Top Ten Tips (1-3)

Recently my class began learning of some very important ways to take our pictures to the next level.  Over the next couple of weeks we will be adding onto this list of tips and taking photos of our surroundings, either at home or school or etc., to provide evidence of our understanding and show how to use these tips.  Slowly but surely, over time I will have learned and blogged about all ten tips that every photographer should know and try to incorporate in their photography.  I will be defining all ten tips here as time passes and will be sharing the examples and photos I have taken(the three pictures below).  So here's the first three:

*Eye Level- by getting down the the subjects eye level makes the picture sharper and makes a more personal feeling.  This also adds a new perspective for the viewer to take in.
*Use Plain Background- try to find a less distracting background that isn't cluttered or busy. This means no trees or poles sticking out from people's heads.  This focuses in on the subject of the photo. *TIP: Blurring the background may be useful.
*Use Flash Outdoors- there are three things to consider when you use flash outdoors, 1. use when the subject is in a shadow, 2. use when the subject is backlit, 3. ask yourself "will your flash reach the subject?". The outcome of the photo depends on the time of day.  Sometimes this can brighten your photo and create a better picture over all!

{This lovely picture of Shelby Hoyt is an example of the eye level technique.  Although it took me laying on the ground in blue hall, it ended up creating a better picture than if it were taken from above.}

{This photo of Madison Miller is an example of using a plain background.   Instead of a busy background, there is a solid colored wall behind her, which focuses the viewer's eyes on the subject.}

{Molly Neyland was a fantastic model for my "using flash outdoors" photo.  Without the flash there were dark shadows on her face.  Taking this photo with flash ultimately brightened the features of her face and eyes.}