Photography 1: People Project

The first shooting assignment for this class will focus on taking good photos of people. What sort of things should you as the photographer consider when doing this? When you were asked “what makes a good photo” the first day of class you said “a good photo should have…”

-Good Lighting	-Simplicity	-Tells a Story
-Clarity – Good Focus	-Evokes a Memory	-Candid
-Shows Character/Personality	-Captures a Moment	-Shows Emotion
-Shows a Mood	-Expressive	-Interesting Perspective

Not only should you remember the above items when photographing your subjects, but also remember the following:

*Composition- You have learned the elements and principles of art. Use these rules. They will help you compose great photos.

Elements of Art: Line, Shape, Form, Texture, Contrast, Space

Principles of Art: Balance, Unity, Variety, Emphasis, Movement, Proportion, Pattern

*Are you close enough to your subject? Remember that you can see the EXACT scene you will be taking a photograph of through your SLR camera’s viewfinder. Make sure that you are close enough to the person you are taking a photo of. Fill the frame.

*Change positions. Recall your first photo shoot. Just by stepping to the side, squatting down, or standing on a bench can change the perspective (and the feeling of your photo) dramatically. Don’t forget to move around while looking through your viewfinder. The first choice isn’t always the best choice.

*Go outside! Indoor light usually is not the best light for getting a great image. When at all possible take your photos outside in natural light.

*Take candids. Usually photos that are not posed are more interesting than those photos that are posed. Try to hang out in the background and wait for a good picture. Don’t be shy about asking people to take their photo. Or set up your subject so the photo looks unposed.

*Use your light meter! Make sure to look at your light meter and make necessary adjustments before taking every photo. A badly exposed negative never makes a good picture. Make sure your shutter speed is at least 1/60 or your image will be fuzzy.

*Interesting subject = interesting photos. Photograph a variety of people. Try to catch them in the middle of doing something interesting. Do your best to capture their personality, emotion, or mood. Make your photos stand out from others by telling a story or showing a different perspective.

What kind of people pictures do you need?

This assignment will be a scavenger hunt. Below is a list. You must find and photograph everything on the list. Negatives will be checked. You will be choosing the best 3 photos to print for submission.