>>>>>>

>>>>>>Why is great photography important for yearbooks?

• Tells a story on its own• Supports the written word• Provides visual coverage• Sparks memories faster

Great photography

makes a yearbook…and

bad photography will break it.

>>>>>>The ABCs of Coverage

using CandidsIndividual portraits and group photos aside, candid photos are the essence of the yearbook. They capture emotion, expression and actions. But most importantly, they capture the moment. Great candid photos don’t happen accidentally. Think of yourself as storytellers, but without words. Use your ABC’s—start at the beginning:

–Arrive early. (Stay late.)–Be prepared. (Shoot fast.)–Closer is better. (Get even closer.)

To ensure proper coverage, make a shot list beforehand. Use ABC’s to ensure unique aspects are on the list.

>>>>>>Tips and tricks of the

trade• Shoot at Highest Resolution• Use Modes When in Doubt• Check the Quality Periodically• Darker is Better than Too Bright• Never Turn on Digital Zoom• Protect your Ports• Take Backup Batteries• Have Extra Memory Cards• Keep Originals as Masters

>>>>>>Rock Your Camera with

EXTREME CompositionPhotographers take time to balance composition (the arrangement of elements in a photograph) and technical quality. Sometimes, we trade one for the other but should always have a reason. Composition is most important to me. Shoot first, fiddle later.

– Vary your angles– Light your subject– Look for emotion– See repetition– Frame your subject– Capture the action– Vary your focus

>>>>>> 1. varytheangleThe photographer must…

• Have a vision for each shot

• Get “down and dirty!”

• Not be afraid to get right onto the action

• Take each picture from multiple angles

>>>>>>>>The girl in the shot sketches the ceiling of the front atrium of the high school for an art class project. The photographer actually had the girl lie on the ground to capture the shot.

The photographer must envision each shot from different angles to create impact.va

ryth

ean

gle

>>>>>>>>Members of the yearbook staff throw yearbook surveys up into the air in giddy disgust of putting together connections to reflect the theme.

Sometimes you have to get “down and dirty.” The shooter had to move and stand on a table to create elevation to get this angle on the shot.va

ryth

ean

gle

>>>>>>>>Incredibly, the photographer, Shauna Miller, took this picture of herself by setting the camera on the ground with a delay to capture her own cartwheel.

Again, the photographer has to envision each shot with a direct intent in mind. Also, sometimes, you have to take many pictures to get the great one.

How many takes do you think it took Shauna to get this shot?

4Sometimes it takes patience.va

ryth

ean

gle

>>>>>> 2. makelightofitMany times, the lighting of your shot will determine its success or failure.

• It’s much better to underexpose your shots than to overexpose them.

•Less lighting is much better than too much lighting.

• Don’t count on your flash to provide enough light, especially in sports photography.

• Get as close to your subject as possible.

• Embrace low-lighting opportunities.

• Don’t underestimate the sun.

>>>>>>Over-

exposed

Under-exposed

Photoshop allows you lighten and darken pictures. Still, look what happened here.

The best it gets

Not too bad

Moral of the Story…Less light is better than too much light.

mak

elig

hto

fit

>>>>>>Tips for shooting inside your gym…

• Don’t expect your flash to make up for the low lighting.

• Use a tripod.

• Wait for the action to come to you and set yourself up appropriately.

• Set your camera to take many quick shots in a row.

• Shoot more coverage shots – coach advising the team, huddles during a time out, and emotions on the faces of the sidelined players.

• Purchase a lens that has an internal image stabilizer.

• Shoot pictures before the game and after the game.m

akel

igh

tofit

>>>>>>Easy shot if camera is focused on coach

Make sure you get shots during time-outs. These are

the easiest to get and can reflect the intensity of the

game.

Have a camera focused on the

sidelines for

reactions

This shot came from an image stabilizer and a

tripod.

This shot represents one

of ten rapid shots in a row.

Also, the shooter knew

where the action would

happen and had the camera

aimed there.

You can get these

shots!m

akel

igh

tofit

>>>>>>Capitalize on your lighting…

Notice how the pole lighting in this picture enhances an already great shot.

What else about this picture demonstrates great photography?

mak

elig

hto

fit

>>>>>>Embrace low-lighting opportunities…

>>This shot was one of the first pictures taken for the 2008 YB. The photographer shot this at the first June marching band practice at dusk.

Capitalize on dusk picture opportunities.m

akel

igh

tofit

>>>>>> 3. getemotionalThe good photographer looks for opportunities to capture emotion.

• A great emotional shot can almost tell the whole story of the situation without a caption.

