Digital Photography Improvers Course

Tutor: Mike Sleigh of Polypodphoto

The Guildford Institute 10am – 4pm

Would you like to improve your digital photography skills and produce better photographs whilst capturing interesting

images of Guildford?

Thank you for joining the course

• What type/sort of photography are you interested in?

• What experience of photography have you? • Have you migrated from film to digital?• What do you hope to gain from the course?• What use do you want to put the resulting

photograph to? - Print, Art print, Internet?

Before taking the photograph

• Actually seeing what you are shooting is as important as knowing how to take the photograph.

• Do you ‘see’ when you look at a subject? – do you really see what you are taking?

• Are you happy with the photos that you take? – if not is it you or a problem with the camera, or both?

• How’s the composition and framing? – it’s down to the eye of the photographer.

• Is the colour/sharpness/image quality OK? – dependant on the ability of the camera or how it’s been set up by the photographer.

• What can the photographer do to get better photographs? (assuming that they are not just “snaps” taken without much consideration).

Picture Composition

Good subject composition and framing can turn an ordinary picture into a great photograph. Use your eye to look at the subject within a frame, place the subject(s) within the frame to create a good composition. Subjects which are moving are more difficult to capture without blurring, this can be a challenge – especially with compact cameras.

Points to consider before taking the photograph

Can the shot be better composed or framed?Is it really worth taking the photograph? Is the light right? Is the subject moving? Is a ‘creative’ photograph required?Has the camera got manual settings?Can the photo be improved by using extra kit?

Automatic Shooting Other than basic compacts most cameras will give the option of automatic shooting by selecting pictograms/symbols for the type of target subject, such as Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night etc.

Advanced ShootingHigher end cameras will allow the selection of ‘modes’ to suit the situation and to be creative. These settings include the ability to set the aperture and shutter speed independently.

Shutter SpeedOn basic compact cameras this usually is set by the camera automatically but being able to change the shutter speed according to the subject is very useful - a faster shutter speed allows the capture of moving subjects.

ApertureThe size of the hole in the lens, this governs the amount of light being received by the sensor and allows the use of the camera in different lighting conditions, with manual setting it can be used creatively to alter the depth of field.

FocusingAutomatic on all compact/advanced compact/CSC cameras , auto on SLR cameras but can be focused manually for creative control.

Depth of FieldThe amount (depth) of the photograph that is in focus. Depth of field is governed by the size of the hole in the lens aperture

Focal Length of LensesOn cameras with interchangeable lenses a range of focal lengths are available, from wide angle to telephoto. On compact and advanced compact cameras ‘Zoom’ takes the place of interchangeable lenses.

Camera Settings

• ISO – the ‘speed’ (sensitivity) setting

• White Balance – usually auto on basic cameras

• Flash on/flash off • Image Recording

Quality - a range of image quality settings

• RAW image setting

• pictograms/symbols for the type of target subject, such as Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Night etc

• Higher end cameras will allow the selection of ‘modes’ to suit the situation and to be creative

• No matter how good the camera is or how many accessories there are, capturing a ‘good’ photo depends on the photographers ability to see and interpret what is being viewed before pressing the shutter button.

• Post capture image processing can rescue some photos but getting it right at the point of taking the photo is a better course of action.

Image Processingand Output

If the image requires correction or improvement and adjustment after downloading from the camera there are a number of software packages available.Image size and the amount of processing required will depend on the end use of the image - different combination of resolution, image size and image quality.

Checklist

• Record or creative photograph ?• Is the lighting OK? Is the subject moving?• Is there a copyright issue? • Model Release Form required?• Does taking photos require a permit?• When going out to take specific photos always plan

in advance - check access restrictions.• Always take spare batteries and SD/CF cards.

Digital Photography Improvers Course

For information on future PhotographyCourses and ‘PhotoWalks’

please visit: www.polypodphoto.co.uk

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