Photos

Choose Photos that are Candid and Natural

A good photo provides and experience that is like looking through a window at a real situation and inspires the viewer to participate in their imagination. Photos that are obviously staged have the opposite effect. When taking pictures of people try to capture a moment that is not posed. Encourage them to interact with each other rather than with the camera.

Look at the photos on the right. Notice how much more engaging the candid photo is compared to the posed example.

 

Posed
Posed

 

 

Candid
Candid

 

 

Composition and Focal Point

An effective image draws the reader in. The best images feature a strong composition and a predominant focal point. A focal point is often the area of the photo that is most in focus but, in terms of composition, it is the area of the picture that draws attention first. It might be the largest object in the composition, the brightest, or the darkest. Or, it might be the only object of interest in a stark environment (imagine a single boat on a large body of water).

Whenever possible, try to compose a photo so that one element is dominant and serves as a place for the eye to land.

 

In this image the focal point is created by the marked value contrast between the figure and background. Also notice how the lines of the com- position all draw the eye toward the figure.
In this image the focal point is created by the marked value contrast between the figure and background. Also notice how the lines of the com- position all draw the eye toward the figure.

 

 

Here the woman becomes the focal point because of her scale in relation to the other figures in the composition. Additionally, attention is drawn to her by throwing the background out of focus.
Here the woman becomes the focal point because of her scale in relation to the other figures in the composition. Additionally, attention is drawn to her by throwing the background out of focus.

 

 

Cropping

Effective cropping can often make a lackluster photo into something special. A good rule of thumb is to determine the most important elements of the photo and crop out everything else. The simpler the composition, the more effective the photo. In the example on the right, the photo could have been a typical waist up shot of a man holding a Bible, but cropping in close makes a much more dramatic statement.

 

 

 

Look for Interesting Angles

Most amateur photographers tend to point the camera at the subject straight on, but often looking for an interesting angle can make a photo much more interesting. Note how these examples create a sense of drama by shooting from an unexpected vantage point.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lighting

Photography is the art of capturing light. Good lighting can mean the difference between a good photo and a great one. Even if you’re not a professional photographer with access to quality lighting equipment, you can use available light to great advantage with a little effort. Using a flash may be necessary in many situations but it tends to look artificial and can create harsh shadows. Often better results can be achieved by using natural available light. Be aware, however, that low light situations may require longer exposures and it may be difficult to maintain focus. Also, shooting under fluorescent lights can give your photos an undesirable green caste.

 

Outdoor light can often produce the most natural result provided it isn’t too direct. Always avoid photographing people looking into the sun because the light tends to be harsh and your subjects will have to squint. Light shade usually works best.
Outdoor light can often produce the most natural result provided it isn’t too direct. Always avoid photographing people looking into the sun because the light tends to be harsh and your subjects will have to squint. Light shade usually works best.

 

 

Natural window light can provide dramatic effects. Even professional photographers often prefer it over artificial lighting.
Natural window light can provide dramatic effects. Even professional photographers often prefer it over artificial lighting.

 

 

 

Correction

 

The original image at the bottom was slightly blurred, had a yellow cast, and lacked detail in the darker areas. The photo at the top shows the corrected version.
The original image at the bottom was slightly blurred, had a yellow cast, and lacked detail in the darker areas. The photo at the top shows the corrected version.

A photo isn’t done when the shutter clicks. Great photos are often created in post production. Ideally, every photo should be evaluated for proper contrast, sharpness, color balance, and tonal range and corrected before going to print. There are a number of photo retouching software programs available. Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard but good results can be achieved using competitive products as well. Some even have presets that allow inexperienced photographers to improve their photos with the click of a button. In the example to the right, you can see how photo correction can improve the look of an image.

 

 

Resolution

 

Detail from a photo which shows the difference in sharpness between 72 pixels per inch (top) and 300 pixels per inch (bottom).
Detail from a photo which shows the difference in sharpness between 72 pixels per inch (top) and 300 pixels per inch (bottom).

Digital photos are made up of tiny blocks called pixels. The higher the number of pixels, the higher the resolution and the sharper the photo appears to the eye. The number of pixels lined end to end in an inch is referred to as pixel depth. Pixel depth for print should be a minimum of 300 pixels per inch (ppi) at the reproduction size (enlarging the photo on the page will reduce the resolution). For web applications photos should have a pixel depth of 72. Best practice for taking photos with a digital camera is to set the resolution to the highest setting.