• Much of the time, it takes many shots to capture the great emotional shot. Hence, make sure you take lots of pictures at each event and patiently wait for the “money shot.”

• At sporting events, many times the emotion happens on the sidelines, in the stands, or just after the race or game.

>>>>>>

For the event, the yearbook staff had 6 photographers aimed and ready for the announcement. Out of over 200 shots taken, this one showed the best emotion.

>>This shot was taken just after the announcement of Homecoming Queen. The Queen shared an embrace with dad.

Again, sometimes it takes many pictures and lots of patience to get that one great shot!

gete

moti

on

al

>>>>>>>>The shooter captured this shot just after a cross country race at home.

Again, a great emotional shot should convey much of the story without a caption. Still, unless in a module or as a panel shot, every picture should have a caption.ge

tem

oti

on

al

>>>>>>

Always have one camera on the crowd when your team gets close to a big score.

>>This shot was taken after the football team scored their first touchdown of the season.

gete

moti

on

al

>>>>>> 4. repeatthatThe good photographer looks for repetition opportunities in his or her pictures.

• When possible, you should always look for situations where you have a subject that repeats.

• It raises the composition level of your shot.

• This really represents an opportunity to impress the judges who will adjudicate your book.

• When possible, you should always look for situations where you have a subject that repeats.

>>>>>>

A great place to find repetition is in marching band formations.

>>This shot was taken just before the band’s halftime show at a football game.

rep

eatt

hat

>>>>>>

Even golf can provide ops for repetition if you look.

>>The photographer took this just before a golf match at home as the girls practice their drives.re

peatt

hat

>>>>>>>>Students hang over the balcony of the front atrium between every period. The photographer recognized this and purposely took the shot from this angle to capture repetition.

Sometimes repetition opportunities appear in trite daily events. A good photographer will seek and find these. re

peatt

hat

>>>>>> 5. FRAMEofmindTaking great framed shots requires the “know how” and many skills.

• When possible, you should always look for situations where you can naturally have your subject framed.

• Framing draws attention to the subject of your picture.

• This really represents yet another opportunity to impress the judges who will adjudicate your book.

>>>>>>Notice how the flags frame the girl’s body.

>>This shot was taken during a guard rehearsal. The photographer took many shots in hopes of framing the girl in her flags. After taking nearly 50 pictures, this one fulfilled the task .FR

AM

Eof

min

d

>>>>>>

Notice how #58 and #69 frame the shot for #50.

>>This shot was taken with a stabilizer lens and a monopod from the end zone.

FRA

MEofmind

>>>>>>Notice how the gate frames the girl’s body.

>>This shot was taken at a band practice. The photographer purposely tried to frame her by using the lines in the gate.FR

AM

Eofmind

>>>>>> 6. takeactionGreat action shots do not happen accidentally.

• The first basic rule to getting a great action shot requires that you MOVE and MOVE MORE!

• Familiarize yourself where most of the action will take place for each sport and set up accordingly.

• Use a monopod whenever possible. You can also use a tripod, but this tends to limit your capabilities in fast action sports.

• Don’t rely on flashes and vary the lenses.

• For sports with game balls, anticipate the shot.

>>>>>>Set yourself up for where the action happens.

>>With only two home track meets, two yearbook photographers attended both meets and took hundreds of shots. One of them caught this shot of a triple jumper.

Prioritize sports that have few home meets or games.

take

act

ion

>>>>>>

Anticipate the moment.

>>The photographer noticed that every time this diver surfaced, he shook his head. The photographer took over a dozen shots and this one came out the best.ta

keact

ion

>>>>>>Use a monopod when you can.

>>The photographer utilized a 75mm-300mm lens to take this shot. She stood from the far sideline with a monopod and captured this picture.

Find where most of the action happens. To do this, you must MOVE!

take

act

ion

>>>>>> 7. intothedepthsDo your best to show depth in your shots.

• Learn how to focus correctly to show your intent for each shot.

• Depth shots can really spice up your academic section.

• Look for opportunities to show depth. This requires that you think about your shots.

>>>>>>

Science lab classes present a great opportunity for depth shots.

>>The photographer stood across the table and experimented with the focus to capture this shot.

into

thed

ep

ths

>>>>>>

Notice how the focus of the picture lies on the girl and that the birds in the forefront seem out of focus.

>>Used for a student life spread on farms, the photographer captured this shot at the turkey farm of a senior at school.

intothed

ep

ths

>>>>>>Where do you suppose the photographer “stood” to take this picture?

>>The photographer intended to provide a different and more artistic prospective on golf.in

tothed

ep

ths

>>>>>> For More Info

• BalfourVirginia.com• Email scott@stalcup.com