Look at the Light

It is true that photography is all about light and composition (the arrangement of all subjects and items in your image). Take a few moments, look outside at the light in the early morning and at dusk.

Make photographs at each of these times on your point and shoot camera on the programmed setting from the exact same position. Put the printed photographs of  on your computer if you can have all images on screen at the same time.

What do you see? What differences between the images? There are no right or wrong answers - This exercise is the initial step in learning about light and photography.

My next blog will cover the basics of  "composition."

It's all about you, the Photographer

Some say the digital age means an end to creative photography, as people just point and shoot. Well, I’m here to disagree – it’s all about the person behind the camera and not about the technology.

I’ve taught courses about this topic – and my students only use disposable cameras at first. We all know how to see – we need to learn how to look.  Just stop for a moment and look around the room you’re in right now.

You see shapes, lines, light, dark,  maybe even a little movement as your cat jumps on your keyboard. Now, zero in on what images attract you.  Make your forefingers and thumbs into a rectangle of sorts and voile, there is your viewfinder or the display screen on your camera.

Mind you,  I personally have an aversion to using display screens for capturing your image, I only use mine to review and maybe change something for the next shot.

There are two main principles in photography – Keep it Simple (if someone can’t figure out your subject, you’ve got too much going on), and, if you don’t like what you end up with, Get Closer.

Then there is the third principle (I know I said “two,” ) Take lots and lots of photos. Capture the same subject from a variety of angles – get up, get down, move to the side, and please wear jeans that you won’t worry if you need to lie down in the grass to shoot a beautiful cloud.