Photography Basics: C.E.L.L and Composition

• Photography basics involve understanding key elements and techniques to capture compelling images.
• C.E.L.L. is an acronym standing for Composition, Exposure, Lens, and Light.

Six Things to Know

• Understanding one's camera is crucial.
• Holding the camera still is critical.
• Employing the 2-second rule helps to stabilize shots.
• Taking multiple shots increases the chances of capturing the perfect moment.
• Telling a "story" through photography adds depth.
• Capturing the "mood" enhances the emotional impact.

Composition Principles

• Principle 1: Decluttering pictures and zooming in focuses on the subject and context.
• A photograph should have a subject, a context, and nothing else.
• Eliminate clutter that distracts from your message.
• Get closer to the subject by zooming in and cropping tightly.
• Principle 2: Positioning subjects off-center and applying the rule of thirds creates more dynamic and engaging compositions, unless reflecting something.
• Centering the frame is the weakest placement as it appears static and dull.
• Moving the subject away from center adds relevance to the context.
• Principle 3: Using frames, lines, and diagonals to create impact, guiding the viewer's eye.
• Principle 4: Dramatic perspective involves photographing subjects from unexpected angles.
• Imagine oneself as an electron spinning around the subject.

Exposure

• Exposure relies on Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO.

Aperture

• Affecting depth of field is its primary principle.
• A larger lens opening (f1.8-3.5) enables shooting with natural lighting, reducing harsh shadows and red-eye.
• Larger lens openings allow more light, enabling higher shutter speeds to reduce motion blur.
• A larger lens opening helps to reduce "depth-of-field" (for effect).
• Sharp focus through as much of the photograph as possible in landscapes is achieved with settings from f11 to f22.
• In portraits, use shallower depth of field (f2.8-8) to isolate the subject from distracting backgrounds.

Shutter Speed

• Freezing motion is the intended effect.
• A high shutter speed (e.g., 1/125th of a second or more) is needed for blur-free "action" photographs.
• Less light gets through to the imager as shutter speed is increased, a challenge in low light situations.
• Alternatives to address less light include allowing more light through a larger aperture or increasing the ISO.
• Sharp images are not always best, as slow shutter speeds can blur moving objects, creating a convincing sense of motion.

The Principles of ISO

• An ISO sets the lowest setting possible to avoid image noise.
• Standard ISO ratings include 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 on certain models.
• Use an ISO of 100 or 200 in sunny conditions.
• Use an ISO between 400 to 800 in overcast skies, evening time, or darkened rooms.
• Use an ISO of 1600 to set your digital camera for nighttime or low-light conditions.

Lens

• Wide Angle (35mm) or Telephoto (70mm) are key lens concepts.
• Wide-angle lenses capture more, needing a focal point.
• Telephoto lenses tighten the scene and isolate the subject, affecting depth of field and increasing camera shake.

Light

• A primary principle is to avoid using flash, even for night shots, as flash destroys the intimate mood of existing light.
• Side lighting, instead of front or overhead lighting, is the 2nd principle.
• Using frontal flash lighting tends to flatten faces, use side lighting as much as possible.
• A 3rd Principle is Use fill-in flash, for backlit situations or overhead sun.
• Overhead sun creates dark eye sockets and unattractive shadows, corrected with flash.
• Fill-in flash is also useful for backlit subjects (as camera auto exposure can be confused).