Planning for Still Life

Symbolism

Changes you might make to foreground or background

Objects that may need to be changed

Challenges

Successes

Concept

Contextual links

1 x A3 Page in Sketchbook

Anatomy of a Camera

Aperture

Aperture

• How much of the scene do you want to be in focus?

• How much depth of field do you want?Depth of field is determined by the aperture setting

Shutter Speed

Shutter Speed

• As you select slower shutter speeds, more and more subject movement will be recorded.

• If you reduce the shutter speed down to 1 second, any movement recorded will be as a blur.

ISO

Field of View

Composition

Rule of ThirdsThe rule of thirds is a good way of composing a subject to give it emphasis in your frame; it is perhaps one of the most fundamental rules in photography and is used by most photographers. To do this you must mentally divide your viewfinder into thirds both horizontally and vertically so that you have nine sections. Then place the subject(s) of your photograph where these lines intersect.

If you are photographing the sky or a horizon you should align the sky or horizon against one of the upper or lower lines

S curves and C curvesLook for natural s shapes and patterns of lines, they allow the eye to “flow” through the photograph .

We call these leading lines as they allow the viewers eye to move through the photograph. A classic example of this is a road.

The moving subject

If you are photographing someone moving through your photograph you should give them room to move into. For example if you are photographing a boat sailing from right to left place the boat to the right of the photograph so it has room to the left to travel into. In a similar way if you are photographing a still person staring into the distance allow them room to stare into.

SimplicityIn photography we often try to record too much. Therefore photographs often become crowded. Try to find a way that stresses the main emphasis of your photograph. An unusual angle for example, by changing the position that you are in, or perhaps physically removing items from your subject, or filling the frame with your subject.

LinesUse of lines can add drama to a photograph. Perspective lines or converging lines draw the eye into the photograph and can emphasize distance.

New York!

FramesLook for “natural” frames for your subject such as shooting through archways, or using a tree in the foreground to frame the subject in the background.

TrianglesIf you are grouping objects or people try to arrange them in a triangle shape as this allows the viewers eye to move through the group and provides balance. In photographs asymmetric balance often works better than symmetrical balance. This is especially true for still life.

Placing the subject

Perhaps one of the most basic of compositions rules! But equally a simple one to get wrong, especially when taking photographs of people. Be careful to select the background of your photograph and position your subject so that the background makes sense with the subject!!