The Photo Commandments
(or, um, suggestions)
I. Be Active and Move!
-Move yourself, move your camera, or move objects to get a better composition
point your camera in different directions
move your body higher or lower
II. Be Quick, Be Ready, or Wait
-Be ready at all times to capture that perfect "decisive moment" or wait for one
III. Fill the Picture Frame with Essentials
-The choices you make on what to include the frame affects the meaning of the photo
IV. Minimize the Unnecessary
-Do not include extra stuff that distracts the viewer. NO CLUTTER!!!
-Do not ignore the background. Be aware of everything in the frame.
the clutter in the background takes away from the picture
background objects that are NOT clutter
foreground objects that are NOT clutter
V. Obey The Rule of Thirds
-Don't put objects directly in the center. Or maybe you should.
-To the side usually makes a dynamic photograph. Centered objects are static.
When photos follow the rule of thirds, it helps the eye to move across the image.
Subjects in the center of a mostly symmetrical photo give a formal look
VI. Honor the Orientation of the Picture Plane and the P.O.V
-Horizontal, Vertical, or Skewed
-Low Angles, High Angles, and Unusual Angles
-More examples found HERE
horizontal
vertical
 
looking slightly down
VII. Honor ALL Shapes
-From positive/negative shape
-From shadows and light
VIII. Honor the Elements of Art and Principles of Design
-line, color, value, texture, shape, form, space
-unity, balance, dominance, repetition, rhythm, contrast, theme/variation
-for examples please visit HERE
IX. Use a Tripod for Shutter Speeds at 30 and under
-If there is not enough light, the camera might want a longer shutter speed. With a longer shutter speed comes "shakey" blurred photos.
-On digital cameras, you can adjust the ISO to avoid this problem
X. Break the Rules when it will Improve the Photograph
-Know what the rules are, but break them if it will produce a better photo. As Tim Gunn says on Project Runway, "Make it work"
Amendments to the Commandments
Show the Eyespace
-show the area your subject is looking into.
eyespace cut off, giving a sense of unease
eyespace shown
eyespace shown upwards
eyespace shown looking down
Beware the Sprouting Pole
-trees, poles, or any other objects that come out of someones head look strange.
pole-head
Show Space
-portraits have a sense of space if there is at least 4 feet of nothingness behind a person.
- photos have a sense of space if they have objects in the foreground, midground, and background.
subject is right up against wall, no sense of space is shown
nothing is right behind the subjects
objects in the foreground, midground, and background show space
objects in the foreground, midground, and background show space
Show the Unexpected
-notice odd things in life and capture them with your camera
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