Photography 101 - Making of a better photographer

[Derf]

To better each other, I would like to bring up a question, do you guys think of the rule of thirds when you shoot?

(a Great photographer once told me that it does not matter if you give an SLR or a point and shoot or a disposable
camera, you will get a great picture becuause you do not need a good camera to take a great picture, you only
need the ability to frame the image... if you use rule of thirds to take every picture, you will hardly every find were
a centered image is better than an image where the rule of thirds is properly applied) ((Aviation is a little different
only for shots you want accepted to airliners or Jetphots))

THIS has been the influence on everything I do with a shutter button

Every time I pick up the camera, I go really fast thru a few quick things but always find that the rule of thirds is the
one thing that makes my style.

The lesson that changed me was when I was asked to take every picture for the next month using rule of thirds and
there will never be a picture that will be centered and look much better than the picture using rule of thirds (unless
you are framing). I worked for 3 weeks and finally found a centered image that looked better. When I took it to the
photographer, he smiled and said....How many pictures did you take before you were able to get a better one? and
then told me that every rule in photography must be broken to become a great photographer....I am still trying

Do you use rule of thirds, can you show us one example and explain why you feel it is rule of thirds?

Here is one of my shots

Horizon is a bit high for rule of thirds but the wheel is on the left 1/3 and the tower is on the right 1/3rd and framing
was also applied a tiny bit.

Here is more info on rule of thirds if you do not know of this, please let me know if this is worth it and I should
continue. If you do not agree, please post....This should be a learning thread for me to and I am trying to learn off
of this thread too.

Rule of thirds
http://www.megapixel.net/html/articles/composition.php

[mmedford]

Good Information...

I learned something...what about us who started within aviation, and now want to take this photography thing even further?

People? Wildlife? Nature?

Thanks

[Derf]

This is more about non aviation but it can be applied

this is only the first of more things as far as photography, I will update further things later... if you guys are interested there are lots of neat things. I want to first start with the Basics...

















Most of my images use rule of thirds of some kind.... Lets see some of your examples

[h2opunk1822]

awesome info fred!!.. now all i need to do is find a reasonably priced starter camera to put that info to use

[jerslice]

[GrummanFan]

As much as I love airplanes, at least 75% of my photography has not been aviation related...

I do my best to give my pictures a lot of "depth" to them. Playing with depth of field adds quite a bit of life to a picture, makes it pop out more. I always move the camera about, try to place different things in the foreground and the background, play with lines and angles.

Not perfect, but it sorta works...




My old film camera actually had a guide frame built into the viewfinder so you could quite easily implement the rule of thirds.

[Derf]

awesome info fred!!.. now all i need to do is find a reasonably priced starter camera to put that info to use

Actually, you can practice that with your camera phone! :borat:

[Derf]

As much as I love airplanes, at least 75% of my photography has not been aviation related...

I do my best to give my pictures a lot of "depth" to them........

The first photo is not really rule of thirds but more framing. I will want to get more into that after rule of thirds and is an excellent example of a perfect framing. The second shot shows rule of thirds nicely.

any more examples of rule of thirds?

[mirrodie]

Been cleaning out the closet of files once I tranferred them and found one.

[moose135]

You found that thing in your closet :shock: :shock: :shock:

How about this one, Fred:



The horizon (edge of the river) is at the lower third, the bridge tower is at the left third, and the span of the bridge draws your eye in from the corner down to where the two meet.

[mirrodie]

NO Moose! I meant I am still cleaning computer files since moving them to the Apple!

I'd scream like MIKE and TOM if I saw that thing in my closet!

[Derf]

Nice Examples Mario and Moose.... I like the advanced rule of thirds....it show how it can get complex quick!

FRAME

Creatively think of objects to use as a frame. Some examples include branches, windows, tunnels, doorways, and archways.
Anything that lets you look through one thing at another thing will make a good frame.

Use an interesting frame for your photograph. If possible use a symbolic object for framing your subject, something that has
a meaning in relation to the subject

Consider depth of field when working with a frame as a foreground object. Since you have a foreground object (the frame)
and a background object (the subject) you can chose your depth of field. Do you want your foreground to be in focus? If
so, then use a small aperture to keep the frame and subject in focus. Conversely, if you want only the subject in focus, use
a large aperture.

Keep the camera’s focusing and lighting sensors on the main subject. If possible, use a foreground frame that is a darker
object than the background. Expose for the subject in the background and let the frame darken.

Emphasize your subject. All framing directs the viewer’s attention to the subject, but you do not need to always go tightly
into the frame. You can leave the subject framed but still leave other objects around the edges of the photograph. In this
photograph the frame is a window, but you can still see the cannon around the edges of the photograph.



























I have not been able to use rule of thirds and this, it seems one or the other, I can not find an
execption....but I am sure there has to be one. Every rule in photography must be broken
in order to become better. I am still trying but it always seems wrong.....SO FAR
but I will keep trying!

[moose135]

How about a frame framing a frame, framing a frame...

[Derf]

Thanks for the input Moose.... Those are nice examples and thank you for your post. Those are textbook framing. OK, Lets try a different trick. Balancing the light with a flash.

This is usually me yelling "there is a sunset" portraite time!

Everyone likes a good sunset shot

and the key is underexposure to get the look that most want. Here I am extreme and using Manual mode to get the look.



Now the Key for a nice portrait into the sun, or back lit, or not lit right....on and on

TV mode and get the shot right, but be at or under 200th of a second. (You will need this for later when you use
the flash)

This next shot is underexposed by a stop, it give the nice rich full color that I want as a backround. I should have
gone a little darker but will vary by taste. I was shooting almost directly into the sunset...just off to the side


Now the Key
Get the ISO, Speed, Apature and put those settings into manual mode on the camera....now your locked and should
be able to take the same exact shot again

Now pop up the flash, the flash will light the foreground (MODEL) and the camera is setup for the backround....the
TTL flash on the camera with dial up or down the right power to light the subject with the proper exposure yet the
flash will not help the underexposed backround.


(these pictures were straight from the camera and previous to post processing)



Processed


Not really a sunset but same concept of manual and using flashes to light the foreground, this one is one on camera,
one off camera and the sun is the the left of frame lighting the side. My off camera flash is the the right of the
camera 4 feet and 2 feet forward of the camera.

We would be black if it were not for the flash
(this backround was not underexposed or it would look much better..I had just got my flash)



Like I said, I YELL when I see a nice sunset....ITS PHOTOTIME!!!!


A link on Strobist that explains what I am doing in much more detail
http://strobist.blogspot.com/2007/09...-twilight.html

[mirrodie]

Great thread Fred. highlights the minutiae that I sometimes take a lot of time to tweak.