highly reflective surfaces(mirrors, windows, polished wood paneling) • Avoid flash bounceback by positioning at a slight angle • Avoid eyeglasses glare(flash reflecting off surface of glasses) • Ask for removal of eyeglasses • Raise lights • Ask glasses wearers to tilt downward slightly. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

31. “Avoid Posing” • Find vs construct photos • Stay in background • Wait for photos to happen • Engage in quiet observation (to capture natural and real feelings) • Reality means timing (think “point guard”) • Prepare for speed, alertness, position • "Wait a second, I'm almost there!” – NOT! • Capture reactions to punch lines. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

32. “Encourage expressions” • Talk in relaxed, non-forced way • Smile a lot • Model for subjects • Show relaxed and upbeat expressions and body language • Assume desired attitude • “Smiling photographers have smiling subjects.” Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

33. “Most rules bend well” • Expect frequent exceptions • Break the rule of thirds when you have confidence in your composition • Allow exceptions to make you more critical of your own work – hard to do • Accept shooting advice of others, including non-photographers. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

34. “Quality of Light – Always Crucial” • Light always affects subjects • “No such thing as bad light” • “It’s not worth it…I’ll come back later” (no!) • Later does not happen • Later means never • Make good pictures with the light you have: Move around, get down low, change your angle, create a shaded area, use reflectors, control light and scene with flash • Artificial light can create many effects. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

35. “Attention to detail matters” • Invest in some extras • lively rechargeable batteries • large memory cards • but … • Great pictures do not require great gear • Great gear simply stays out of the way • More shots  better pictures. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

36. Randy’s Highlighted tips • Lots of pictures; lots of close-ups • Gain richness • Direct attention • Example: OBTC pictures Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

37. “Lots of Close-ups …” Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

38. “Lots of Close-ups …” Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

39. “Lots of Close-ups …” Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

40. Highlighted tips 2. Anticipated actions • Basketball point guard earns assists • Sequences note crucial moments Example:  Any "stopped motion" picture to capture a "critical moment” Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

41. Reactions… Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

42. Reactions and timing… Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

43. Highlighted tips • 3. Sequences and stages • Capture continuous processes with movies • Capture stages with pictures • Examples: • US Navy knot tying • Making an ice cream sundae" • Filling a classroom • Coalescing into groups Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

44. Tie a “Bowline” Knot Animated Looks cool; sometines difficult to follow… Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

45. Tie a “Bowline” Knot Stages Focus where you want… • Pass the end through a loop on the standing part • Round the standing part • Back through the loop. Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

46. Pictures in Sequence (watch here) Dr. Randy Sleeth rsleeth@vcu.edu

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