Photography Tutorial Notebook

Welcome to the world of photography

Photography is an interesting marriage of art and science. It can be a rewarding experience when a vision comes to life through a photo. Pictures allow us to capture our world and freeze moments for eternity. Some people takes pictures simply for the sake of "capturing the moment" while others see it as an art form through which photographers share their vision and perspective. No matter what your purpose for taking pictures, you must understand fundamental photographic concepts in order to maximize the impact potential of your pictures. This tutorial notebook is a short guide to helping you understand some important concepts. Use this book as a reference; keep it within reach when taking pictures. You can choose to read this book from front to back; or alternatively, you can browse through and read about topics that are especially relevant to your situation. This is not a passive text, however. I encourage you to try out the techniques and concepts presented here. The best education is the one your receive from experience. I hope you enjoy this tutorial notebook. Strive to be a better photographer. Good luck!

Table of Contents
Depth of field Light/Shadow Motion Repetition Rule of thirds Texture Low-light situation Close-up image Blurred background Top-down view Silhouette Sunset Glossary Sources About the author 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 29 30

Gravel Road

Checkered Table

Depth of field (DOF) is the distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptably sharp in an image (Walree, 2011). An image can have a large DOF, and almost everything in the scene will be clear and in focus. A small DOF is used to emphasize a certain point of interest in a photograph.
Taken with Lumix Gl. F7.1 1/240

Note, in the image on the left, how majority of the picture is sharp and in focus. This means the image has a large depth of field. A large depth of field is especially useful in landscape photography where you want everything to be clear
Taken with Lumix Gl. F3.5 1/40

How do you change the depth of field? DOF is altered by changing the f-stop. This refers to the aperture mode in cameras with the available setting. The aperture is the size of the lens opening. A large f-stop makes the lens opening smaller and gives a larger DOF. Note the f-stop in the image above is 7.1, providing a large depth of field.
f/1.4

f/2.8

f/4

f/5.6 f/5.6

f/8

In the image above, the foreground on the table is blurry while the back is clear. In this way DOF can be used to show distinction in space.
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The smaller the f-stop, the larger the lens opening

L i g h t
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Light creates shadow; and shadow, in return, can enhance the appearance of the subject. The interaction of the two is fascinating. Light can make the subject feisty or dull while shadows can make it mysterious or terrifying (PictureCorrect, 2011).
Walmart

The interplay between light and shadow creates interesting compositions and can make an ordinary scene extraordinary. You must be aware of the lighting in your scene in order to make use of this technique. Shadows can Taken using Rebel XS. f5.6 1/60 also be created Note the bright light utilizing the source in the image. The cameras flash. brightness casts a wide net.

Shadows are created in the areas not accessible by the light.

Using aperture to control lighting. Lighting can also be adjusted in the scene by changing the aperture. A larger aperture (smaller f-stop) allows more light whereas a smaller aperture (larger f-stop) allows less light. In the image on the right, note the large f-stop. By having a small lens Using shutter opening, the camera could be pointed directly at the bright light speed to control without the scene being overly lit. lighting Shutter speed Cousin controls how long the shutter stays open, thus how much light enters the camera. The longer the shutter is open, the more light will enter the camera (see low light p.13-14 for more info). If you want to reduce lighting, increase the shutter speed and vice versa.
Taken using Lumix G1. f3.5 1/30.

S H a d o w
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Small Waterfall

Waterfalls are a common subject of motion photography. The slower the shutter speed, the smoother the water will appear because it moves at a fast speed over the rocks.

Taken using Lumix G1 f22 1/15

In the image on the right, the photographer was moving at the same speed as the subject. In this way, the subject appears clear while the background zooms by.

Bicycle no-hand

Taken using iPhone 3g. f2.8

M o t i o n

o t i o n
Flag runner

As its name implies, motion in photography implies showing the movement of an object or person. Something has to be moving in order for motion to be shown. There are a variety of ways to demonstrate movement in a picture. A simple way is to reduce shutter speed, so the object thats moving appears blurry. Motion can be demonstrated even at faster shutter speeds as long as you or the subject is moving fast enough (see Bicycle nohand on left).

Taken using Canon A410. f5.1 1/60

R e p e t ition
Natural Tunnel

Taken using Lumix G1. f3.5 1/40

Repetition involves showing patterns in your pictures. The world around us is filled with patterns, both natural and man made and one of the joys of photography can be capturing these patterns. There are two primary ways to express repetitions in a photograph: by emphasizing the pattern or by breaking it (Rowse, 2009). Repetition can also be easier to spot when zooming in on a particular object. Unlike some other techniques, repetition does not involve any manipulation with the camera, rather it is how you frame a scene with patterns.

