Thankfully I stumbled in a digital photography class at a technical conference in Huntsville, TX. Andrew Stewart is a teacher at Huntsville ISD and is a very gifted photographer.
I have been trying to figure out how to use DOF. Unfortunately you pretty much have to have a very … VERY nice lens to add to your camera. I use a IS 2S Canon. Not that nice, but semi pro. So here are a few shots of Beth, my best model.
A few really cool tips I learned:
- Use the split 3 or 9 rule. Split up the screen in thirds, try to use the first of last of the three.
- Focus on the women and children, men don’t like pictures and could care less
- The most important part of your picture of a person, the eyes!!
- The second most important: Lips!!
- In the US, the first place a person looks when they look at a picture is the top left. (that is how we read) You can put something in the top left 3rd to get their attention. Or leave it blank, and put your main subject in the bottom right. The lack of anything in the top left corner, naturally directs your eyes to the bottom left.
- NEVER use your flash if you can help it. It ruins many in door pictures.
- If you have to use your flash, get a diffuser.
- For men, always use the flash to the left or right of the subject.
- For women, use a diffuser, you don’t want any shadows. It will make the woman look edgy and rough.
- The more blue, the colder and sadder.
- The more red, the warmer and happier the picture.
Thats all I can remember. I used varing low shutter speeds and low f-stops.
