C HEC KLIST

PHOTO-
GRAPHY
NOTES

Do-it-yourself exercises for home and university.

 Picture Composition 1
Intro
PHOTOGRAPHY Welcome
Search
themes
ries
fortomany
this set
of experiments
different
of photography
motives that exercises.
fit the following
and rules: and tasks you will be able to learn
more about using photography equipment and picture
In a se-

• Golden
editing software
Ratio to your advantage. You can follow
• Lines
these exercises
/ Angles with
/ Distribution
any camera/that Vanishing
allowsPoint
for
• Lines and Surfaces
• Manual
Sharpness change
/ DOFof Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO
• Change
Movement of /Focal
Frozenlength
Movement
(or interchangable lenses)
• Suitable
Complementarybrands (butColors
not limited to) i.E. Canon, Nikon,
• Panasonic,
Contrasts Sony, Olympus, ...
• Phone
Contures cameras will NOT work for many of these ex-
• ercises.
Symmetry
• In the Software-Department, Photoshop is highly
Takerecommended.
pictures of these An alternative
motives and could
put bethem
Affinity
into Pho-
your
Photo to. folder.
EditingMakeis notuse
covered
of the in
fullthis
photo
set of
frame
exercises,
and don’t
but
hesitate
can enhance
to play witha photo
settings
greatly.
and Don’t
/ or different
hesitate tolenses
ex-
to capture
periment! your motives. Produce at least three pictures
for this exercise. Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives.
To getAyoutripod
started:
can beMake a useful
a folderaccessory.
in your Microsoft
Watch outOne for
GDPRand
Drive rulesgetandready
don’ttotake
sharepictures
it on Canvas.
of people
For every
without
of
theirfollowing
the permission. exercise sheets, make one subfolder. Into
these folders add your results from each practice sheet
-Goal:
if there
Looking
is questions
for motives
that need
in light to of
becertain
answered,principles
add a
helps shape
simple text file
yourthat
perception.
contains your It becomes
results. easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
thisthe
At exercise.
end of the sprint, submit a link to your One-
Drive-folder in Canvas. This will be the sprint assignment.

Good to know...
• There of
• Many willthese
be no additional
principles assignment
and for researched
rules can be this sprint besides these
easily on theexercises.
web.
• You will be judged on craftmanship, quality,
• Dare to break rules for an interesting picture.effort and completion of all exercises.

Icon: smashicons
Picture:
Photo: Jan
Icon:Salge,
smashicons
Klaus Schmidt, Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST
☐ Acquire a camera with manual settings for Aperture, Shutter and ISO.

☐ Make a OneDrive Folder that is sharable

☐ Generate subfolders in your OneDrive: one for each of the Exercises 1-13 -

Exercise 12 and 13 are higher difficulty and optional to reach an excellent assign-

ment grade.
NOTES
 Picture Composition
Camera Usage 1 - Basics
1
PHOTOGRAPHY Explore for
Search yourmany
themes and rules:
camera:
different motives that fit the following

• Find the battery compartment

• Remove
Golden Ratioand reconnect the battery
• Search
Lines / Angles
for the / memory
Distribution
card /slot
Vanishing Point
• Find
Linesthe
andmainSurfaces
switch
• Check
Sharpnessthe / battery
DOF level
• Set
Movement
date and / Frozen
time inMovement
the Settings menu
• Check
Complementary
the availableColors
space on the memory card
• Find
Contrasts
the options for deleting and formating the
• memory
Conturescard in the settings menu
• Format
Symmetry the memory card
• Find the setting AF / MF for your lens
TakeSet
• pictures
the Focus of these
to AF motives and put them into your
Photo
• Reset
folder.
all camera
Make use settings
of the full photo frame and don’t
hesitate to play with settings and / or different lenses
to capture
• What isyourthe manufacturer
motives. Produce name at and
leastcamera
three pictures
model
for this
of your
exercise.
camera? Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives.
• What
A tripod
kind can
of Focus
be aModes
useful accessory.
has your camera?
Watch out for
GDPR
• How rules
do you
andset don’t
focus
takepoints?
pictures of people without
theirWhat
• permission.
resolutions, pictures sizes and quality settings
does your camera offer?
Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles
helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• While many settings are named the same, there is some differences in between camera
• Many of these principles and rules can be researched easily on the web.
manufacturers. It’s good to get familiar before doing more complex tasks.
• Dare to break rules for an interesting picture.
• Always reset and charge an ISSD camera before giving it back.

Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon: smashicons
Photo: Klaus Schmidt, canon Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST

☐ Check out your camera hardware and Software as outlined on the left.

☐ Make a text file in your OneDrive to answer the questions on your left. Add

Screenshots or pictures to make the explanations easier to understand.

NOTES
 2. Hidden Faces
PHOTOGRAPHY Hunt for pictures that show “hidden faces”. In this spe-
cial picture style, everyday devices, houses and things
look like faces. You can use automatic camera settings
for this exercise.

However, don’t hesitate to use camera settings, lenses

and focus to your advantage. Find at least three hidden
faces for this exercise and put them into the folder for
this exercise in your picture library. A tripod might be
useful to capture these motives.

Goal: Searching for motives under a certain theme

trains your perception.

Good to know...
• You will see faces everywhere after this exercise, don’t freak out! :)
• In the 1990s there was an official Pokémon camera that “enhanced” analogue photos with
famous Pokémon.
• Yes, this specific “Good to know” box has very limited usage and relevance.

Picture: Klaus Schmidt, Buzzfeed Icon: smashicons

C HEC KLIST

☐ Find and photograph at least three hidden faces

☐ Put the results into your OneDrive as part of the assignment

NOTES
 Picture
3. Camera
Composition
Usage 2 - 1Programs
PHOTOGRAPHY Explore for
Search
themes
test
your
photo
many
camera
andeach:
rules:
different
and try
motives
the following
that fit modes
the following
with a

• Program
Golden Ratio modes (P) without flash - these modes set
• Shutter,
Lines / Angles
Aperture
/ Distribution
and ISO automatically
/ Vanishing Point
• Shutter
Lines and priority
Surfaces
(S or Tv)
• Aperture
Sharpnesspriority
/ DOF(A or Av)
• Sport
Movement Mode/ Frozen Movement
• Portrait
Complementary
Mode Colors
• Macro
Contrasts Mode
• Full
Contures
Manual Mode (M)
• Symmetry
What are your results? What parameters and settings
Take you
can pictures
influence
of these
in each
motives
of these
and putmodes?
them What
into your
do
Photo programs
these folder. Makehaveuse
in of
common,
the full photo
where frame
lie differences?
and don’t
hesitate
What is each
to playmode
withgood
settings
for?and
Try /tooravoid
different
changeslenses
in
to capture
focal lengthyour
while
motives.
doingProduce
this exercise.
at leastTrythree
the pictures
settings
for this
with moving
exercise.
and non-moving
Try to avoidobjects
the strobe
to spot
for the
thesediffer-
mo-
tives. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch out for
ences.
GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people without
their example
Safe permission. pictures for each program in your picture
library. Document your findings in a text file that refers
Goal:
the fileLooking
names. for motives in light of certain principles
helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• It’s
Many notof
bad
these
to rely
principles
on (semi)-automatic
and rules can be
modes
researched
for your easily
photography.
on the web.
A good photographer
• knows
Dare to when
break
to rules
take for
thean
wheel
interesting
themselves
picture.
and when it’s ok to rely on the camera.

Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon: smashicons
Photo: Nikon, canon Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST

☐ Safe example pictures for each program in your OneDrive picture folder for

this exercise.

☐ Document your findings in a text file that refers the file names.
NOTES
 Picture
4. Camera
Composition
Usage 3 - 1Waterfall
PHOTOGRAPHY For this exercise
Search
themes
sition
for manyadifferent
achieved
and rules:
tripod (ormotives
a stable,
that
static
fit the
camera
following
in another way, for example on a table)
is highly recommended.
po-

