If 4*1
hoot’ your family under the Christmas tree
Did "red eyes" come out in
last year's photos? How about
those blank spots on your nega
tive that should have been great
¡grandmother? We have all had
ta treasured photograph not turn
out as well as we wished it would.
I remember "cutting heads off"
land forgetting to remove the
bens cap on several occasions.
L I've heard it said that one
Kearns through their mistakes,
which is probably true, but I
would still rather have Aunt
Jane's eyes blue instead of red
[and Uncle John's face clear, not
■blurred.
' One of the most overlooked
problems that is experienced is
the neglect to learn how to hold
the camera and the proper way in
which to release the shutter. If
either one of these are done
improperly, the result is a blurry
photograph caused by camera
movement.
I The best way to "hold" a
camera is on a tripod which has
not been touched for five minutes
(to allow it to become steady).
This is fine, if you have the time
and the tripod.
For most shots, this is un
necessary because the average
camera shutter speed of 1/60 of
a second is fast enough to com
pensate for normal body move
ment, if the camera is held
properly.
•Barnas Community College
0.75
Several techniques are used to
make yourself into a human
tripod. For a horizontal shot use
your right hand to operate shutter
and to hold camera. Lay the
camera upon your, left hand and
use fingers to operate focusing
ring and aperture settings. Verti
cal shots require the same use for
the righthand while the left hand
supports and grips the side of the
camera which is down.
It is not necessary to push,
click or punch the shutter release
button. It is designed so that a
light squeeze will activate the
shutter.
If not done gently,
camera movement will result.
Also, after releasing the shutter,
do not remove the camera from
your eye immediately. Leave it
up a moment longer to be sure
the shutter has had a chance to
close completely.
Now, about that black or dark
picture. First, was the lens cap
on (sound silly, go look through
anyone's photos)? Or did the
flash not fire? On those cameras
with a separate view-finder, leav
ing the lens cap on is extremely
easy, so always check by in
specting the front of the camera
first thing.
As for flashes, regularly check
the batteries. Wipe them off and
if there is any leakage throw
them away immediately as the
acid in them is a good way to
ruin a camera quickly. Make sure
all contact points are clean and
replace the batteries. This should
be done with all camera batteries.
Don't throw away used flash
bulbs, flashcubes or flip flashes.
In bad lighting conditions, they
come in handy. Place the flash
in the holder for a slower shutter
speed.
On Kodak 204 Insta-
matics, the speed changes from
1/60 to 1/40 sec. which allows
more time for the light to strike
the film.
Red eyes are a problem that
only happen with the use of
flashes and of those, flashes that
are right on the camera along the
same angle as the camera lens.
The angle of the flash and lens is
so close that the film picks up
the reflection of the light on the
back of the eye, thus red eyes.
Some simple things can be
done to avoid this.
Change
location of the flash in relation
to camera by (if possible) remov
ing it from the camera and hold
ing it higher, and pointing it
downward toward subject or sim
ply do not have the person look
ing directly into the camera.
Many pocket and instant cameras
now sell flash extenders just for
this purpose.
x
Quality is not the only part of
photography. Composition (the
placement of objects or subject
in a picture) is also an important
part. I prefer the candid shot,
catching the subject in a normal
manner.
Subjects which look
directly into the caniera are not
normal. Most people shy away
from cameras.
A picture with a person look
ing straight into the camera will
look straight out of the picture
and the eyes will seem to follow
you around a room.
You can develop an essay
around an event through pic
tures. Christmas is just one of
several which are possibilities.
You may want to start with shots
of gift buying
weeks before
Christmas.
For more even lighting, place a
handkerchief over the flash (only
while close up, flashes are good for
four to nine feet, two more feet
would over-expose the film.
The best way to make sure that
the film will turn out is to read
the camera's manual. Then take
one or two rolls of film in dif
ferent kinds of light. Have them
processed in time to see what
looks best. Most of all, become
familiar with your camera.
Many other ideas abound—
putting house lights up, decorat
ing the tree, hanging stockings,
carving the ham or turkey. The
fun part is trying to see new ways
to photograph the same event.
Ever thought of taking one through
the tree's rain of someone?
With any individual shot, get
close, about two feet for head
shots with a fixed lens. Be care
ful, if your camera has a separate
view finder and lens, the angle is
enough to cut heads off at times.
Remember to look behind the
subject. Is anything coming out
of their head? Are glasses re
flecting a light or will a flash
cause glare on them? Sometimes
changing the angle is all that is
needed to correct the problem.
The idea in the individual photo
graph is to capture the personality
of the subject.
One way to avoid a dull family
or group photograph is to break
up straight lines. This can be done
by staggering tall and short sub
jects, by using chairs or sitting on
the floor.
The Christmas tree can improve
a group shot by interrupting a
straight line of heads. Try placing
people around the tree, standing
in back, sitting in front, creating
a triangular composition.
The ladder used to place orna
ments on tall trees should not be
put away. Use it! With it, pictures
of the group placing the star on
the top of the tree, or putting up
the mistletoe can be taken. An
other nice shot might be of the
youngest being lifted to place the
angel on top the tree. A lot of
of these shots can be rigged in
front of drapes for a plain back-
drop.
The best time to capture wide-
eyed innocence is early Christmas
morning, after Santa Claus has
left. Children's faces always have
a new surprise behind each and
every smile. This is a time when
lots of film should be on hand
with flashes;
Get down low and shoot up at
the child (yes, this means lying
on the cold floor, but it will be
worth it!)
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