Sarah's Digital Photography Workshop

1. Digital Photography Agenda Overview Tips for Taking Good Photos Editing Photos 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 1

3. EditingGadgets I’m not a gadget person. My focus is always composition, using whatever camera is available. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 2

4. Frame the Photo Hands, feet, heads Are they all in, if that is the desired look? Pay attention to how much sky and foreground are showing. Is it the look that you want? Camera angle Best not to point camera down at subjects, unless you are going for that particular look. Get level. Body and face looks and angles Are subjects slouching, legs hanging open, faces looking down, etc. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 3 Tips for Taking Good Photos

6. Some eyes are closed

7. Can’t see some faces

9. Even “sky/foreground”

10. All faces are showing

12. Sun and Lighting Time of day and sunlight Mid-day is the worst time of day to take photos outside. When the sun is directly above, there is too much bright, glaring, overhead light. Photos appear washed out. Shadows Watch out for bodies and faces in part shade, part sun. Position versus sun Best not to take photos into the sun. Have your back to the sun, but watch for your own shadow and watch for subjects squinting, looking into a bright sun. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 7 Tips for Taking Good Photos

13. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 8 Tips for Taking Good Photos Bright sun overhead and shadows make the subject too dark. Good lighting in late afternoon. Good contrast and sun position. Otavalo, Equador.

14. Flash or No Flash Glare If a flash reflects off of something in the background, it can produce unwanted glare. Wash out Colors can appear washed out with a flash. Low light motion and blurriness In low light situations, you might not need a flash, but motion can appear blurry. Too much distance can cause blurriness also. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 9 Tips for Taking Good Photos

15. Flash or No Flash Examples 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 10 Tips for Taking Good Photos Low light without a flash and motion, caused this photo to be blurry. Glare from flash and washed out colors.

16. Photography in Classrooms and Schools Be aware of the background Can clutter be cleared up? Cables and other distracting “stuff” laying around? Kids love to make hand signals We can’t use these photos. Remember sky/ground ceiling/floor and framing 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 11 Tips for Taking Good Photos

17. Photography in Classrooms and Schools Examples 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 12 Tips for Taking Good Photos Too much clutter around the room distracts from the subject. Hand signals

18. Photography in Classrooms and Schools Examples 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 13 Tips for Taking Good Photos Too much ceiling.

19. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 14 Tips for Taking Good Photos Good examples of classroom photos. Framed well. Minimal clutter.

20. Photos of Groups Try to line up in even rows without some people too far in the foreground and others too far back. If the back of the group is too close to a wall you might get unwanted shadows. Can everyone see the camera. If not, their face will not be in the photo. I like to get kids to wave, but remind them not to cover someone else’s face. If outside, try to have your back to the sun, watch out for your shadow. If the sun is too bright people will have to squint. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 15 Tips for Taking Good Photos

22. One boy is holding a box in front of his face. This happens frequently with hands waving also.

23. One girl in front of screen with glare

25. Action Shots People speaking It can be really difficult to take a photo of someone while they are talking. Try to time the photo when they are in between words to avoid funny faces. Hand Movement Try to time the photo in between hand motions to avoid blurriness. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 18 Tips for Taking Good Photos

26. 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 19 Tips for Taking Good PhotosAction Shots No meaningful expression. Background too dark. This one is better. Could use to express making a point. Light background is better contrast.

27. My Four Favorite Fixes Cropping Lighting, Color, Contrast Straightening Red Eye Picasa Demo 4/16/2010 Sarah Rosedahl 20 Editing Photos