Here is a family photograph session. The family members posing in the sunlight at the front of the family home and the obligatory shadow in the frame. Typical family portrait, but with a little difference. It was directed perhaps by Ingmar Bergman or Federico Fellini... Seriously, what is the story? Were these taken by a child? Was the off center mode done with intention? Was the photographer just very inexperienced? Was the view finder on the old box camera out of sync?
Today's Feature: Framing the shot.
This page will collect some major mistakes that amateur photographers make in FRAMING the SHOT.
(1)CENTERING: Even if not in the center of the shot, the subject should not be partially cut off by the edge of the frame. Cut off heads are the most common but sometimes the feet cut off also.
(2)LEVELING: The camera should be held level so that the subject in the picture does not look like it is sliding off the earth.
(3)DISTANCE: Then there is the shot that is too far from the subject to make out any detail. Or perhaps, the camera is so close it won't focus properly and you get just a blurry image.
It's all called FRAMING THE SHOT.
This is a part of a series looking at a few examples from Lost Gallery of the seven most common problems of the amateur photographer.
1.) The photographer's own shadow is in the picture.
2.) Forgot to advance the film: The Double Exposure
3.) Blocked the lens with a finger or a thumb or something
4.) Somebody moved, either the subject or the photographer
5.) Not framed right, Missing heads, feet, people
6.) Improper lighting (Overexposed, Underexposed)
7.) Fogged negative from miss-loaded film or a damaged camera.
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Area 51 and a Half
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Don't take my picture! Oh! You DID didn't you!
This is a collection of photographs that disappear on the way home from the photo processing shop.
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THE KIDS
It is always a mystery how a photograph of any of these precious children could end up lost or abandoned. Here are a few. You will probably say "Ooh..." at least once.
Dee and the Business School
The beautiful Dee. A curious story; What do you see?
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
"What are they doing?"
I have a theory about the first photo where everyone is looking somewhere else. I think there are two photographers and people are looking at the other camera. This a great instructional category that still applies to photos made with today's smart phones and digital pocket cameras.
ReplyDeleteThanks Mike Brubaker. I think you are right. I can't think of any other reason other than something like a barn door fell off just as the photograph was snapped, and distracted anyone who could hear it. Two cameras is a much better scenario. And yes, with today's throw-away attitude, little time is spent framing the subject or finding the best background or lighting. Millions of digital photographs being taken by the hour but how many will be here to enjoy like the ones above, a hundred or even fifth years from now?
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