"Just What Makes a Good Image?"
Underwater photography is unique in some ways due to the environment. However, that does not mean that the rules of art and composition can be ignored when it comes to determining when an image is bad, good, or great.
In this workshop, Kandace Heimer and Dennis Deavenport will explore the 3 critical elements that separate mundane images from great ones. Helping them will be a select panel of HUPS best to share their views on what they like in a set of images and why they choose one over another.
To start the program, Dennis and Kandace will give a short presentation on the three critical elements that they feel should always be considered when judging the merits of any picture:
- Technical merit: Focus, exposure, depth of field, proper use of strobes, camera positioning
- Compositional merit: Subject placement, negative space, elements of composition
- The “Wow Factor”: Subject rarity & interest, interaction & unusual behavior, speaking to the viewer, tells a story, exceptional composition & color, drama, mood, humor.
During the workshop, all participants will be asked to judge the demonstration images on these 3 values and then compare their results with those of the panel and presenters. Discussion and interaction between the audience, panel, and presenters will be encouraged to allow everyone free rein in expressing their opinions of “Just What Makes a Good Image?”.
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When it comes to selecting images for the expert panel and the audience to judge and critique, you and I need to sit down with the candidate images and jointly agree which ones will best suit our purposes.
I see us trying to emphasize things such as:
Technical merit:
> Proper focus
> Proper exposure
> Depth of field
> Proper use of strobes
- backscatter control
- shadows & control of shadows for depth and interest
- natural/correct positioning of light direction
- shooting for blue water backgrounds
> Basic camera positioning
- shadows
- shooting down vs up
Compositional merit:
> Subject placement
> Negative space
> Elements of composition
- rule of thirds
- on the diagonal
- repetition
- motion (or room for the subject to "move" into the image)
- use of color
Wow factor:
> Subject rarity or interest
> Interaction shots
> Facing the camera
> Unusual behavior
> Exceptional composition
> Exceptional color
> Environmental issues
We hope to see you there!
These Workshops are for you and I would really like to hear from anyone with any future Workshop ideas by Clicking Here
Greg Grimes
HUPS DEA |