The photo of the church on the right emphasizes the pattern on the roof and of the pillars. Note that in the background of the picture, there is also a repeating staircase that leads toward the roof. In looking for patterns, you may often find that there are patterns within patterns. Breaking Repetition Photographing breaks in repetition can be a powerful way to draw viewers attention toward a certain portion of the picture. Because the human brain is adept at spotting patterns, a break in a pattern quickly stands out. Breaks in repetition can result is dynamic and interesting pictures.

Woodwork

Taken using Lumix G1. f3.5 1/30

Rule
How do I utilize this rule? This compositional rule can be utilized when youre actually taking the picture or it can be applied in post production. Most modern digital camera have an option to insert the grid into the viewfinder or preview screen (look in the menu). Alternatively, you can crop the picture afterwards so that it follows the rule of thirds and shows emphasis on a certain portion of the image. 9

of

Mustang

The Rule of Thirds is a basic compositional technique used in painting and photography. According to the rule, images should be divided into nine equal parts by two equallyspaced horizontal lines and two equally spaced vertical lines (like a tic-toe pattern). The important portions of the image should be placed along the lines or their intersections (Wikipedia, 2010). Arranging images in this manner makes a strong composition and guides the viewers focus toward a particular portion of the image.

Notice in the image on the left, the car falls at the intersection of two lines, causing the viewers attention to be focused on the mustang. Breaking the rule The rule of thirds does not have to be used in every single photographic situations. In fact, in many situations, it makes sense to break the rule. For example, placing a subject in the dead center of a picture can create a powerful and confronting image. Experimenting taking shots that both follow and break the rule to create a variety of compositions.

Most cameras have a menu setting where a grid line can be overlaid in the preview screen (like the one on the right). This makes it much easier to follow the rule of thirds to get the perfect composition you want.

Taken using G1 f5.5 1/60

Thirds

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Texture
Old house

Taken using Lumix G1 f6.3 1/125

Information: Texture can be used to communicate important ideas in an image. For example, the texture of the house above communicates the old age of the house. 11

There are many ways to draw a viewers attention in an image: color, leading lines, dramatic scenery, etc. But one often overlooked and powerful way is to utilize texture. Texture in photography is the surface detail of an object; these details can be surface irregularities or small forms on a surface (Bigelow, 2010).

Detail: Texture can also emphasize detail. This is especially relevant to macro photography where you zoom in very close to a subject so the surface textures and details really stand out. The actual image is less important than the surface details that are shown.

Jelly

Taken using Lumix G1 f3.1 1/60 Jagged shore

Drama: Texture can be used to add drama in a picture. Drama is created especially when there is a dramatic contrast between two portions of the picture. A smooth surface contrasted with a jagged and rough surface creates drama.
Taken using Lumix G1 f5.6 1/160

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Low light
By the lake

Stone pattern

Taken using Lumix G1. f5.6 13 seconds

Shooting in low light situations can be very challenging but also very rewarding when you get it right. Two primary ways to compensate for low light in a scene: 1. Changing shutter speed 2. Altering aperture

Shutter Speed A low light situation can be made into a high light situation by changing the shutter speed. Shutter speed basically controls how much light enters the camera. The longer the shutter is open, the more light that will enter the camera. Notice on the photo on left, the shutter was open for a full 13 seconds. This extended shutter speed allowed for the very dim scene to be well illuminated .

Water fountain

Taken using Lumix G1 f3.5 1/60

Aperture Changing the f-stop changes the size of the aperture, or lens opening (see pages 1-3 for more details). Having a large aperture allows more light to enter the camera, thus allowing for better lit pictures in low-light situation (like in the image above). Keep in mind that aperture affects depth of field, so depending on how much sharpness you want in the scene, you may have to adjust the aperture, shutter speed, or both.

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C l o s e
Ring

Up

Glass Deer

Taken using Lumix G1.f2.6 1/40

Close up photography involves getting very close to your subject to take the picture. It is a fascinating technique that reveals hidden details. Extreme close up photography is also known as macro photography, and macro photographs can almost seem to be of alien landscapes because contextual information is often hidden. Keep in mind that the words macro and close up are often used interchangeably. To take close up shots, find an interesting subject and bring your camera as near to the subject as possible while maintaining focus.

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Limitations One of the primary limitations in capturing a close up is your camera. You can only move so close to an object until your camera can no longer focus on the subject. For DSLR cameras, there are speciality macro lenses available that will allow you to get very close to the subject and still maintain focus. For point and shoot camera, look for the flower logo, it usually signifies macro mode and will allow you to take close up pictures. Try to shoot in manual focus mode if your camera allows it, this will enable you fine Taken using Lumix G1.f1.4 1/80 tune the focus as you get very close.

