The Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced ABC of Camerawork

How to decide artistically and technically what your picture will look like before you press the camera shutter release.

Unravelling the process of instantly made decisions.

The Beginners ABC of Camerawork

A

Attraction

• What attracts you to the potential picture is it visually interesting?
• How are you going to best record that attraction & interest for your viewer to appreciate?
• Lighting from the side & back make interesting photographs.

B

Background

• Check for Distractions & Highlights in the background (saves removal work later).
• Are you standing in the best place?

C

Composition Choices

• “Composition is the strongest way of seeing” (Edward Weston). One strongest view among many.
• Separate & Select what is to be left in or left out of the picture?
• Aim for simplicity - Less is more.
• Get Closer - Fill the frame.
• Do you need to include the sky?
• Is a Higher / Lower / Alternative - camera viewpoint more effective?

D

Depth of Field Choices

• DoF is the apparent foreground to background sharpness.
• What is the Foreground / Background Relationship, do you need a large DoF (Large f. Number)?
• Limited Depth of Field (Small f. Number) provides visual tension and interest for the viewer.

E

Exposure Choices

• When is the best time to press the shutter release?
• Expose to retain Highlight detail by checking the Histogram for Over-exposure.
• Bright Skies - Do you need Plus / Minus Exposure Compensation
• Bright Skies - Do you need Graduated / Neutral Density Filters?
• Long Exposure - use a Tripod / Cable Release / 2 Sec Self Timer Delay on the camera.

F

Focus Choices

• What is the subject in sharp focus?
• Select a single focus point and tell the camera where you want the picture to be sharp.

G

Gently Press the Shutter Release


Congratulate yourself; you made all the creative decisions - NOT the camera.

The Intermediate ABC of Camerawork

A

Attraction

• See something > see a potential opportunity > see a finished photograph.
• What attracts you to the potential picture is it visually interesting?
• How are you going to best relay that attraction & interest to the viewer?

B

Background

• Check for Distractions & Highlights in the background (saves removal work later).
• Are you standing in the best place?
• Atmosphere = Smoke / Steam / Mist / Fog / Rain / Dust, it suppresses background detail simplifying the shot.

C

Composition Choices

• “Composition is the strongest way of seeing” (Edward Weston). One strongest view among many.
• Separate & Select what is to be left in or left out of the frame?
• Aim for simplicity - less is more. “Make order out of chaos” (Elliott Porter)
• Is a Higher / Lower / Alternative - camera viewpoint more effective?
• What will Dominate and what will provide Order / Balance to the composition?

Only use the rule of thirds if your imagination & all else fails to give a satisfying composition.

D

Depth of Field Choices

• What is the Foreground / Background Relationship, do you need a large DoF (Large f. Number)?
• Limited Depth of Field (Small f. Number) provides visual tension and interest for the viewer.
• Have you checked the Depth of Field Preview Button?
• DoF is affected by - the Focal length of the Lens, Selected Aperture & Distance to the subject.
• DOF affects 1/3rd in front (towards the lens) of & 2/3rds behind, the point of focus (Subject).

E

Exposure Choices

• When is the best time to press the shutter release? (When the subject, lighting & composition come together).
• Photograph with appropriate (Side / Back / Front / Hard / Soft / Wet) lighting for the subject matter.
• Expose to retain Highlight detail by checking the Histogram for Over-exposure.
• Do you need Plus / Minus Exposure Compensation or Graduated / Neutral Density Filters?
• Long Exposure - Tripod (Cable Release / 2 Sec Self Timer Delay / IR Trigger Device).

F

Focus Choices

• What is the subject? Where should the focus be? Check critical focus with Live view.

G

Gently Press the Shutter Release


Congratulate yourself; you made all the creative photographic decisions - NOT the camera.

The Advanced ABC of Camerawork

A

Attraction

• See something > see a potential opportunity > see a finished photograph.
• Decide what you want to say photographically & your viewer to feel / think / know / understand / appreciate better or differently?

B

Background

• Check for Distractions in the background & remove them, Are you standing in the best place?
• Atmosphere = Smoke / Steam / Mist / Fog / Rain / Dust, it suppresses of background detail.

C

Composition Choices

• Put your artistic expression & style before camera technology and rules of composition.
• “Composition is the strongest way of seeing” (Edward Weston). One strongest view among many.
• Aim for simplicity - less is more. “Make order out of chaos” (Elliott Porter).
• Arrange Tones / Lines / Shapes / Contrast / Texture / Perspective / Scale.
• What will Dominate and what will provide Order / Balance / Proportion / Pattern / Rhythm / Base?
• How are you using the frame Edges / Corners - actively or passively?
• Use Positive & Negative Space creatively.
• How will the viewer’s eye move rthrough the picture composition?

D

Depth of Field Choices

• What is the Foreground / Background Relationship?
• Limited Depth of Field provides visual tension and interest for the viewer.
• Have you checked the Depth of Field Preview Button?

E

Exposure Choices

• When is the best time to press the shutter release?
• Photograph with appropriate (Side / Back / Front / Hard / Soft / Wet) lighting for the subject matter.
• What length of exposure is needed to satisfy your vision for the shot?
• Use all four dimensions - Length / Height / Depth / Time.

F

Focus Choices

• What is the subject? Where should the focus be? Check critical focus with Live view.
• Intentional Defocussing.
• Soft Focus - Experiment with a Lensbaby, or an f.185 Pinhole Bodycap Adaptor.

G

Gently Press the Shutter Release


Congratulate yourself; you made all the creative photographic decisions - NOT the camera.