This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (31 Jan – 6 Feb ’10)

Weekly Assignment

We finished up a weekly assignment that took us back to the basics and looked at how different compositions can create an entirely different feel to a photo. We focused on photos with Centered Compositions. Having a centered composition can be dangerous because it can make your subject look very static, but used well, it can create a lot of interest in a shot as well. We actually had a 3 way tie this week! So, in no particular order, our winners. First up is inkiest‘s Planet Lake Hodges. This is a great example of a “little planet” shot where a panoramic shot becomes a little planet. This kind of shot really takes centered composition to the next degree, and the rock in the middle really further emphasized the center nature of the shot. Our next winner is Obijuan‘s Trapped Orange Slice. This still life was different than many of the shots and it really considered the use of centered composition well. Not only was the orange in the middle, but the holder was also (and the orange was in the middle of the holder!). And finally, last, but not least was GadgetVirtuoso‘s Escalator Girl. The symmetry, the reflections, and the leading lines all lead to the subject. Add in the fantastic colours and you’ve got a great shot! Congrats everyone! It was definitely a good week!

We also started our month of food photography. This week, we’re focusing on Food Photography – Desserts. Food photography is one of those things that is deceptively easy, so to get you started, there are a number of tips listed on the assignment thread. We not only want to see a tasty dessert, but we want to see it in a way that makes us drool! Just a quick reminder of the rules, your photo must have been taken between 27 January – 10 February 2010. Second, your post must contain the words “Assignment: Food Photography – Desserts” and the date the photo was taken. Finally, your EXIF should be intact and it’s helpful if you can include some of the main points such as shutter speed, ISO, aperture, lens, camera, etc. Next week’s assignment will continue food photography, but it will be Food Photography – Fruits & Vegetables, so get out those veggies and see if you can make them as appealing as a nice dessert!

Hot Threads

• dPS Photography Competition: Life (Week 2): In case you missed it last week, dPS in conjunction with DigitalRev is running a competition where you can win your share of $2900 worth of prizes. You can enter 1 photo per week during the four weeks, so choose carefully! Best of luck!
• Post-It Notes: They’re good for jotting down your grocery list, notes to your family, and reminders for yourself, but did you know that they can make great camera accessories too? Gonzo13 shows us how to use colourful Post-It notes to add colours to your flash and subject. Check it out if you’re looking for some creative lighting ideas.
• Ratio of Good Images: This is a discussion that comes up every once in a while, and as we all know, the answer not only varies from person to person, but may change as you progress in your photography. Come share with us what kind of photography you do and what your ratio of keepers is. Then tell us whether you think that’s good or bad, or if it just is what it is.
• Photographs of Planets: Astrophotography is one of those types of photography that can be incredibly impressive. This thread has some great shots and great information about how you can take shots of the stars, planets, and other heavenly bodies. If you’re interested in astrophotography or you do it yourself, come join in the thread over in the forum.
• What Would You Do: As usual, we have another week of WWYD photos. This is your chance to edit the photo of another forum member and show us what you would do. These threads are a great chance to practice and hone your post-processing skills in ways you may not be able to do on your own photos.