ACCESS TO CVU

Create Digital Compositions

Duncan Wardwell (duncan@cvuhs.org)

Zoom in on your horizons.

THE POWERS THAT BE

This slide show demonstrates some useful tips for capturing different types of compositions.

CHART YOUR PROGRESS

Use the composition criteria below to guide your development as a photographer. 

CRITERIA

RULES OF THUMB

YOUR SITUATION
Location      Find a place that allows for ample experimentation.  Minimize motion and other interference.  Move to a different location for other criteria.  
Light      Utilize light to illuminate the background.  Avoid midday light and try the hours around dawn and dusk.  
Foreground      Use the foreground to provide contrast for the background.  Sunsets appear dynamic with foreground balance.  Mountain ranges rise with foreground scale.  
Background      Prioritize a characteristic or two of the background.  Use Light, Orientation, Horizon, Symmetry to emphasize that characteristic.  
Orientation      Most landscapes work best with a horizontal orientation.  Keep your horizon straight.  Use vertical orientation for a specific peak, foreground balance, or aesthetic variations.  
Symmetry    Symmetry may direct attention to a subject or multiple focal points.  Often an asymmetrical element provides best results.  
Frame it     Utilize your LCD display and frame your photo.  Use the Rule of Thirds and zoom options to improve your composition.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Depth of Field      Landscapes require a large depth of field.  Select the proper scene selection or aperture setting.  Press the shutter release partway to lock a specific focal point or exposure.   Be prepared to compensate for less light.  
Technical Support      Your camera may have other options designed to maximize the exposure of your landscape.  A tripod removes elements of human error.  Computer software mops up other mistakes  
Every Picture Tells A Story. . . Don't It?      You saw something before you took the picture.  Do you see the same thing after you took it?  

EYE SPY

Your eyes and brain quickly stitch together many images that often don't translate to a specific picture.  In order to maximize your ability to capture what you see then you must become familiar with your camera's buttons, icons, and menus. 

Pay special attention to the quality of the sample photographs in class.  Practice taking pictures in auto mode with shutter auto-focus and view the results.  Then adjust aperture or shutter speed settings for desired results.

Try it out one criteria at a time.  Constantly review your results using the LCD display and computer software.  "The road to wisdom is simple to express.  Err, err, and err again but less and less and less."  Piet Hein

PANORAMA-LAMA

Many cameras and software programs can stitch together successive photos to form a single panoramic.  Experiment with this option.   First choose a subject that can fit into one photograph.  Frame it and shoot it.  Then break that subject into at least three different sections.  Frame and shoot each zoomed section.  Observe the results.  Utilize a tripod for best results.

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Choose a picture from the slide show above or open your own and try out some Elemental Exercises.  Then use the mouse to execute other toolbar or palette commands as listed below.

TOOLBAR:
File>Print Layouts  Choose a Contact Sheet for all the pictures in a folder.  Choose Print Layouts to design your own picture packages.
File>New  Create a postcard, invitation sign, or logo of any size.  Be sure to check your resolution criteria.
 
PALETTE:
Rectangle or Elliptical Marquee Tools  Use these tools to define a space within your new document.  Then you are able to paint or add a background to that area.
Gradient Tool   Set the colors and blending techniques up on the bottom row of the toolbar.  Then draw a line segment with your mouse to define the spectrum with your selection.             
Text Tool  Click on any section of your document to set cursor in place.  Set font type and size on bottom row of toolbar.  Type text.  Use Move Tool to position Text properly
Custom Shape Tool   Define shape specification on bottom row of toolbar.  Draw a rectangular space on your document to set size of shape.  

NEXT WEEK:  BUILD A PANORAMIC AND ADD PHOTOS TO YOUR POSTCARD, INVITATION, SIGN, OR LOGO