How to Take Great Pictures:  My notes from the BlogHer 2010 breakout session

• You can take great pictures whether you own a DSLR or a point-and-shoot.  You can even take great pictures with a cell phone camera!
• Use your images to tell a story.  It adds so much to your blog post.  Try writing a post entirely with pictures.
• Self-editing:  Know what makes an image stand out.  Your image should be thought provoking and create an emotional impact.
• Composition is essential!

The Rule of Thirds

• Grid, similar to a tic-tac-toe game
• Don’t center every picture
• Add visual interest
• Where you put something in the frame can give it power (or remove power)

Lines

• Look for lines in everyday life (roads, trees, etc. etc.)
• How do lines affect the feeling of a photo?
• Lines create movement
• Lines lead your eye to another point
• Use lines to compose your shot
• There are obvious lines (roads, dirt path) and subtle lines (sidewalk cracks)

Pay attention!

• Once you consciously look for things while you’re photographing, it will become natural and your pictures will become amazing.
• Simplicity
• Don’t overdo it
• Don’t over-prop your photos
• Symmetry
• Balance
• Watch your backgrounds and avoid showing a mess
• Don’t over edit.  You can go too far and ruin a decent picture
• Watch out for typical photography faux pas
• Frame within a Frame = View through fence, view through a doorway, Another way to add visual interest
• Dutch Angles aka Tilt = Cinematographers tool to create unease and tension in a shot.  Works in photos where you want to show movement, joy, energy, or create abstract art.  Always keep the horizon a straight line.  If it’s supposed to be straight in nature, you probably shouldn’t mess with it.

Learn How to Use Your Camera

• ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture (all points on the ‘Exposure Triangle’)

ISO:  How sensitive your camera is to light

• A lot of Light = a smaller ISO number
• Less Light = a higher ISO number (image may become grainy)

Shutter Speed:  How long the shutter is open to control how much light enters the camera

• Faster shutter speed = captures very fast motion as a clear photo
• Slow shutter speed = captures very fast motion as a blur, captures slower motion (ex: fireworks) as a clear photo
• Experiment: draw a heart with a flashlight as you take a photo using a very slow shutter speed and a tripod

Aperture:  How much light is hitting the camera’s sensor, controlled by opening and closing the lense

• Biggest aperture opening = smallest number setting, less of the photograph will be in focus
• Smallest aperture opening = biggest number setting, more of the photograph will be in crystal clear focus
• F2.8 = smallest number to use/largest aperture opening to use before the shutter speed becomes too slow and the picture becomes blurry

Exposure = process of capturing light with your camera to produce an image on your digital sensor (or film if you’re old school)

Achieving Proper Exposure

• It’s better to shoot underexposed photos when using a digital camera.
• You can’t fix an overexposed photo because there’s no color information where it’s blown out (aka white).  Your best way to save the photo is to convert it to B&W

Lenses

• Focal length of lens determines its angle of view
• Long lens = flatten subject, more flattering portraits
• Wide angle lens
• Purchase a new 50 mm lens
• Try out lenses and cameras before buying them

Light

• Front light = flat, very flattering, try to find diffused light
• Back light = works well if you’re ok with losing some of your background image
• Side light
• Flash modified light = bounce the flash off of a different object and use tools that can be added to a pop up flash

Be Creative!

• Take self-portraits
• Create bokeh magic
• Have a macro addiction (flower setting on a point-and-shoot)
• Look for reflections
• Have fun with shadows
• Flare it up
• Experiment with angles
• Use lens attachments
• Capture yourself (365 portraits project)
• Create your own works of art
• Be different
• Create photo flairs by allowing light to shine into lens (be careful)
• Take your camera everywhere
• Shoot from up high and down low
• Lensbaby (3 types)
• Fish eye attachment
• Challenge yourself to complete projects

*This session was jam packed with useful information and gorgeous photos.  If I misunderstood any info or you have additional photography tips and tricks, please leave a comment and let me know!*