Taking Better Pictures

1. Taking BetterPictures By Lynn Betts, NRCS, Iowa

2. My experiences: • ISU Photojournalism classes • 1-year apprenticeship with Erv Cole • Nikon School of Photography • Missouri Photojournalism Workshop • Work with SCS national photographers • 35 Years of conservation photography

3. What we will cover • Why do we want good pictures? • Get to know your camera for technical quality • How to hold your camera • Caring for your camera • Choose to Compose • Light Matters • Put People in Pictures

4. What we will cover(continued) • Showing off conservation: planning ahead • A few tips on aerial photography • Kodak’s Top Ten Tips • Ten Techniques That Work • Summary: Three Basics

5. Why better pictures?

6. Which would you pick up?

7. Get to know your camera • The Olympus C-4000 Wait a minute!!

8. Get to know your camera • The Olympus C-4000

9. The Olympus C-4000 The lens: • 3x zoom • Aperture 2.8-11 • Focus 31” • Macro to .8” focus

10. The Olympus C-4000 Shutter • Focus (halfway) • Zoom beside

11. The Olympus C-4000 Flash • Internal • Auto, fill, red eye reduction settings • Red button is self timer lamp

12. The Olympus C-4000 Mode dial • Six preset • Program • Aperture • Shutter • Manual • My custom • S-Prg (movie)

13. The Olympus C-4000 Back panel • Most controls

14. The Olympus C-4000 Viewfinder • 80% of captured scene • Diopter adjust • LED for focus, flash

15. The Olympus C-4000 Viewfinder • Green, in focus • Orange, ready to flash

16. Change modes of Olympus C-4000 • The wheel arrows, used with other buttons, change settings

17. The Olympus C-4000 Back panel • Most controls

18. The Olympus C-4000 Mode dial • Six preset • Program • Aperture • Shutter • Manual • My custom • S-Prg (movie)

19. Other modes of Olympus C-4000 • Self-portrait • Night scene • Landscape • Landscape plus Portrait • Sports • Portrait

20. The Olympus C-4000 Flash • Built-in • Auto • Red eye reduction • Fill flash • 12’ limit

21. The Olympus C-4000 Flash button • Serves as Image delete button also

22. The Olympus C-4000 Side panel • Storage card

23. The Olympus C-4000 Bottom • Batteries • Tripod socket

24. The Olympus C-4000 Sidepanel • DC power input • Show on TV • Down-load to computer

25. Taking care of your camera Store it : ---somewhere other than on the trunk of a car or the street!

26. Taking care of your camera The good news: Inexpensive camera bag

27. Taking care of your camera Store above Zero Not in dusty, hot pickup Batteries cause severe damage at 110 degrees Lens is coated- use only special lens agents, cloths Use Bulb blower brush

28. How to hold your camera

29. Composition Tip #1 Fill the Frame with your subject

30. Composition Tip #2 Compose for a Center of Interest

31. Composition Tip #3 Get the Clutter out!

32. Composition Tip #4 Follow the Rule of Thirds

33. Composition Tip #5 Use curves for depth

34. Composition Tip #6 Look for Frames

35. Composition Tip #6 Look for Frames

36. Composition Tip #7 Use repetition in lines, patterns

37. Composition Tip #8 Include people, naturally

38. Composition Tip #9 Face subjects into the scene

39. Composition Tip #10 Focus selectively

40. Lighting Tip #1 Avoid overhead light

41. Lighting Tip #2 Sidelight: very effective

42. Lighting Tip #3 Backlight: dramatic

43. Lighting Tip #4 Shoot early morning, late day

44. Lighting Tip #5 Use a polarizing filter

45. Lighting Tip #5 Use a polarizing filter

46. Lighting Tip #6 Landscapes need shadows

47. Taking conservation photos Tip #1– Plan ahead. Timing is critical.

48. Taking conservation photos Tip #2– get off the ground for a storytelling view.

49. Taking conservation photos Tip #2– get off the ground for a storytelling view.

50. Taking conservation photos Tip #2– get off the ground for a storytelling view.