• Golden Ratio
• Lines
Take multiple
/ Angles
pictures
/ Distribution
of fast moving
/ Vanishing
water Point
(think: Wa-
• Lines
terfall - ifand
available,
Surfaceslake with heavy wind, or well... your
• Sharpness
shower works too)
/ DOF
with same or similar framing and com-
• Movement
position. Make /sure
Frozen
to set
Movement
focus to MF after initial focus-
• Complementary
ing so that it does not Colors
change from picture to picture.
• Contrasts
Set your camera into Shutter Priority mode (S, in some
• Contures
models Tv) and change the shutter speed for every pic-
• Symmetry
ture. Make sure to have very low and very high settings
in your series of pictures. If available, an ND filter might
Take
be helpful.
pictures
Do of
notthese
use the
motives
flash for
andthis
putexercise.
them into your
Photo folder. Make use of the full photo frame and don’t
hesitate
What aretoyour
playresults?
with settings
How could
and /youor different
use the effects
lenses
to capture
you see to your
youradvantage
motives. Produce
for picture
at least
compositions
three pictures
and
for this exercise.
different motives?Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch out for
GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people without
their permission.

Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles

helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• The results you find are also relevant for photographing other fast moving things... sports,
• Many
cars orofpeople
these principles
going for and rulesoffers
special can be researched
in the easily on the web.
supermarket.
•
• Dare to break
The shower canrules for anfor
be useful interesting picture.
other tasks as well: it is an excellent place to contemplate life
or to practice singing.
Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon: smashicons wikipedia Althepal - Icon: smashicons
Photo: omnivagant.com,
C HEC KLIST

☐ Safe example pictures for each Shutter Speed in your OneDrive picture li-

brary.

☐ Document your findings in a text file that refers the file names.
NOTES
 Picture
5. Camera
Composition
Usage 4 - 1DOF
PHOTOGRAPHY For this exercise
Search
themes
sition
for manyadifferent
achieved
and rules:
tripod (ormotives
a stable,
that
static
fit the
camera
following
in another way, for example on a table)
is highly recommended.
po-

• Golden Ratio
• Lines
Take multiple
/ Angles
pictures
/ Distribution
of a close/ by
Vanishing
object Point
(or person)
• Lines
with sameand or similar
Surfaces framing and composition. Set your
• Sharpness
camera into Aperture
/ DOF Priority mode (A, in some models
• Movement
Av) and change / the
FrozenAperture
Movement
opening for every picture.
• Complementary
Make sure to have very Colors
low and very high settings in
• Contrasts
your series of pictures. If available, an ND filter might
• helpful.
be Contures Do not use the flash for this exercise. If you
• Symmetry
have a lens with variable focal length, the effect will be
stronger when zoomed in. Alternatively, using a tele-lens
Takealso
will pictures
enhanceof these
the effect
motives
drastically.
and put them into your
Photo folder. Make use of the full photo frame and don’t
hesitate
What aretoyour
playresults?
with settings
How could
and /you
or different
use the effects
lenses
to capture
you see to your
youradvantage
motives. Produce
for picture
at least
compositions
three pictures
and
for this exercise.
different motives?Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch out for
GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people without
their permission.

Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles

helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• Bonus task! In a dark environment with lights in the background focus on something close-by
• Many of these principles and rules can be researched easily on the web.
while having the aperture wide open.
• Dare to break rules for an interesting picture.
• Look up the term “Bokeh”.

Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon: smashicons
Photo: towardsdatascience.com, wikipedia Althepal - Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST

☐ Safe example pictures for each Aperture in your OneDrive picture library.

☐ Document your findings in a text file that refers the file names.
NOTES
 Picture
6. Camera
Composition
Usage 4 - 1Noise
PHOTOGRAPHY For this exercise
Search
themes
sition
for manyadifferent
achieved
and rules:
tripod (ormotives
a stable,
that
static
fit the
camera
following
in another way, for example on a table)
is highly recommended.
po-

• Golden Ratio
• Lines
Take multiple
/ Angles
pictures
/ Distribution
of an environment
/ Vanishingof your
Pointchoice
• Lines
with sameand or similar
Surfacesframing and composition. Set your
• Sharpness
camera into any
/ DOF
mode that allows you to adjust the
• Movement
ISO level and change
/ FrozentheMovement
ISO setting for every picture.
• Complementary
Make sure to have veryColors
low and very high settings in
• Contrasts
your series of pictures. If available, an ND filter might be
• Contures
helpful. Do not use the flash for this exercise.
• Symmetry
What are your results? How do ISO levels influence the
Take pictures
photos you take?of these
What ISO
motives
leveland
wouldputyouthem
try to
into
choose
your
Photo
in whichfolder.
situation?
Make use of the full photo frame and don’t
hesitate to play with settings and / or different lenses
to capture your motives. Produce at least three pictures
for this exercise. Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch out for
GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people without
their permission.

Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles

helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• While “Grain” is often a desired effect in video for a more vintage and cinematic look, high
• Many of these principles and rules can be researched easily on the web.
ISO noise is usually considered looking cheap.
• Dare to break rules for an interesting picture.
• The noise your neighbor makes can sadly not be adjusted in your camera settings.

Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon: smashicons
Photo: originalartphotography.co.uk, pexels.com - Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST

☐ Safe example pictures for each ISO Setting in your OneDrive picture library.

☐ Document your findings in a text file that refers the file names.
NOTES
 Picture
7. Picture
Composition
Composition
1
PHOTOGRAPHY Search for many different motives that fit the following
themes and rules:

• Golden Ratio
• Lines / Angles / Distribution / Vanishing Point
• Lines and Surfaces
• Sharpness / DOF
• Movement
Motion blur//Frozen
FrozenMovement
Movement
• Complementary Colors
• Contrasts
• Contures
• Symmetry

Take pictures of these motives and put them into your

Photo folder. Make use of the full photo frame and don’t
hesitate to play with settings and / or different lenses
to capture
capture youryour motives.
motives.Produce
Produceat atleast
leastthree
five pictures
for this
this exercise
exercise.andTry add
to avoid
a textthefilestrobe
that refers
for these
your file-
mo-
tives. A and
names tripod
thecan
composition
be a useful
principle
accessory. thatWatch
you used.
out Try
for
GDPR
to avoid rules
theand
flashdon’t
for these
take motives.
pictures A oftripod
people canwithout
be a
their permission.
useful accessory. Watch out for GDPR rules and don’t
take pictures of people without their permission.
Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles
helps shape
Goal: Lookingyour
forperception.
motives in light
It becomes
of certaineasier
principles
to find
interesting
helps shapepicture
your perception.
opportunities
It becomes
the moreeasier
often you
to find
try
this exercise.
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• Many of these principles and rules can be researched easily on the web.
•
• Many
Dare to of break
these principles
photography andrules
rulesfor
cananbe researched
interesting easily on the web.
picture.
•
• Dare to the
Stick to break rules
GDPR for an
rules interesting
to avoid picture.
spending the money you saved for your next camera on
fines.
Icon: smashicons
Picture:
Photo: Jan
Icon:Salge,
smashicons
Klaus SchmidtIcon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST
☐ Research the principles on the left

☐ Take at least 5 pictures - making use of as many principles as possible and

put them into your OneDrive library.

☐ Document which rules you used in a text file that refers the file names.
NOTES
 Picture
8. Foreground
Composition
Background
1
PHOTOGRAPHY Search for many different motives that fit the following
themes and rules:
theme:

• Foreground
Golden Ratio / Middleground / Background
• Lines / Angles / Distribution / Vanishing Point
• Lines
Take pictures
and Surfaces
of these motives and put them into your
• Sharpness
Photo folder. Make
/ DOF use of the full photo frame and don’t
• Movement
hesitate to play/with
Frozen
settings
Movement
and / or different lenses to
• Complementary
capture your motives.Colors
Produce at least three pictures for
• Contrasts
this exercise. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch
• Contures
out for GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people
• Symmetry
without their permission.

Goal:pictures
Take Looking of
forthese
motives
motives
in light
andofput
certain
themprinciples
into your
Photo shape
helps folder.your
Make perception.
use of the full
It becomes
photo frame
easier
and todon’t
find
hesitate to picture
interesting play with
opportunities
settings and the
/ more
or different
often you
lenses
try
to capture
this exercise.
your motives. Produce at least three pictures
for this exercise. Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch out for
GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people without
their permission.

Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles

helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• Many
Pictures
of seem
these more
principles
interesting
and rules
andcan
balanced
be researched
when there
easily
is some
on the
depth
web.to them
• https://photojeepers.com/using-foreground-middleground-background/
Dare to break rules for an interesting picture.

