What is Composition?

Composition is...

...the arrangement of visual elements within the frame of a photograph.


Why is it important to understand and utilize composition in photography?

You have to understand the "rules" of photography in order to be able to bend them creatively to create a meaning. t's how you use it that makes it interesting. 

Aspects of a "snapshot"

A casual record of some event, person, or object. The picture is clear enough to preserve a memory. 

Aspects of a "photograph"

An artistic interpretation of an event, person, or object. It's purpose is to tell the viewer something - what the object was like.  

"Photography is the art of...

...discovery."

Group A Quiz

1)  f/4.0  1/80  ISO 800

I had Emily (the subject) pose in front of these doors so I would be able to focus on her while achieving a blurry background using a low aperture.

2)   f/7.1  1/100  ISO 800

Using a medium aperture and a higher shutter speed, I was able to capture - without blur - Emily doing a C Jump. 

3)    f/5.6   1/100  ISO 400

With the ISO on the low side, I was able to capture Maria's eyeball without any pixels.

4)   f/5.6  1/60  ISO 800

I set the camera on the Tv setting (this sets the shutter speed for me), set the aperture, and the self timer (10 seconds). I put it on the stairs and was able to capture a selfie with blurred motion.

Summary of Camera Knowledge

• Aperture is the size of the opening in the lens 
• measured in "f stops"
• Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter is open
• measured in seconds
• blur is not always bad
• ISO is the measure of a digital camera sensor's sensitivity to light
• the higher the ISO the more grain is present in the image
• Exposure triangle is when all of these are balanced 

Understanding White Balance

Auto 
f/4.5
1/40
ISO 800










Daylight
f/4.5
1/40
ISO 800












Cloudy
f/4.5
1/40
ISO 800

Tungsten
f/4.5
1/40
ISO 800

Fluorescent
f/4.5
1/40
ISO 800

Custom
f/4.5
1/40
ISO 800

What is white balance?

The process of removing unrealistic color casts, so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in the photo.

Why is it important to set your white balance?

It gives clarity to the photo.

Understanding Shutter Speeds

Blurry

f/13.0
1/60
ISO 1600

No Blur

f/7.1
1/200
ISO 1600

What is shutter speed?

The amount of time the shutter is open

How shutter speed works both technically and visually:

Technically: the length of time the image sensor is exposed to light.  Visually: Blur vs. No Blur

Relationship to the exposure triangle:

The higher or lower the shutter speed, the less balanced the exposure triangle is. 

Understanding ISO

ISO 100

f/3.5

1"6

ISO 200

f/3.5
0"8

ISO 400
f/3.5
0"4

ISO 800
 f/3.5
1/4

ISO 1600
f/3.5
1/8

ISO 3200
f/3.5
1/15

ISO 6400
f/3.5
1/30

What is ISO?

The measure of a digital camera sensor's sensitivity to light.

How ISO works both technically and visually:

Technically: the lower the ISO, the less sensitive to light.  Visually: The higher the ISO the more pixilated the picture gets.

The relationship to the exposure triangle:

The more or less ISO you use unbalances the exposure triangle.