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Photography 101
Holidays and Events
No matter what the holiday or occasion: Thanksgiving,
Christmas, Baby’s First or Grandmothers’ 90th, we all want
to take pictures. Capturing these moments on film is a
challenge for most of us, and in spite of the cameras
available today, we can still end up with some pretty
disappointing results. The following tips will help you to
capture these moments and make all your special occasion
photos special.
Capture the Emotion
With every special occasion comes some unforgettable
emotion. Be sure to keep the camera handy to capture those
spontaneous giggles, hugs, tears and surprises that will
crop up when you least expect them. Be ready to shoot! Those
candid shots may become your most prized possessions.
Show the Candles Aglow
For those “candle holidays” like birthdays, Christmas and
Hanukkah, you may want to capture the special glow that only
a lit candle can provide. To do this, turn off your flash
and hold your camera very steady by bracing it on a railing,
tabletop or door frame.
Avoid Red Eye
We have all experienced the disappointment of taking the
perfect shot if only everybody’s eyes weren’t glowing red.
While there are lots of picture-editing types of software
available, there is one great way to avoid red eye in the
first place: have your subject look over your shoulder
instead of directly into the camera. Turning all the lights
on in the room is helpful as well. Remember to use the
red-eye reduction feature on your camera if you have one
available to you.
Stay Within the Flash Range
Make sure to check the flash range of your camera! Subjects
too close to the flash will appear washed out, and if they
are out of range they will be too dark. The typical digital
flash range is between six and ten feet; a film camera has a
flash range of up to fifteen feet. And don’t forget that
weak batteries will give you dark photographs. Install fresh
batteries when you know you will shooting a lot of flash
photographs.
Avoid Flash Reflections
Remember that mirror and window in the background of a flash
photograph will reflect the flash and ruin your shot. If a
reflective background is unavoidable, stand diagonally from
the subject of your photograph to reduce the glare of the
flash.
Get Close
Don’t be afraid to get close to your subject. Too much
background can clutter the photograph and take the focus off
the subject. Close up night-time scenes will brighter, and
detail will be much sharper with a close-in shot.
Photographing Reunions and Family Gatherings
Reunions and family gatherings provide the perfect backdrop
for great pictures. Whether you are taking pictures of the
newest family addition, grandma and grandpa or a
multi-generation shot, there are plenty of opportunities to
get the family on film.
Tell a Story
Take pictures of the weekend as it unfolds, and you will
have the story of your special event on film! Take a picture
of grandma as she gets out of the car, participates in the
festivities with family and friends and her final departure
for a timeline of events that will be a family treasure.
Use a Simple Background
Remember that a lot of stuff in the background can clutter
your shot and alter the focus of your picture. Try and put
the subject of your photograph in front of something plain
and uncluttered. Nobody wants to see dad with a potted plant
or light post growing out of the top of his head. If this is
impossible, reposition yourself to get distracting
background objects out of view.
Take Candid Shots
Resist the temptation to pose everyone perfectly for
photographs. Candid shots often capture the personalities of
the people and give a better representation of the event.
Variety creates a lot of visual interest, so mix up your
photographs for the best possible results.
Get Close
For the greatest impact, fill the camera’s viewfinder with
your subject and eliminate all the background. Get close or
use the camera’s zoom to put the emphasis exactly where you
want it and eliminate the rest.
Provide One-Time-Use Cameras
Remember that everyone has a different point of view. If you
provide several one-time-use cameras for everyone to use,
you will find a variety of types of pictures (and vantage
points) that will give a wonderful collection of photos to
choose from when you begin to put together an album of the
event.
We all know the value of a great set of pictures. The time
we spend with family and friends becomes the memories we
will live to cherish. With a little preparation and
knowledge, anybody can get these moments on film and keep
the memory of them alive for generations to come.
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