Icon: smashicons
Picture:
Photo: Klaus Schmidt, photojeepers.com Icon: smashicons
Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST

☐ Take at least 3 pictures making use of the outlined pictrue composition prin-

ciple and put them into your OneDrive library.

NOTES
 Picture
9. Portraits
Composition 1
PHOTOGRAPHY Go lookfor
Search formany
themes and rules:
photography).
inspiration
different(portrait
motives photography,
that fit the following
Take a look at the work of famous pho-
tographers on the subject.
glamour

• Golden Ratio
• Linesfor
Search / Angles
a willing/ subject
Distribution
to take
/ Vanishing
portrait Point
pictures of.
• Lines
Take a series
and Surfaces
of portrait pictures with different settings
• Aperture,
for Sharpnessfocal / DOF length, shutter speed. Try to take the
• Movement
framing into account
/ Frozen andMovement
instruct your subject to pose
• ways
in Complementary
that you thinkColors
look good. Put the results into your
• Contrasts
Photo folder. Produce at least three portrait shots with
• Contures
different settings.
• Symmetry
What settings are particularly nice for portrait photog-
Take pictures
raphy? How do ofchanging
these motivesfocal and
lengths
put and
them lens
into
selec-
your
Photo
tion (iffolder.
available
Make touse
you)ofinfluence
the full photo
proportions
frame and anddon’t
the
hesitate to play with settings and / or different lenses
background?
to capture your motives. Produce at least three pictures
for this
Edit yourexercise.
photographs
Try tobyavoid
usingthe Photoshop
strobe for
to tune
thesecolors
mo-
tives.skin
and A tripod
tonescan
andbe composition.
a useful accessory.
Make sure Watch
to put out
both
for
GDPR
the edited
rulespicture
and don’tas well
takeaspictures
the original
of people
into yourwithout
One
their permission.
Drive Folder.

A tripod
Goal: Looking
can be for amotives
useful in
accessory
light of certain
for this principles
exercise.
helps shape
Watch out for
yourGDPR
perception.
rules andIt becomes
don’t take
easier
pictures
to find
of
interesting
people without
picture
their
opportunities
permission. the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• Focal length can influence facial features. Can you find the sweet spot?
•
• Many of the
Look up these principles
term and rules
“background can be researched
compression”. It can be easily on the
incredibly web.
useful for cluttery environ-
• Dare to break rules for an interesting picture.
ments and is impossinle zto reproduce with phone cameras.
• Directing your portrait subjects is one of the most important skills as a photographer.
Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon:Salge
Photo: Jan smashicons
Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST
☐ Search for inspiring portrait images online and in magazines. Add them to

your OneDrive in a folder called “Inspiration”.

☐ Take many portrait photos of a willing subject and explore how settings and

focal length influence the pictures and proportions.

☐ Select your three absolute best portraits and put them into your OneDrive

Photo Library

☐ Add a simple text file that outlines why you chose settings and focal length for

your top three and how your result relates to your inspiration.

☐ Edit your portrait photos with photoshop, upload original and edited picture

to OneDrive
NOTES
 Picture
10. Landscape
Composition
/ Architecture
1
PHOTOGRAPHY Look upfor
Search
themes
ern
photographed
many different
architecture.
images
motives on that
the subject
fit the following
and rules: Analyze and describe the images in
terms of photographic techniques:
of mod-