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BLurred
A c k g r o u n d
17 In a blurred background, the subject of the photo is in focus while the background Live, Laugh, Love is not, thus appearing blurry. The concepts in depth of field are especially important to understanding this principal (please review pages 1-2 for more on depth of field). In order to achieve a blurred background, you need to set the f-stop (the opening of the aperture) to the highest number possible. This provides you with a shallow depth of field so that objects close to the camera will be Taken using Rebel XS f4.5 1/15 in focus and objects further away will be blurred. Blurred background through motion A blurred background can also be created through motion. When you are moving the speed as the object in motion, the background will appear blurry (unless you use a very high shutter speed). In this way, blurred backgrounds can be a very effective way to convey movement (see the section on motion, page 5-6, for examples).

Note in the image below, the focus is on the subject in the passenger mirror. The car is traveling at a high rate of speed so even at the shutter speed of 1/125, the background still appears blurry.
Terris

Taken using Lumix G1 f5.6 1/125

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T o p
In top-down view photography, the scene is captured from a perspective of looking down or in being a hot hair balloon and pointing the camera downwards. Since a majority of the photos we take are from normal perspectives, top-down views present reality in an interesting and sometimes surprising way. The photographer almost achieves an omniscient quality when taking such pictures, because often times the people below are completely unaware that they are being photographed.
Traffic Hilary

Hotel Lobby

Taken using Lumix G1.f3.71/8

Note in the image above that the camera is high above the lobby floor of the hotel. From this perspective, the people look quiet small, almost like insects. The higher up you are able to go with the camera, the more interesting the shot will be (keep in mind that details will also be lost the further up you are from ground level).
Taken using Lumix G1 f5.6 1/40

Taken using PowerShot A590 f4 1/80

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Down

V i e w
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S i l h o
A silhouette occurs when an outline of a person is seen and the features are hidden. This sort of image is created when there is a strong light behind the person, coming toward the camera. The camera registers the brightest part of the image so the dark regions are blacked out.
Cameron

U e t t e
Standing

Silhouettes are interesting and can convey different moods in a picture. It is a good way to hide the details, and just give a vague idea of how the person looks, acts, or in the case of the image to the right, stands. A common way to create silhouettes is to use bright artificial lights. In this picture, the subject is in front of a bright fluorescent light, so his features are hidden.
Taken using Lumix G1.f3.71/8 Taken using Lumix G1.f3.71/8

Note in the picture on the left, the person is standing in the hallway where the door provides the only source of light. The light is coming toward the person, and the person is blocking the light. This creates the silhouette.

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S u n s e t
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After a hard days work, the sun has to set and it does so gracefully. Sunsets are an interesting time of day and the lighting created during this time is exquisite. An important point to note is that careful attention must be taken so the sky is not overexposed (this applies during sunsets and sunrises). In order to avoid overexposure, try to utilize the cameras light metering capabilities. This will allow the camera to pick up both the light and dark parts of the image.

Sunset

Sunrise

Taken using Sony DSC. f7.9 1/200

Taken using Kodak V803. f7.5 1/640

Sunrises are a great time of day, that is if youre early enough to be awake at the time. Sunrises are tricky to capture because the sun rises rapidly and there are certain moments when the sky is illuminated very beautifully. A key to capturing good sunrises (and sunsets) is to set the camera to a small aperture (see DOF 1-2), this way the light from the sun wont blind the camera and cause the image to be overexposed. Note in the both the images, the f-number is very high, thus making the aperture smaller and properly capturing the light.

S u n r i s e
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Blurred background: This is achieved by altering the f-stop (which alters the depth of field). A blurred background places extra emphasis on the subject in the foreground because the distracting details in the background are out of focus. To achieve the blurriest background, select the highest f-stop available on the camera. Blurred backgrounds are also useful in conveying motion. Close up: Also known as macro photography, close ups involve bringing the camera very near the subject. Close up's emphasize the minute details that are often overlooked at a distance. In extreme close up photos, the subject can often disappear because the details are the primary focus. The main limitation of close up photography is the focal length of the camera lens. A larger focal length will allow the camera to get closer to the subject. Additionally, using manual focus is useful in macro photography because it provides extra control and fine tuning of the focus. Depth of field (DOF): The distance between the nearest and farthest objects in a scene that appear acceptable sharp in an image. DOF can be changed by altering the f-stop, which controls aperture size (how big the opening in the lens is). A large DOF means most or all of the picture is in focus, while a small DOF implies only certain portions of the image are in focus. Light and Shadow: Lighting in a scene can create dynamic compositions and make an ordinary scene extraordinary. Shadows are created when light cant reach a certain region. In order to control lighting, you can manipulate the light source or alter shutter speed or aperture. Longer shutter speed will cause the scene to be more illuminated, as will a bigger aperture (small f-stop). Light and shadow are useful in setting the mood in a picture. 25

