An Eye for Detail

Sometimes, I look through the photos and think, 'Did I take that?' So often, what we saw with our eyes is not reflected in the photos in our hands.


As an innovative photographer, you will be concerned with getting as many good snap as you can from each photo shoot. This keeps your costs down. In previous blog, we looked at achieving this by keeping your camera steady so that your pictures don't suffer from camera shake.

As important as it is, camera stability is only part of the story. When you look at a scene, you pick out the parts that interest you without really seeing everything. That's how your brain works. It selects the point of interest and concentrates on that. 

We see the buildings and their reflections, but we don't notice the vast expanse of grass, water and sky that take up the majority of the picture. The camera, on the other hand, records everything within the scope of its 'eye', the lens. You have to help it to be selective.

If you have an adjustable camera, you can do a lot to remove distractions by the settings you choose. However, here we want to concentrate on the area of the scene you choose to record and the format in which you record it.


Format
Most cameras used to record a picture with one side longer than the other. For example, on 35 mm film, the image is recorded on a piece of film 36 mm by 24 mm. Other cameras used to record an image of 6 cm by 4.5 cm and so on. That used to be in old days.  Technology is different these days. Film has been replace by a memory card but still principle is the same.


This is a very flexible arrangement. Long before cameras were even thought of, artists recognized that it was best to record landscapes with the long side of their canvas horizontal. When they painted portraits they turned the canvas so that the long side was vertical. Today, we still use the terms landscape and portrait to describe the format of our pictures.

It is important to understand that, although it is generally considered a rule that we use the horizontal or landscape format for scenery and the vertical or portrait format for people, there are times when breaking the rules works just as well. Photography is one of the few areas in life where breaking the rules is allowed!

Composition
One of the most important rules of photography is the 'rule of thirds.' This suggests that, if you were to split the picture into three both horizontally and vertically, the main 'activity' should take place where these lines cross each other. This 'activity' is not necessarily movement. It may be that important parts of your subject will be at the point of focus, or your subject's eyes will be at this point in a portrait, or at least on one of these lines.

Selection
With this information, you can now proceed to make your selection from the scene in front of you. How do you go about it?


It is a good idea to make a viewing frame for yourself. This should be in the same format as that used by your film. For this reason, many people use an empty slide mount. Alternatively, you could cut a frame for yourself out of a piece of card. (If you are a young person, get help from an adult.) Because 
you will probably be using 35 mm film, cut a hole 36 mm by 24 mm in the card. If you want to make it bigger, keep the same ratio of the long side being one and a half times the short side.


You may want to put marks on each side of the aperture where it splits the frame into thirds. This will give you a reference for positioning important items.

Now, when you look at a scene, look through the viewing frame with one eye. It will save you having to lift the camera to your eye all the time.


As you look through the frame, take note of the location of important features such as trees, fences, buildings, windows, eyes and so on. Move the frame around, turn it sideways to get an idea of what the scene would look like in different formats, move it closer to your eye then farther away. Each view will be unique. Having gone through this process, you will have a better idea of what part of the scene you want to record.

Now that you have selected your image, you may find that, if you do not have a zoom lens, you will need to move your location so as to get closer or farther away from your subject. Before you move, check the area again, just to make sure there isn't a photo hiding there somewhere.


By the way, if you really cannot get to the best place to take your photo, or you already have a potentially good image in your album, you could always scan it into your computer and crop it. If you don't have a computer with image editing software, you could get the photo printed at a size large enough so that you can trim it to suit.


Don't Just Take Pictures, Make Them


Choosing the right area of a scene to record, then recording it in the right way is an important step in your progress as a photographer. I'm not saying that you will start producing masterpieces overnight, but you will go a long way from taking pictures to making them. 

Remember, cameras don't take pictures; people do

By : Raheel Qazi

Choosing and using a camera-Part 1

I mentioned to the professional photographer that I wanted to buy a new camera so that I could take better photos.

