How to Take Professional Pictures

1) Shutter Speed & Aperture Settings

2) The Essential Elements

3) The Tone Range

4) Revealing Texture

5) Capturing Form

6) Composition

7) Depth & Perspective

8) Balance & Proportion

9) Discovering Pattern
 Shutter Speed & Aperture Settings

The two main controls on a camera are the shutter speed and the aperture - f stop which
indicates the size of the diaphragm.

Shutter Speed - A very fast shutter speed will “freeze” a moving object giving
overall definition. The slower the shutter speed the more blurred and undefined the
object will become.

Aperture – As the value of each f stop increases, the diaphragm closes and cuts the
amount of light admitted in half. The exposure time must be doubled for every f stop
closed down if exposure is to be kept constant.

Largest to smallest opening:

F2, F2.8, F4, F5.6, F8, F11, F16

Shutter speeds – Fastest to slowest:

1/60 sec., 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, 1/4 , 1/2, 1 sec.

 The Essential Elements

The essential elements of photography are: Color – Tone – Shape – Form – Texture –
and Pattern. All photographs must contain some of these regardless of subject matter,
and you will probably choose to stress one more than others. The result will be your
individuality as a photographer – your own way of seeing things.

When we take a photograph we are trying to capture the effect of a three-dimensional

world, transmitting it into two dimensions on the photographic print.

Shape – More than any other element, helps us to identify the subject of the photograph.
When tone and colors are suppressed, or when form is excluded, you are left with an
outline, with a shape, or silhouette.

Tone - Is a word used to describe the degree of contrast between the light and dark areas
of a subject.

Color – Can be used to create contrast as well. For example, a brilliant orange set against
a somber blue. Color is the element in a picture that we obtain the most emotional
response. Everyone can say whether or not they care for a particular color.

Form – Roundness, Depth & Volume - By adding tone and color to shape, we try to give
the sense of form. Form is extremely important to a three-dimensional effect. LIGHT &
COLOR create graduations of tone to form.

Texture – Texture in a picture conveys the tangibility of an object. It make the viewer
want to reach out and touch it.

Pattern – The repetition of shape either organized or accidental. It is not necessary for
shapes to be identical to make a pattern. Pattern demands our attention and breaks up
form and emphasizes the flatness of surfaces.

Each of these elements is revealed by light.

 The Tonal Range

In simple terms, tone is the strength of grays between white and black. It relates to
brightness, lightness and darkness, and varies according to the direction and intensity of
illumination. Any picture, whether black & white or color involves a tonal scheme since
the grays making a tonal range may also be mixed with color.

It is important that tones relate to the subjects, especially where the intention is to create a
strong emotional response. Examples, dark tones are often associated with mystery and
light tones with freedom, space and softness. In this way, you can capitalize on the effects
of light, turning them to your advantage. If the scene is lit by harsh light, you may choose
to make a high-key picture where the concentration is on the highlights, eliminating the
shadows entirely.
 Revealing Texture

Used in a descriptive manner, texture plays an important role in almost all successful
photographs. Texture can suggest depth, without giving volume. And in photography, it
will increase the illusion of a three-dimensional image.

One of the ways to emphasize an object’s character is to enlarge it photographically to

larger than life-size.
 Capturing Form

Form is the quality where tone – or the apparent shading of an object – describes its
solidity. It can be the most exciting aspect of photography, because the camera is able to
record the infinite gradations of tone which, when added to shape, bring your picture to
life.
 Composition

Composition is the arrangement of separate elements, establishing an arrangement

between them to create a unified effect. They can include shape, tone, color pattern
texture and form. To this we add the elements of depth and perspective. In the majority of
pictures, the subject is the first thing to attract the viewer’s eye. If the arrangement is
well-composed the eye will be led around the picture, away from the main subject, to
explore the subordinate elements before returning to the main subject.
 Depth & Perspective

Depth in a picture is expressed by the spatial relationship between foreground and

background, and the diminishing size of those objects on the ground plane, as they recede
into the distance. Depth, with form, are the elements that most create the illusion of three-
dimensionality in your pictures but depth can create an imbalance if too greatly stressed
in one area of the picture.
 Balance & Proportion

The large areas of the picture, or the areas of mass, should be arranged to give a feeling
of balance. Dark areas contrasting with light areas, simple shapes used with complex
ones, highly detailed areas relating to large, empty ones and so on….
 Discovering Pattern

Pattern is an important aspect of photography because it can enhance pictorial effects by

arranging components to make them more pleasing to the eye. It can make harmony from
chaos. You will discover pattern in rows of houses or bunches of trees. The aim of
creative photography is to make an interpretation of a visual experience, and not just
record an image!

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