GoingManual.com It's time to take control!    Home    Tutorials    Photography Forum  Photography Tutorial Introduction Part I – Gear The Camera  -  Focus  -  Resolution  -  MegaPixels Vs Print Size  -  Sharpening Semi auto settings  -  Aperture Priority (Av)  -  Shutter priority (Tv) Zoom and Focal Length  -  A Note About Sensor Size Other Camera Features  -  Viewfinders  -  Lens Hood  -  LCD screen  -  White Balance Extra Equipment  -  Tripod  -  Cable Release  -  Filter systems  -  Polarizer and ND filter  -  External Flash  -  Studio Lighting  -  Reflectors Part II – Capturing The Scene Your First Manual Photo  -  It's All About Exposure  -  The Light Meter  -  Exposure Explained  -  Controlling Exposure Creative Effects  -  Aperture and Depth Of Field  -  DOF Preview  -  Shutter speed Putting it all Together  -  ISO  -  Ap. & Shutter Relationship  -  Stop for a minute  -  So What?  -  The Bulb Setting Metering the Scene  -  18% of Everything Metering modes  -  Matrix  -  Average  -  Center weighted  -  Spot or semi-spot Taking Meter Readings  -  Expose for your subject  -  Sunsets and sunrises  -  Reflecting sun  -  Night Exposures  -  Moon  -  Green Foliage  -  Bright or White Scenes  -  Dark or Black Scenes Understanding Your Histogram  -  Flash Metering Composition Lead in The Viewer Eye  -  Point of Focus  -  Fill the frame  -  The Rule of Thirds  -  Moving Subjects  -  Print and frame Sizes Different Styles Learn by doing  -  Giving and Getting Critique  -  Portraits  -  Groups  -  Children  -  Shooting Outdoors  -  Silhouettes  -  Macro  -  Products  -  Landscapes  -  Sports and Action  -  Panning  -  Rear Sync Flash  -  Abstract  -  Long Exposures  -  Black and White A few Other Useful Things  -  Blown Out Skies  -  Neutral Density Filters  -  Polarizing Filters  -  Electronic noise You're Half Way There! Part III The Digital darkroom  -  Computer hardware  -  Card Reader  -  Printers  -  Mouse Post Processing  -  The Ethics of Altering  -  Choosing Your Program  -  Tutorials   Photoshop Tutorials   Photoshop Primer   Saving Your Image   Adding a Border   Using Levels   Using Curves   The S-Curve   Correcting White Balance   Improving Saturation   The Clone Tool   Correcting Lens Distortion   Blending Multiple Images   Black and White Conversion   Sepia Conversion   Reducing Noise   Cropping for Different Print Sizes   Sharpening   Working With RAW Files   The Gimp Tutorials   The Gimp Primer   Saving Your Image   Adding a Border   Using Levels   Using Curves   The S-Curve   Correcting White Balance   Improving Saturation   The Clone Tool   Correcting Lens Distortion   Blending Multiple Images   Black and White Conversion   Sepia Conversion   Reducing Noise   Cropping for Different Print Sizes   Sharpening   Working With RAW Files   << Portraits Children >> Groups From family get togethers to large wedding parties, posing groups artistically can be a challenge. First your have to take control. People will mill about aimlessly waiting for direction and it's up to you to provide it. If you encounter problems explain to the trouble makers why you're taking the pictures. They might be very important to Aunt Betty, or it might be the first time in 20 years all the siblings have been together. There's usually a good reason to get a group photo organized. Getting stressed at people because they continue to mess about will spoil your rapport with your subjects. Use their energy, take a few close up photos of the pranksters and let them get it out of their systems. They are the most likely to say or do something funny when the group is assembled. Be ready as it will give a genuine smile on everyone's faces. Tip: Be ready to capture natural expressions immediately before and after the official shot. People almost always laugh very naturally just after the posed shots. This shot was the least formal and the favorite of all the people involved. Your confidence will come with the knowledge that you can artistically pose any size of group. The answer again lies in mathematics, fortunately no fractions this time, now we're going to use geometry and symmetry. Look at the number of people and think of a shape that will incorporate everyone while still maintaining good composition. For 3 people a triangle is one choice, for four people maybe a diamond. Both can be arranged using a chair to lower one person, usually the most important, one on either side and the tallest behind. This very simple theory will work with any size group. Sit children at the front and let mom come and sit with them if they become upset or restless. If the group gets really big try a higher angle. Use a step ladder to get up high and pose the group in a circle. Use levels; standing, sitting, and kneeling or sitting on the floor. Use colors to represent shapes or patterns especially useful at formal functions where men typically wear dark mono suits and women wear brighter colors. If you choose to line people up, try to keep heights symmetrical or line up men on one side and women on the other. Turn outer shoulders forward so people slightly face the center. This helps to avoid the 'sports team' photo look which only really works for, well, sports teams! Have a few fun ideas ready to get a group laugh. Ask for superhero poses, or a catalog model pose. People pointing, frozen fake laughing and pouting lips everywhere. How about this line, “if you want this picture to look really good I can come and stand in the middle”, I know it's not funny, it's cheesy but everyone will laugh. It helps people relax and get those beautiful genuine smiles. Have everyone raise their hands in the air and shout your name like a pop star. You'll be surprised how often groups will do anything you tell them. Give them the opportunity to relax! << Portraits Children >>

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