Edit & Organize

What kind of photographer are you? Do you have a discernible 'style'? How about a favorite subject? Maybe you are the family documenter. Whatever your specialty is, you are accumulating lots and lots of it -- right? With digital photography being so easy to use we are snapping at everything, having no fear of "wasting" film anymore. Its more and more important to edit your images. There is a saying that we learn in school that is " A photographer is as good as his or her worst shot". Think about that... If you go through your photos after your vacation, and remove all of the duplicate photos and un-necessary images then you are left with the creme de la creme. Imagine how impressed your friends will be when you invite them all over to view your new vacation photos, in slide show format on your new flat screen monitor and they are only seeing the best of the best of your photos.
In doing this after each photo session you will begin to decipher your own style. Without having the excess images to wade through you will be more free to develop your photographer's eye. You will also keep your viewers from becoming bored!

A friend and I went on vacation together and both of us took photos of the experiences of our trip. When we got home we made doubles and exchanged the copies so that we could have a more complete version of our time. I noticed right away that our shooting styles were very different. My images were all traditionally composed, rule of thirds, bla bla bla. Her photos were easily identifiable because she liked to shoot on angles and her subject matter was often different. There were more photos of feet, as I recall. It was wonderful to see the same locations shot with such a different approach.
This also brings up a good point. I'm encouraging you to shoot out of your comfort zone. Its a nice surprise when you can see the same old thing in a new and exciting way.

HOMEWORK
Clean up! Get into your photo files and clear out all the extra and unnecessary photos. You'll have a whole month to do this. Who ever frees the most space on their computer will receive a gift. Plus your computer will love you.

Composition

Compose Your Photograph
Before you go out and buy that big expensive camera know this, Its not the camera that takes the stunning photographs, its the photographer. Its all in how you compose your subject. There are rules of composition and if you practice them you will find that your photographs will improve.
First, decide what your subject is. Are you going to show the whole scene? Think about where you are going to place your subject in the scene.
--Using the rule of thirds is common practice. Imagine the scene is divided into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. You then place your subject on the imaginary intersecting lines.
--Another composition tool would be to place the lines in your scene on a diagonal. For example, if you have a road in the scene move yourself or the camera so that the road is running in a diagonal line across your image.
--Frame your scene by using items on the edges of the scene. An example would be placing a tree on the edges of the photograph so that it frames the subject.
--Try to find the unique point of view. Get up higher than your subject, or get your belly on the floor and shoot up at your subject.
--Keep it simple and use depth of field (covered next month) to zero in on your subject.
--Get close to your subject, even in a portrait. Fill the frame with the subject and see what happens.
You are encouraged to combine these tools and develop your own style and photographic eye. See what develops.

Last Month's Home Work

Macro was the subject last month

Lance Berry sent this in

of his cactus. Actual size is
3/8 in tall and 1/4 in wide.

Marla Murphy sent this photo of Samson the cat. She used the macro setting on her point and shoot camera.

Home Work

OK! Work on your Photographer's EYE. Practice the composition tools and show me what helped you the most of the tools I listed. One or more will illuminate the light over your head for that Ah-HA moment. Let me know what your questions are and if you want to see more examples.

I am available for photographic tutoring. Give me a call!

The flower on the left is an example of placing the subject on a diagonal and the one on the right is an example of filling the frame with the subject. Thanks to Marla Murphy for sending these in.
Roseanne Photography
roseannephotography.com
please send emails to
roseanne@roseannephotography.com

Macro

Finding Your Subject
When discovering your inner photographer your subject matter is often the most difficult to determine. Think about what you are most interested in. What is it that you question in this world. When taking a photograph you are, in essence, stopping time. You are giving yourself and all viewers the chance to study, memorize, and investigate your subject. Look through your lens, whether it is the viewfinder or the digital monitor, and see what the camera is seeing. Scan the edges, what is in the center and what is the focal point. Everything within the frame is your photograph. Sometimes you can find the best subjects right under your nose. Have you ever tried using your macro feature? Its the one that looks like a flower. Macro means that your subject is captured on your image sensor at life size or larger. Use a tripod if you can.
This is a photograph of the smallest tomato in the world, says me. Sometimes the most extraordinary things are found in the most ordinary places. Keep your eyes open you never know what you may find.

About You
Does your mom still have your college photo hanging on the wall. Is that the most recent photo she has of you? Maybe its time to replace that one with a more recent rendition of yourself. If you don't want to be photographed solo you may want to include your family? no family.. how about your pet?
There are many reasons to have an updated and flattering portrait of yourself. Here are a few:
Business cards, Resume, Internet dating, Valentine's Day, High paying modeling job, Passport photo..
Let me transform you into your inner Heidi Klum or David Beckham, Whoo Hoo! Be yourself or be your fantasy. I'll do my job to put you in a relaxed and comfortable place that will release your true self. Treat yourself, you deserve it!!.


Home Work
Take this opportunity to shoot with your macro lens or setting. Get out this weekend and look for the little things in your life and turn them into something timeless and immortal. Then send your images to me with any questions you may have. I'll do my best to answer them and may include the Q&A in next month's news.










Roseanne Photography
www.roseannephotography.com
Please send emails to roseanne@roseannephotography.com