Photography is Art created by Light!

What is Photography?

Photography is an art form like drawing and painting.  Photographers use their camera to make us see life in a different way, feel emotions, and record stories and events.

There are three basic styles of photography.

Landscape, Portrait, Documentary

Landscape Photography

Landscape is a photograph of the environment.  It could be the forest, mountains, oceans, or your backyard.  Ansel Adams is a famous landscape photographer.  Here is one of his images. 

Ansel Adams2

Portrait Photography

Portrait photography is a photo of a person or animal.   It is important to show an emotion.

Portrait 1

What is the emotion shown in this photo?

Scared, Angry

What is Portrait Photography?

A portrait photograph is a picture of a person or animal that shows an emotional connection.

Photography by Lukasz Holma of Actress Lauren Bacall

Photography by Keith Carter

Portraits can be the whole body.

The Dress , Photography by Sally Mann

Documentary Photography

Documentary photography presents facts without changing anything.Good documentary photographs make you wonder what the story is behind the photograph.

Where do you find Documentary Photographs

Newspaper, Magazines, Books, Internet

Documentary photographs can be either portrait or landscape

Contrast

Contrast refers to the brightness between the light and shadow areas of a picture.

Does it have contrast?  What direction is the light on the trees coming from?

What is Contrast?

Contrast is the difference between light and shadow. Think about a flashlight in a dark room.

Rule of Thirds

A photo is more interesting if the subject is NOT directly in the center.  Try placing your subject 1/3 to the left or right, or 1/3 from top or bottom.

One photograph uses rule of thirds and the other uses central focus.

Point of View

Try selecting and unusual point of view.

Eye Level

Above

Below

Proximity

Don’t be shy!  Get close to your subject.

“One should really use the camera as though tomorrow you'd be stricken blind.” - By Dorthea Lange