Introduction to photography

What makes a good photograph?
Photos stand out from the crowd usually have three elements in common:
- Good subject
- Good lighting
- Good composition

Rule of Thirds

 Centre of interest: A photograph should have a strong focal point. Determine what it is before composing your photo

Simplicity: Keep compositions simple, avoiding busy background that distracts from from a subject.

Subject off centre: Place a subject slightly off-centre rather in the middle of a photo.

Leading lines: If a scene has strong lines, make sure the lines lead the eye into the frame rather than out of it. The line should lead to the main point of interest.

Viewpoint/Angles
Vary angles: Shoot at varying angles to capture a subject from a different viewpoint. Move the camera higher or lower than you usually do. For a dramatic effect, take some photos from a birds eye (looking down) or worms-eyes view (looking up).

Lighting
Dramating lighting adds interest to a photo.

Silhouettes
Subject made dark by photographing it against a light background (back lighting).

Framing
Framing a subject by zooming or moving closer draws attention to it.

Symmetry
An identical or near-identifical image of its other half. Use of symmetry often a formal balance.

I will be taking a picture of a car in the JCoSS car park.