• Golden Ratio
• Framing
Lines / Angles / Distribution / Vanishing Point
• Composition
Lines and Surfaces
• Viewpoint
Sharpness / DOF
• Exposure
Movement / Frozen Movement
• Depth
Complementary
of field Colors
• Contrasts
• Contures
Apply the gained knowledge capturing your own imag-
• ofSymmetry
es modern architecture. Focus on the shapes and lines
of the buildings, not so much on the surroundings. In this
Take pictures
manner, you canof these
experiment
motives
with andFraming
put them/ Composi-
into your
Photo
tion / folder.
Viewpoint Make/ Exposure
use of the/full
Depth
photoof frame
field yourself.
and don’t
hesitate to play with settings and / or different lenses
to capture your motives. Produce at least three pictures
OR
for this exercise. Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives.
do theAabove,
tripod but
canwith
be afocus
useful
onaccessory.
landscapeWatchphotography
out for
GDPR rulesis and
(whatever easier
don’t
where
takeyou
pictures
live!) of people without
their permission.
After: Edit your photographs by using Photoshop to tune
Goal: Looking
colors, reducefor distracting
motives in details
light of andcertain
composition.
principles
helps shape
Make sure toyour
put both
perception.
the edited
It becomes
picture aseasier
well to
asfind
the
interesting
original intopicture
your Oneopportunities
Drive Folder. the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• Focal length can distort straight lines. Can you find the sweet spot?
•
• Many of either
You can these principles and rules
go for landscape orcan be researched
architecture easily on
photography forthe web.
this exercise. I understand
• Daresome
that to break rulesmight
villages for an interesting
not picture.
offer much in terms of modern arcchitecture.
• Landscapes are always willing subjects but are usually resistant against directing.
Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon:Salge,
Photo: Jan smashicons
Wikipedia Rosemoon Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST
☐ Search for inspiring landscape or architecture images online and in maga-

zines. Add them to your OneDrive in a folder called “Inspiration”.

☐ Take many landscape / architecture photos and explore how settings and

influence the pictures and proportions.

☐ Select your three absolute best photos and put them into your OneDrive Photo

Library

☐ Add a simple text file that outlines why you chose settings and focal length for

your top three and how your result relates to your inspiration.

☐ Edit your landscape / architecture photos with photoshop, upload original

and edited picture to OneDrive

NOTES
 Picture
11. Background
Composition
compression
1
PHOTOGRAPHY For this for
Search exercise
many different
themes andlenses,
changable
you will motives
need a that camera
fit thewith
following
rules: at least two lenses with differen focal
lenths or a camera capable of (non digital!) Zoom. If
inter-

• Golden
this is not avialable
Ratio to you, search on the web for exam-
• Lines
ples of this
/ Angles
technique.
/ Distribution / Vanishing Point
• Lines and Surfaces
• Sharpness
Take multiple pictures
/ DOF of the same subject with different
• Movement
focal lengths. Keep
/ Frozen
the focus
Movement
on your subject, and move
• Complementary
the camera further away Colorswhen you zoom in so that the
• Contrasts
subject always has roughly the same size in the frame
• Contures
(read: when zooming in, move further away).
• Symmetry
Assess how the background changes based on your dis-
Take pictures
tance and settings.
of these
What
motives
is happening?
and put them How into
can your
you
Photo
use thisfolder.
to your
Make
advantage.
use of thePutfullyour
photo
picture
frameresults
and don’t
and
hesitate
your findings
to play
in awith
simple
settings
text file
and into
/ or
yourdifferent
OneDrive.lenses
to capture your motives. Produce at least three pictures
for this exercise. Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch out for
GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people without
their permission.

Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles

helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• Many
This effect
of these
is purely
principles
physial
andand
rules
at the
canpresent
be researched
time can’t
easily
be emulated
on the web.
digitally by phone
• cameras
Dare to break
(contrary
rulesto
forDOF,
an interesting
that can bepicture.
emulated quite well by now).

Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon:Salge,
Photo: Jan smashicons
colesclassroom.com Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST
☐ Take many pictures of the same subject with different focal lengths, while

moving away or closer to the subject so that it takes roughly the same space in

the frame.

☐ What can you observe? How can this be useful?

☐ Add your pictures and a text file with your findings to your OneDrive library
NOTES
 Picture
12. LowComposition
Key / High Key
1
PHOTOGRAPHY This is afor
Search bonus
many
exercise:
themes and rules:
different motives that fit the following

Research
• Golden theRatio
terms Low Key and High Key Photography
• Lines
and find some
/ Angles
inspiration.
/ Distribution
Choose/ Vanishing
one of thePoint
styles and
• to
try Lines
emulate
and Surfaces
them as much as possible as an exercise.
• Sharpness
Use lights, flash
/ and
DOF light modifiers (for example a thin
• Movement
layer of fabric /toFrozen
soften the
Movement
light - watch out when using
• Complementary
hot light sources! FireColors
hazard).
• Contrasts
Take some photos of your chosen style and choose the
• Contures
best one. Finally, edit the picture in Photoshop to finish
• Upload
it. Symmetry the results into OneDrive

