The tools you need to create quality pictures

You slow the shutter speed to show the motion of the waterfall at  Sidecut Metropark.  A faster shutter speed would stop the motion.
(PHO245 Photos by TJ Barney)

A change in perspective do to selective focus.

 Photographers use a camera to control light.  Three ways to do that are with the ISO (International Organization of Standardization), aperture and shutter speed.

     ISO controls the amount of light that hits the camera sensor. A lower ISO of 100 is used in well-lit situations, while a high ISO, around 1600, is for darker scenarios.

   Aperture limits or adds light through the lens, and is used control depth of field.  

   The shutter speed slows or stops motion. A slow shutter speed lets more light in, while a fast shutter speed, like 1/1000 of a second, lets in less light.

     When understanding how to control light, you can concentrate on the composition of your image.      There are several things you can take into consideration when deciding your composition, like:

• The rule of thirds, which are a photographer's guideline.
• Perspective, or the way you view the picture.
• The mood that the picture is taking.
• Leading lines
• Making the point of interest easy for the eye to go to.

    By utilizing all these tools you will be on your way to capturing a quality picture.

The eye is lead through the picture by using leading lines.

Human extension with cell phones with pros vs common photographers

Civic Ambassadors weekly meeting. (PHO245 Photos by TJ Barney)

Yusef Muhammad (left) and Joshua Wilson celebrate
their birthdays at the Civic Ambassodor meeting Friday.        

   Cell phones have become an extension of ones way of life.  People use their phones for everything in today's world, but photographers now use the phone as another tool to capture the images they desire. Phone cameras are just as good as a normal digital camera, and the are progressing so zoom captures have quality.

   Photographers use their main digital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras for the majority of the work they do.  Cell phones are a great extension for situations that do not require such a high end camera like:

• A shot of fans at a sports event.
• Creative photos in everyday life.
• Capturing a quick image.
• Everyday use.
• Professional images.

   Everyone is able to shoot photos with their phones, but it's up to the professional photographers to be able to show the difference in their work to that of a common phone photographer.  They can do that by using the same principals in any pro photography like:

• Rule of thirds
• Depth of field
• Showing or stopping motion
• Lighting

   The extension of the cell phone camera is great for everyone, and the capabilities have proven to be of superb quality.  The better the phones get then the more pro photographers will have to prove them selves ahead of the pack.