Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides...

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Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Digital Photography I Photography I . Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003 – 2009 Kenji Tachibana Copyright © 2003 – 2009 Kenji Tachibana

Transcript of Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides...

Page 1: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I.

Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slidesLayout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides

Don’t center the subject & fill the frame!Don’t center the subject & fill the frame!

Copyright © 2003 – 2009 Kenji TachibanaCopyright © 2003 – 2009 Kenji Tachibana

Page 2: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

GGolden Rule: Don’t frame-center the subjectolden Rule: Don’t frame-center the subject

This sound obvious and easy to do. Although, in the This sound obvious and easy to do. Although, in the heat of the moment, many students do exactly that. heat of the moment, many students do exactly that. The difficulty can be attributed to theThe difficulty can be attributed to thedead-center position of the dead-center position of the focusfocus [ ][ ]

BracketBracket. .

Learn to use the center-position focus bracket Learn to use the center-position focus bracket combined with combined with Focus-Lock & Recompose Focus-Lock & Recompose methodmethod. . Read about focus-lock and other ways of setting up Read about focus-lock and other ways of setting up the focus bracket in your camera manual.the focus bracket in your camera manual.

Camera Camera frameframe

Page 3: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

FFocus Bracket: Typesocus Bracket: Types

Spot [ ] focus bracketSpot [ ] focus bracket Center-position default [ ] focus bracket. Use it in Center-position default [ ] focus bracket. Use it in

conjunction with the3 focus lock.conjunction with the3 focus lock. Sony’s special super wide [ ] focus bracket. It Sony’s special super wide [ ] focus bracket. It

works very well using the hyper focal distance idea.works very well using the hyper focal distance idea. Computerized multi-bracket and multi-position focus Computerized multi-bracket and multi-position focus

brackets. Avoid this until later…brackets. Avoid this until later… Special custom-position focus bracket. Very good for Special custom-position focus bracket. Very good for

composition control.composition control.

Reading about the other focus method options can help Reading about the other focus method options can help you to better use the simple ‘default’ focus bracket.you to better use the simple ‘default’ focus bracket.

Page 4: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

FFocus Lock & Reframe:ocus Lock & Reframe:

Position the focus bracket [ ] on the subject, Position the focus bracket [ ] on the subject, press the shutter button half-way down to ‘lock’ the press the shutter button half-way down to ‘lock’ the focus and exposure. Then reframe for composition focus and exposure. Then reframe for composition to fit your story or the tight-layout.to fit your story or the tight-layout.

Tight Layout is something that I usually provide Tight Layout is something that I usually provide based on your camera original image…based on your camera original image…

Camera original /w Tight layoutCamera original /w Tight layout Successful Re-shootSuccessful Re-shoot

Page 5: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and Composition onLayout (Geometry) and Composition on

AFAF/AE Lock: Default/AE Lock: Default

I like to use it in the default mode I like to use it in the default mode where both the focus and exposurewhere both the focus and exposureare locked when the shutter buttonare locked when the shutter buttonis pressed halfway down. Take it off the default is pressed halfway down. Take it off the default mode by pressing on the AF/AE LOCK button.mode by pressing on the AF/AE LOCK button.

Most DSLR cameras allows for another option Most DSLR cameras allows for another option which is to control the AF and AE functions which is to control the AF and AE functions separately. This is a perfect topic to look up in your separately. This is a perfect topic to look up in your camera manual or online @ dpreview.com/ camera manual or online @ dpreview.com/ Glossary.Glossary.

Page 6: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

RRule-of-Thirds: ule-of-Thirds:

Place your focal point on any Place your focal point on any of the 4 letter positions. The of the 4 letter positions. The A-B-C-D positions are based A-B-C-D positions are based on the western culture on the western culture preference for the top left preference for the top left corner as the starting point.corner as the starting point.

Page 7: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

RRule-of-Thirds: Camera display optionule-of-Thirds: Camera display option

Many better compact digital and Many better compact digital and most DSLR cameras have amost DSLR cameras have arule-of-thirds ‘grid’ as one of therule-of-thirds ‘grid’ as one of thecamera Display options.camera Display options.