What pictures
Take camera of settings
these do
motives
you need
and toputset
them
to make
into your
this
Photo folder.
work? What light
Makesource
use ofdid
theyou
fulluse?
photo
Howframe
did and
you mod-
don’t
hesitate
ify the light
to sources?
play withWhat
settings
is your
andediting
/ or different
workflow?lenses
to capture your motives. Produce at least three pictures
for this exercise. Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch out for
GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people without
their permission.

Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles

helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• This is a Bonus exercise. It is not mandatory and has higher difficulty but will allow you to
• Many of these principles and rules can be researched easily on the web.
reach higher grades for this sprint.
• Dare to break rules for an interesting picture.
• I will be low key proud of you if you finish this exercise.

Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon: smashicons
Photo: Zoom.nl, Mike Hilton (Behance) Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST
☐ Search for inspiring low key / high key images online and in magazines. Add

them to your OneDrive in a folder called “Inspiration”.

☐ Prepare your scene and take either low or high key photos to explore how

settings and different light sources influence the pictures and results.

☐ Select your absolute best photo from this exercise and put it into your One-

Drive Photo Library

☐ Edit your photo with photoshop, upload original and edited picture to One-

Drive

☐ Add a simple text file that outlines why you chose settings, light source and

how you decided on editing. Also outline how your photo relates to your inspiration

pictures.
NOTES
 Picture
13. Lightpainting
Composition 1
PHOTOGRAPHY This is afor
Search bonus
many
themes and rules:
exercise:
different motives that fit the following

Research the term “Lightpainting” and find out how to

• it.
do Golden
Look up Ratio
what you need to make a lightpainting
• Lines
photo yourself.
/ Angles
Choose
/ Distribution
a subject/ as
Vanishing
well as Point
fitting light
• LinesIfand
source. possible,
Surfaces
get a friend to help you with this, it
• Sharpness
makes it much/ easier.
DOF Make sure to obey the rules in
• Movement
your country - i.E.
/ Frozen
nightlyMovement
curfew regulations when doing
• Complementary Colors
lightpaintings.
• Contrasts
• tripod
A Contures
or stable camera position is absolutely needed
• Symmetry
here. Not all cameras might be able to do this.

How do
Take pictures
you dooflightpainting?
these motivesWhat
and seetings
put themareinto
need-
your
Photo folder. Make use of the full photo frame and don’t
ed?
hesitate to play with settings and / or different lenses
to capture
Produce, edit
yourand
motives.
upload
Produce
your final
at least
resultthree
to your
pictures
One-
for this
Drive library.
exercise. Try to avoid the strobe for these mo-
tives. A tripod can be a useful accessory. Watch out for
GDPR rules and don’t take pictures of people without
their permission.

Goal: Looking for motives in light of certain principles

helps shape your perception. It becomes easier to find
interesting picture opportunities the more often you try
this exercise.

Good to know...
• Many
This is of
a Bonus
these exercise.
principlesItand
is not
rules
mandatory
can be researched
and has higher
easily
difficulty
on the web.
but will allow you to
• reach
Dare to higher
breakgrades
rules for
foran
this
interesting
sprint. picture.

Icon: smashicons
Picture: Icon: smashicons
Photo: Photofacts.nl, Benjamin Pehlke Icon: smashicons
C HEC KLIST
☐ Research the technique “light painting” on the web

☐ Prepare your scene and do some light painting with the help of a friend and

using different light sources.

☐ Select your absolute best photo from this exercise and put it into your One-

Drive Photo Library

☐ Edit your photo with photoshop, upload original and edited picture to One-

Drive

☐ Add a simple text file that outlines why you chose settings, light source and

how you decided on editing.

NOTES
C HEC KLIST

THANKS!
NOTES

This do-it-yourself photo course has been de-

signed by Jan Salge for use at Fontys Hogeschool
ICT Media in the pandemic 2021, with friendly
support by Klaus Schmidt, Technische Hochschule
Mittelhessen.