Telling A Story
In our Photography 101 workshop, I discuss how composition helps us to tell the best story in our images. One of the ways we achieve great storytelling is through the usage of cropping. In this video and article, I want to show you guys how cropping can be a powerful way to compose a picture and tell a great story.
Cropping helps us to decide what story to tell in the image by dictating what is included and what is excluded. The difference between composition and cropping, however, is that cropping is more focused on the overall story and theme and allows us to focus in on more specific details of the story.
For example, we created a cute picnic scene with a couple shown in the image above. However, if I had just taken wide shots, capturing only the wider context of the scene, then you lose focus on the overall details of the story.
I love the strawberries in the picnic scene, and I think that their feet dangling off the wall looks cute. The power of cropping lies in capturing the details of an overall scene which contribute to the over-arching theme of the shoot. So I focus in on some detailed shots of the overarching scene and utilize the power of cropping to tell a great story.
Conclusion
In the end, what we produce is a collection of pictures that highlights different components of an entire story, resulting in a stronger and more elegant product.
CHAPTER 1: BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY CONCEPTS
- 1.1 – Photography 101 Trailer
- 1.2 – The Workshop Format
- 1.3 – The Camera is Simply a Tool
- 1.4 – How Does a Camera Work
- 1.5 – How to Adjust Shutter Speed, Aperture, ISO
- 1.6 – Exposure Triangle
- 1.7 – Exercise: Practice Adjusting Aperture, Shutter Speed, and ISO
- 1.8 – What is a Stop of Light
- 1.9 – Reading Exposure via the Histogram
- 1.10 – Blown Highlights or Clipped Details
- 1.11 – 6 Tips to Understanding White Balance and Color Temperature
- 1.12 – Assignment: Histogram and Highlight Alert Practice
- 1.13 – Assignment: Mixed Lighting
- 1.14 – Quiz on Chapter 1: Basic Photography Concepts
CHAPTER 2: UNDERSTANDING EXPOSURE
- 2.1 – No Such Thing as the Correct Exposure
- 2.2 – How to Measure or Meter Light
- 2.3 – 8 Key Points to Understanding ISO and Image Quality
- 2.4 – Exercise | Understanding ISO
- 2.5 – Understanding the 3 Primary Metering Modes
- 2.6 – How to Get Perfect Exposures in One Shot
- 2.7 – Assignment: Portrait Using Spot Metering
- 2.8 – Equivalent Exposure but Different Images
- 2.9 – Compensating for Light and Dark Scenes
- 2.10 – Quiz on Chapter 2: Understanding Exposure
CHAPTER 3: FROM AUTO MODES TO MANUAL
- 3.1 – Starting with Automated Modes
- 3.2 – Auto Mode and Flash-Off Mode
- 3.3 – Exercise: From Auto Modes to Manual
- 3.4 – Portrait Mode on a Fashion Shoot
- 3.5 – Assignment: Outdoor Back-lit Portrait
- 3.6 – Landscape Mode on the Beach
- 3.7 – Assignment: Long Exposure
- 3.8 – Sports or Action Mode/a>
- 3.9 – Assignment | Sports or Action Shot
- 3.10 – Macro Mode with Food Photography
- 3.11 – Assignment | Food Photography
- 3.12 – Creative Effects Mode – Floral Photography
- 3.13 – Exercise | Creative Auto Modes
- 3.14 – In-Camera Processing
- 3.15 – Exercise | Pictures Styles and Picture Control
- 3.16 – A Glimpse Into Raw Processing
- 3.17 – Quiz on Chapter 3: From Auto Modes to Manual
CHAPTER 4: SHARP IMAGES AND FOCUSING TECHNIQUES
- 4.1 – AI Servo with Action Shots
- 4.2 – 15 Tips for When You’re Having Trouble Focusing Your Camera/a>
- 4.3 – 3 Primary Types of Autofocus
- 4.4 – Single Shot with Portrait Session
- 4.5 – Assignment: One Shot Focusing Mode for a Sharp Portrait
- 4.5 – Landscape Mode on the Beach
- 4.6 – Single Shot with Action Shots
- 4.7 – Assignment | Focus Recomposing and AF Selection
- 4.8 – Focus Recomposing vs AF Point Selection
- 4.9 – Assignment | Focus Recomposing and AF Selection
- 4.10 – Shutter Speed and the Reciprocal Rule
- 4.11 – How to Hold a Camera and Panning Tutorial
- 3.13 – Exercise | Creative Auto Modes
- 4.12 – Assignment | Panning
- 4.13- Quiz on Chapter 4: Sharp Images and Focusing Techniques
Chapter 5: COMPOSITION, ARTISTRY, AND CREATING GREAT IMAGES
- 5.1 – How to Find the Right Light Direction
- 5.2 What Makes a Great Photograph
- 5.3 How to Capture Candid Moments
- 5.4. Assignment | Candid Moments
- 5.5 Assignment | Flattering Cast Natual Light
- 5.6 Basic Compositional Theories
- 5.7 Assignment | Symmetry
- 5.8. Assignment | Leading Lines
- 5.9 Assignment | Rules of Thirds
- 5.10 Assignment | Triangles and Geometry
- 5.11– Assignment | Negative Space
- 5.12 – The Power of Cropping
- 5.13 Color Schemes
- 5.14 Assignment | Color Schemes
- 5.15 Diving into the Narrative
- 5.16 Assignment | The Narrative
- 5.17 If It’s not Working With, It’s Probably Working Against
- 5.18 Quiz on Chapter 5: Composition Artistry and Creating Great Images
Chapter 6: LEARNING MORE ABOUT YOUR CAMERA
- 6.1 10 Tips on Buying Gear
- 6.2 More About Your Camera and Lenses
- 6.3 Understanding Megapixels
- 6.4 Crop vs. Full Frame Cameras
- 6.5 Crop vs. Full Frame Cameras Demonstration
- 6.6 Prime vs. Zoom Lens
- 6.7 How the Lens Affects Composition
- 6.8 Exercise | Lens Compression
- 6.9 RAW vs. JPEG | The Ultimate Visual Guide
- 6.10 5 Tips on Memory Cards
- 6.11 Quiz on Chapter 6: Learning More About Your Camera
Chapter 7: BONUS
- 7.1 Posing and Action Shots with Female Model
- 7.2 Posing and Lighting with Female Model/a>
- 7.3 Posing and Lighting Couple Portraits
Total Course Run Time: 6H 30M 21S