It can be toggled On/Off as needIt can be toggled On/Off as needarises. It is also a very handy thing to use for leveling arises. It is also a very handy thing to use for leveling image horizon lines. It works much better than the image horizon lines. It works much better than the levels built into some tripodslevels built into some tripods

Page 8: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

DDisplay Options: Do you haveisplay Options: Do you have

Full screen infoFull screen info Partial screen infoPartial screen info Exposure HistogramExposure Histogram Composition gridComposition grid Clear screen & othersClear screen & others

Study your camera manualStudy your camera manualabout your camera Display Options. My camera about your camera Display Options. My camera

manual illustration above shows a confusing array manual illustration above shows a confusing array of information which can be displayed on your of information which can be displayed on your screen. Check out your camera manual and screen. Check out your camera manual and camera Display options now…camera Display options now…

Page 9: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

YYes It Matters:es It Matters:

The more you know about the meaning of what’s The more you know about the meaning of what’s displayed on your camera LCD, the better your displayed on your camera LCD, the better your chances are of getting what you want. And of not chances are of getting what you want. And of not being disappointed after-the-fact.being disappointed after-the-fact.

Re-shooting is usually not available to most people. Re-shooting is usually not available to most people. So, it is to your big benefit to know what your So, it is to your big benefit to know what your camera is doing, or even not doing…camera is doing, or even not doing…

Page 10: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

SSimple Solution: Take the easy wayimple Solution: Take the easy way

Start off by using your camera on its snap shot Start off by using your camera on its snap shot AUTO mode. This usually gives you a clear screen AUTO mode. This usually gives you a clear screen turning off most of the camera LCD feedback.turning off most of the camera LCD feedback.

This gives you the chance to concentrate on seeing This gives you the chance to concentrate on seeing the composition and help you capture the decisive the composition and help you capture the decisive moment. moment.

Page 11: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

EEasy Next Steps: Use Auto-Pasy Next Steps: Use Auto-P

Once you have used your camera enough to feel Once you have used your camera enough to feel confidence in your camera to deliver the image, it is confidence in your camera to deliver the image, it is time for you to move on to the next stage. Set your time for you to move on to the next stage. Set your camera to Auto-P. Sometimes this is marked only camera to Auto-P. Sometimes this is marked only as ‘P’.as ‘P’.

All self portrait assignment images must be taken All self portrait assignment images must be taken with the camera set to Auto-P.with the camera set to Auto-P.

Page 12: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

TTechnical Issues:echnical Issues:

Listed in order of practical importance but they are Listed in order of practical importance but they are pretty much all important. Most of this information can pretty much all important. Most of this information can be seen in one of more of the camera Display option be seen in one of more of the camera Display option settings.settings.

1.1.Shutter speed – a fraction number.Shutter speed – a fraction number.2.2.Aperture – lens opening (f/stop)Aperture – lens opening (f/stop)3.3.ISO – limit to 100. DSLR user can use faster ISO’s ISO – limit to 100. DSLR user can use faster ISO’s up to 200, 400 or even 800.up to 200, 400 or even 800.4.4.Flash – make sure it is OFF.Flash – make sure it is OFF.5.5.Digital zoom – make sure it is never used.Digital zoom – make sure it is never used.6.6.IS – make sure the image stabilization is turned ON IS – make sure the image stabilization is turned ON to the ‘shooting only’ mode.to the ‘shooting only’ mode.

Page 13: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

OOptical Center:ptical Center:

If your story requires a frame-If your story requires a frame-centered subject or focal point, centered subject or focal point, the minimum camera movement the minimum camera movement is to point it down slightly to is to point it down slightly to raise the subject up to the raise the subject up to the optical center marked by the optical center marked by the x x in in the illustration.the illustration.

Optical Optical CenterCenter

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Page 14: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography ILayout (Geometry) and CompositionLayout (Geometry) and Composition

GGeometry: It’s about shapeseometry: It’s about shapes

Camera frame is a rectangle. A rectangleCamera frame is a rectangle. A rectanglecan be near-square or very wide like a 35can be near-square or very wide like a 35mm frame. Shapes often associated with composition is mm frame. Shapes often associated with composition is an ellipse, triangle, and letter forms such as an ‘S’.an ellipse, triangle, and letter forms such as an ‘S’.

The triangle can easily represent a cat or even a The triangle can easily represent a cat or even a persons face. And that face can wide or narrow; upside persons face. And that face can wide or narrow; upside down or right side up; shown full or cropped; shown down or right side up; shown full or cropped; shown alone or echoed…alone or echoed…

Page 15: Teacher: Kenji Tachibana Digital Photography I. Layout (Geometry) & Composition – 14 slides Don’t center the subject & fill the frame! Copyright © 2003.

Teacher: Kenji TachibanaDigital Photography IDigital Photography I

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