'Cameras don't take photos,' he replied. 'People do. Learn to use your current one first. Then, when you can take good pictures with that camera, go out and buy the best you can afford.' It took me some time to figure out what he meant. The camera only records the picture that the photographer makes. It's up to the photographer to create the best picture possible.


 

Choosing a Camera
So if you already have a working camera, don't rush out and buy a new one. When you are ready, consider the possibility of part-exchanging your old camera. Some camera shops offer this service and they have the knowledge and experience to help you choose. As a young person or student, you probably have only a limited amount of money to spend. By part-exchanging, or buying a used camera, you can get a better camera at a lower cost.



If you do not already own a camera, I would suggest that you look for at least a 35 mm SLR camera. It might cost a little more, but the advantages are worth it. Having said that, if you can only afford a compact camera that will be fine, although for the price of a new compact you might be able to pick up a reasonable second-hand SLR, such as a Kodak or a Zenit. Both of these have good features for a beginner or for a young photographer



My first purchase was Zenit, Russian made very heavy and rugged and I bought it after a quite long bargain. It had a very basic light meter that measures the light reflected from the scene. All the settings have to be made manually. Although you can now buy fully automatic cameras, it is good to learn how things work manually first. 



Get to Know Your Camera
First, then, look at your camera. What type of camera is it? If you have really generous parents, you may have a nice new digital camera or a reasonably good SLR film camera. You might have a range of lenses to go with it. Or you might have a basic compact camera.


It doesn't matter what camera you have. The camera doesn't take pictures. You make the picture what it is. So, what does your camera offer? I would like to try making suggestions that can improve your photography whatever camera you are using.


Therefore, read the instruction manual for your camera. Learn what each button and dial does, what adjustments you can make and what effects these will have on your photographs. I cannot do this for you. There is such a wide range of cameras available that it would be impossible to give details on each of them. 



Improving Your Photographs
The idea of this column is to help you improve your photographs without spending too much money, so let's look at increasing the number of good photos you get from each film.


One of the most common reasons for being disappointed with a photo is that it is blurred. We call this 'camera shake' so that we can blame the camera. What we mean is that we moved as we pressed the shutter button. We must learn to keep the camera steady for the fraction of a second needed to take the picture. Setting a faster shutter speed may help, but that's not always possible.

The best method is to learn to handle the camera properly.

Here are some suggestions for keeping your camera steady

• Don't jab the shutter button. Squeeze it gently until it releases.
• Standing with your feet together reduces your stability. Don't make yourself look foolish, but if you stand with your feet apart, you are less likely to sway from side to side.
• Support the camera with your left hand and get your right hand ready to press the shutter release. Tuck your elbows in to your body. This might take some getting used to, but it will increase your stability.
• If you turn the camera sideways to take a portrait or upright shot, turn it clockwise so that your right hand supports the camera and your left hand supports the lens. This makes it easier to reach the shutter release. 

Find something to lean on; a wall, a lamppost, a fence post. Use a tripod. If you do not have a tripod, use any firm surface, but make sure your camera will not fall. If you are going to press the shutter yourself, make it a solid surface. Use a remote shutter release. This will absorb the movement from pressing the button. If your camera has a self-timer, use that. Fold up your coat or rucksack and rest it on a firm surface. Then, position your camera on top. This has an advantage over putting your camera directly on a solid surface in that you can adjust the camera's position before activating the self-timer.

Try some of these suggestions. They should help you to almost instantly improve your photography by cutting down on the number of blurred pictures you get. Also, by stopping to think about the stability of your camera, you will have more time to think about the image you are creating.

Remember, cameras don't take pictures. People do.

By: Raheel Qazi 

PHOTOGRAPHY CONCEPTS

Most of us aren’t professional photographers, but many of us take our amateur photography seriously. Over time, we come to realize that there’s a lot more to taking pictures than just pointing and shooting! In fact, a photographer who is serious about his hobby should learn about topics such as lighting, exposure, composition and camera angles, to name a few. And that's what we will try to learn in coming days.... so stay tuned .. for me next blogs...