Low light: There are many instances when adequate lighting is not available in a scene. The lack of light can be compensated by altering shutter speed and aperture. Increasing the shutter speed allows the camera to capture more light and a prolonged shutter speed can make a dim scene quiet illuminated. Aperture, size of the lens opening, can also be utilized to increase the light entering the camera. A bigger aperture (small f-stop) allows the maximum light to enter the camera. Taking pictures in low light situations presents several challenges but through creative manipulation of the camera, impressive results can be often achieved. Motion: Photography is a powerful way to convey the movement of people, objects, or anything else than can move. Motion makes a photograph quiet dynamic because the viewer can actually imagine what the movement looked like in person. A basic method for conveying motion involves decreasing the shutter speed. With a slow shutter speed, the subject in motion will appear to be blurry so the proper balance must be found between blurriness and clarity. Repetition: Patterns are found all around us in our environment and can be a result of nature or man-made intervention. Repetition is a technique that reveals the pattens and represents them in interesting ways. The two primary ways to express repetition is by emphasizing the pattern or by breaking it. Capturing repetition simply takes careful observation.

G l o s s a r y
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G l o s s a r y
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Repetition: Patterns are found all around us in our environment and can be a result of nature or man-made intervention. Repetition is a technique that reveals the pattens and represents them in interesting ways. The two primary ways to express repetition is by emphasizing the pattern or by breaking it. Capturing repetition simply takes careful observation. Rule of Thirds: This is a basic compositional technique that is very useful in photography. According to this rule, images should be divided into nine equal parts and important portions of the image should be placed along the lines or their intersections. While taking pictures, using the "grid lines on" option in the camera can aid in following this rule. Additionally, the rule of thirds can be applied to an image during postproduction by cropping it. Silhouette: Also known as outlines, silhouettes occur because of the way the subject is positioned relative to the light source in the image. When a silhouette of a person is created, their features are hidden. This type of photography is interesting and can convey different moods in a picture. In order to create a silhouette, have the subject stand directly in front of a bright light source and take the picture while pointing the camera toward the light.

Sunrise/Sunset: These are beautiful times of the day and capturing the perfect image during this time is challenging because the sun moves up or down quiet rapidly. Because of the abundant amount of light during this time, careful attention must to taken not to overexpose the sky (so it doesn't become whitewashed). Utilize the camera's light metering capabilities to avoid overexposure. The key to capturing the perfect sunrise or sunset is patience and perseverance. You may not get the great image the first time, but when you do its well worth the wait. Texture: A powerful way to capture a viewer's attention in an image. Texture is the surface detail of an object and can be applied in three distinct ways. Texture can convey information, drama, or detail. Like repetition, capturing texture only takes strong observational skills. Texture can also be emphasized in an image by manipulating it in an image-editing software. Top-down view: Taking images from a top-down view offers a unique perspective on the world. Majority of the photos are taken from a normal perspective, so when a scene is shot from above, it offers a different way to look at the world. Taking these types of photos simply involves changing your vantage point to higher ground and then pointing the camera either directly down and at an angle to the ground.

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Sources Cited
Bigelow, R. (2010). Texture photography. Retrieved from http://ronbigelow.com/articles/texturephotography texture-photography.html Rowse, D. (2009, May). Using repetition and patterns in photography. Retrieved from http://www. digital-photography-school.com/using-repetition-and-patterns-in-photography#author Walree, P. (2011, January 14). Depth of field. Retrieved from http://toothwalker.org/optics/dof.html Wikipedia. (2011, September). Rule of thirds. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_ thirds Williams, M. (2007, October 27). Propose use of shadows and lighting. Retrieved from http://www. picturecorrect.com/tips/proper-use-shadows-lighting-photography/

About the author

Faraz Kamili is a senior STaC (Science, Technology & Culture) student at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. He is graduating in May 2012, and plans on attending graduate school afterwards. Farazs passion for photography began in middle school when he found his fathers old Canon film camera in the attic. He began experimenting with various kinds of photography and eventually expanded to digital imaging. Faraz also has a wide variety of interests including traveling, eating exotic foods, snowboarding, reading, and talking to strangers on the bus. For more information, visit his website: ifaraz.com

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The image is a feeble attempt to capture the essence of the moment. Faraz Kamili Faraz Kamili

Thanks to my mom, dad, and brother for their unconditional love.