This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (13-19 Jun ’10)

Weekly Assignment

This week was we finished up the first of a series of more composition-based assignments with our Dutch Angle Assignment. Dutch angles, also called “Batman Angles” by some, are where the horizon is set at an angle, usually to create a sense of tension or dizziness. Our winner this week really captured that feeling effectively. ktsdz‘s shot of the gymnast on the balance beam was crisp, clear, and really fit the assignment because of the tension that it created. Our first runner up was BusinessDog, whose comic book take on things was really interesting with Rorschach from Watchmen. It really looked like it could be right out of the pages of a comic. And last, but not least was something almost the total opposite of our first two winners, hawthorne17‘s little girls. This shot is an example of how a dutch angle can be used to create a feeling of whimsy and fantasy rather than seriousness and tension. Great colours and a fun composition really made this one stand out to us. Well done everyone!

We also started another composition-based assignment this week. We want you to get down low for our Low Angle Assignment. Getting down low gives you a different perspective on what you usually see… especially if you’re looking at things that are already low to the ground. And that new perspective can offer a very interesting new viewpoint. As always, a quick reminder of the rules before you get started. First, your photo must have been taken between 9-23 June 2010. Second, your post must include the words “Assignment: Low Angle” and the date that the photo was taken in order to ensure that it’s eligible for the mini-contest. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points like aperture, ISO, shutter speed, camera, lens, etc. Next week’s assignment will be Mid Day Portraits. Taking good portraits in direct sunlight can be tricky even for experienced photographers, so this should be a good experience. If you’re looking for some hints on how to accomplish this week’s assignment, why not have a look at this blog post.

Hot Threads

• Continuous Shooting or Anticipation?: When you’re taking action shots of people or animals moving, it can be hard to get the right shot, the right focus, and the right timing. So how do you get these things? Do you try to anticipate the action or do you just spray and pray? Come share your tips for getting good action shots and accomplishing the balance between continuous shooting and anticipation.
• 10 Couples Photography Tips: Have you ever been asked to take photos of a couple? What happens if you’re not a portrait photographer? You might say “no” or you might decide to try it anyway. But if you’re looking for some tips, why not start out over in this thread where there are 10 tips for taking photos of couples. Why not add a few more if you have some?
• Underexposed Indicator Blinking in Manual Mode: When you start learning external lighting, there are a lot of new things to learn about. One of those things is figuring out how to meter your shots. You might find that your camera’s meter tells you that your shot is underexposed when in reality, with the lights it’s not. But then how do you compensate for that when your camera’s meter tells you one thing and the shot tells you something else? Come read the advice and add your own over in the forums.
• 5 Steps to Better Composition: One of the main things you want to consider (especially when you’re just starting out) is how to compose your shot. There are a number of different things you can do when you’re composing a shot to get a “pleasing” shot. But don’t forget, just because there are various rules of composition doesn’t mean that there aren’t situations when it’s helpful to break the rules. In order to do this effectively though, you’ll probably want to know what rules you’re breaking since it will make it even easier to learn why and how it works.
• How to Ask Someone to Model for You: If you’re trying to get into portrait photography, one of the difficult parts might be getting people to actually model for you. After all, you don’t want to be creepy, and it can be kind of nerve wracking, so how in the world do you get people to agree to let you photograph them? Come read the hints in this thread and add your own to help people who are struggling to get models.