Photo Rules!

Photo Rules!!

Objective
Analyze photos using composition and other “rules”
Learn how to choose photos that will enhance or help tell your story

What are Compositional Tools?
Rules or ideas you use to assemble your photographs
This does not mean they are posed by you, the photographer
Instead you must learn to see these elements/tools through your lens and use them to our advantage!

Rule of Thirds
Think of putting a tic-tac-toe board on your photos
Place your subject on intersection points
Visually interesting when subject isn’t centered

Leading Lines
Using natural lines to draw viewers eye to subject
The lines should lead viewer right to the subject or main object in your photo

Dominant ForegroundContributing Background
Main subject is in the Foreground and that is where the viewers eye goes first
Secondary subject/content in the background contributes to the meaning or understanding of the photo

Pattern & Repetition
Look for repeating patterns and use them to your advantage
Filling the frame with repeating objects can be visually interesting

Selective Focus
Make your subject in focus, and the background blurry
This will draw the readers attention to your subject first

Framing
Using other elements in the photo to frame your subject naturally
This will help draw the viewers eye to your subject

Blur
Blur is a good way of showing action or motion
Subject is blurry
Everything else is in focus

Panning
Another good way to show action
Focus on and follow your subject as they move
you must be moving or following them with your lens
Subject will be in focus
Everything else will be blurry

Birds-Eye View
Shoot from above your subject
Stand on something (safely) and shoot down

Worms-Eye View
Shoot up at your subject
Get low to ground

Must Have People!
Photojournalism isn’t “artsy”
Make sure there are people in your photos
Photos of flowers and trees don’t really help tell your story

Show/Capture emotion
Don’t take boring posed photos
Be patient and try to capture that one moment that tells the story

Candid photos, no posing
Don’t capture “say cheese” photos
Wait until people aren’t focused on you
Capture candid moments

Chemistry Story with Photos
The Story:
Academic
More students taking AP Chemistry
Chemistry lab has new equipment, more experiments
Choose Dominant and Contributing Photo
Enhances the story
Has some compositional elements
Pulls your reader in
Choose 2 bad photos you wouldn’t use
Bad composition
Doesn’t help tell the story