Volume 124 Issue 20
kansan.com
Friday, September 16, 2011
SIMPLE TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS
TERMS TO KNOW:
RULE OF THIRDS: think of the photo with a tie-tac-toe board drawn on it. You want to keep the subject of the photo where the lines intersect.
COMPOSITION: the way all the elements of the photo work together and how the shot is arranged.
NATURAL LIGHTING: a photograph taken using whatever light is being given off from the sun, rather than an artificial source, like the camera's flash.
DEPTH OF FIELD: how in focus the background of a photograph is
SHORT DEPTH OF FIELD: the subject is in focus and
the background completely out of focus
LONG DEPTH OF FIELD: the subject and the background are both in focus.
The fundamental elements of a photograph provide the foundation to build your picture on. Is the lighting good? Is the subject in focus? Did you crop the photo so it looks like they are cut off at the ankle? Make sure you keep the horizon straight; these are all things to keep in mind when setting up a shot. "It's important to know all the rules when it comes to fundamentals, because then you can tweak them, and make them your own," Havana Mahoney, a senior from Manhattan, Kan., and majoring in photo media, says. Then you can bend them, but still have the basics to begin with.
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Lighting can make or break a photo. It's what will catch a viewer's eye and draw them in. When using natural lighting, you want to avoid the time of day when the sun is directly overhead, because it can be too bright and jarring." I like to catch dawn or dusk when using natural lighting, its not so harsh," Justin Bell, a senior from Gardner, Kan., says.
SHUTTER SPEED: the length of time the shutter of the camera is open, determining how much light is let into the camera.
Situations with low light should have a longer shutter speed.
Situations with lots of motion or bright light should have a shorter shutter speed.
APERTURE: the aperture is like the pupil of your eye. Depending on how big or small you make it, the more or less light is let into the camera.
ALL ABOUT THE LIGHTING
EXPOSURE: how much light is let into the camera based on the shutter speed and aperture. A photo that is overexposed looks washed out, and a photo that is underexposed looks too dark.
MANUAL
We've all done it before; taken a picture and thought, "That looks terrible!" Many of us don't have the time or resources to take a photography class, between classes, jobs, and countless hours of homework, not to mention workshops can be pricey. Here are some tricks to improve your technique quickly.
You can also do dramatic things with a flash at night, or use
FOCUS ON FUNDAMENTALS
a long exposure. At night, starlight can be used to make it look like the stars are moving, Bell, who is also a photo media major, says.
Matt Needham, a Lawrence-based wedding and portrait photographer, says lighting is the key to any photo. "It's what people will remember, if there's an interesting shadow or a lot of contrast," he says. Pay attention to the natural light available to you and then try supplementing with the flash on your camera to create different angles with the light.
A good portrait gives you a glimpse into the subject's life and personality. It tells a story about that person. "You want to look at it and feel something," says Laura Wolfe, Photographer and Studio Owner of White Lotus Photography, located in Lawrence. Spend some time with your subject and make them feel comfortable before you put them in front of a camera. You'll get a more natural expression, Wolfe says. Ask questions to get a sense of who your subject is, and what they are passionate about. "I sit down on the floor with the children I photograph and just play with them before I take their picture, so they open up and act more natural," Wolfe says.
GET TO KNOW YOUR SUBJECT
TIPS FOR BEGINNERS
Practice, practice, practice, "It's the skills the person behind the camera has that make the photos good, not how expensive the equipment is or how many megapixels the camera itself has," Bell says.
It's not necessary to have the most expensive camera available, if you are familiar with your camera's features and how to use them. Needham says to explore the Internet and watch tutorials on different techniques and how to use camera settings. "There is so much good information on the Internet, combined with the instant feedback of a digital camera that can really help you improve quickly, so take advantage of it," he says.
KATIE JAMES
09
15
11
dmscott@kansan.com
"Kids are so adaptable. The stressors we see are getting used to a new school and the stigma that may come with the label 'shelter kid' or 'homeless kid'," said Jennifer Davis, the case manager at the Lawrence Community Shelter. "Luckily, so many of them are going to the same school that they
Students know the challenges of waking up for that 8 a.m. class. But some students — much younger students — understand a different struggle. These students, along with getting up early, must make their way from the Lawrence Homeless Shelter. In the morning, a group of 17 children woke up and shared two showers and two toilets along side 14 adults. After getting ready they went up stairs and waited with 40 more adults for breakfast, or walked to school and received a free meal at school.
MORGAN LAFORGE/KANSAN
According to the Kansas Point in Time Homeless Count for Douglas County, a biannual report, the Lawrence school district counted 100 children ages K-12 who were homeless in 2009 and 149 in 2011, accounting for a 49 percent increase.
Johanna Moon, a student at Cordley Elementary, leans on the front door of Lawrence Community Shelter early Thursday morning as she waits to go to school. There is a large number of families with children elementary age that are currently living here.
Davis has seen a dramatic increase in family homelessness in Douglas County.
the past, it would be just one new kid coming from the shelter. He or she would stand out a little bit more."
The school district defines homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act, which includes families that are double-up or staying with family or friends.
The shelter began its Family Program at the end of 2008. In 2009, there were 14 families with 24 adults and 24 children in the program. In 2010, there were 50 families with 67 adults and 83 chil-
viduals here struggling. Their selfesteem is being damaged each day they're here. Their self worth is
dren. So far this year, the shelter is serving 11 families with 14 adults and 21 children, 17 of which are in school.
big situations with an information about the issue up front rather than waiting until the end of the year would help them navigate potentially dangerous situations better, she added.
The main goals of the week were to increase awareness and educate the campus about sexual assault. Each day this week, volunteers had a table on Wescoe Beach set up where students could take a pledge to hold others accountable for their actions and try to put an end to sexual assault.
Students could also decorate bandanas in honor of a victim of sexual assault and learn more about what sexual assault is and what resources are available for assistance with a different
"We have families and indi-
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part of the week.
KANSAN a poster saulted this week
Today, volunteers will discuss the importance of bystander intervention. The GaDuGi SafeCenter will also host two events over the weekend to raise awareness and money to prevent sexual assault.
"We want to make sure they know how they can help and how they can be an advocate," said Heath. "And we want them to know its not just a women's issue. We want to make it okay for men on this campus to be able to talk about it seriously and try to help prevent it on our campus."
Index
Edited by Josh Kantor
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All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
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