PLCC

Quick Overview of the History of Photography

* Camera obscura – over 400 years old – LdeV 1519
* Portable Camera Obscura sedan chairs by artists -16th Century
* First photograph (Niepce) in 1827 – eight hour exposure
* Daguerre developed process – ½ hour exposure (French government bought rights in 1839 – Daguerreotype
* Term ‘Photography’ attributed to Sir John Herschel 1939
* Tintypes & direct positive glass plate – 1855-1857
* First color photography system – James Clerk-Maxwell – 1861 called color separation
* Mathew Brady & staff took 7000 images of Civil War
* George Eastman produced first roll film camera – 1889

What Camera is for you?

* Determine what category of photographer you want to be.
* The Homebound – occasional family photos 5 mp (megapixels), 3x optical zoom and flash
* The Gypsy – travel light & backpack – small (subcompact) 5-7 mp, with motion stabilization,
6x-10x optical zoom (tripod or pod bag)
* The Internet Lover – no prints, just screen display - 3-4 mp, 3x optical zoom
* The Nature Lover – trips & wild outdoors – 6 - 12 mp, 10x-12x optical zoom (consider an D-SLR), 1 or 2 GB memory card (and/or backup cards), 2300 or 2500 mAh batteries (I carry 3 sets of four batteries) and an image storage device.
* The ‘Professional’ – wants quality along with bells & whistles. Mostly D-SLR cameras, multiple lenses (wide angle, fixed, macro and telephoto), 6-12 mp (large frame sensor), 1 to 8 GB memory card, backup battery sets, a good tripod and a large protective case. If travel is included in your photo shoots add a large (capacity) image storage device. and a large protective case

Shot Composition

* First and foremost know what your subject will be. If you can’t describe your subject in a few words, you probably should scrape the shot.
* Locate your subject (one is the number to look for here) at one of the Rule of Thirds cross points. Try the subject at one of the other cross points and select the most appealing to you.
* Look for reinforcement lines from the lower left to the upper right.
* Landscape images should be taken in early morning or late evening light.
* Mid day landscape pictures should use a graduated ND filter to achieve clouds & sky.
* If you take pictures of people (single or multiple) in the mid day light, you better have a flash fill in. Otherwise, take the pictures with the subjects in the shade or away from direct sunlight.
* If you have a histogram program on your camera – USE IT!
* Look at your background. Do you have a tree growing out of someone's head?
* Position your camera to accentuate your subject.
* Take the shot.

* As a general rule, horizons in landscape images should be located on one of the horizontal lines, not in the middle.
* For composition knowledge, it is a good idea to invest some time in a classic art course or read about the renaissance composition.
* The ‘Rule of Thirds’ is not cut in concrete, but it is a starting point.

* Lake or stream reflection images are usually in the middle plane of the frame to accentuate the similarity above and below the plane.
* Flower images are best up close (macro) and in the center. Follows the circular composition concept.
* Same for people. Get up close and personal with people subjects.

* Print images and put in shoebox with the challenge of finding them when you want them.
* Print and frame (single or multiple).
* Physical scrape book and storage.
* Save on CD or DVD.
* Computer scrape book.
* Share online website.
* Digital Picture frame.
* Powerpoint slide presentation.
* Pro Show Gold presentation.

Port Ludlow

`Port Ludlow`