Newspapers / University of North Carolina … / Feb. 7, 1958, edition 1 / Page 5
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FEBRUARY 7, 1958 THE CHARLOTTE COLLEGIAN Page 5 Photography Hints Are Given For The Weekend Snapshooter BY GEORG EKILLOUGH Because of considerable comment about our last column on photog raphy, we are following- it up with another. The purpose of this month’s article is to give some helpful ideas to people with simple cameras. It is not necessary to own an expensive camera to make inter esting, commendable pictures; indeed, fine equipment helps the photographer and greatly increases the versatility of his medium, but a box camera, utilized to the ut most, can produce photographs that are superior in most way:? to those made by an expensive ma chine in careless and inexperienced hands. From the foregoing, one would gather that the secret of making good photographs lies in the skill of the photographer, whatever tool he may use; for a camera is, first and last, a machine; it is a faithful slave, obeying every command of its master. It has no brain, no soul, no discretion or discrimination: these attributes must be possessed and used by the photographer. Most Brownie owners are inter ested in one type of picture: portraits of the family. It is inter esting to note, in passing, that we rarely see any amateur efforts in the frame on top of the piano, but rather professional portraits; yet more film is now being sold to the snapshooter than ever befoi'e. The reason is obviously that the week end photographer has not yet learned to make attractive pictures that are worthy of display with his simple tool. It is our mission to make suggestions that may remedy that situation. The composition of a picture is something that defies description CAVALARIS SKATING RINK OPEN HOURS 3:00-5:00 Mot. 7:30-10:30 Night Sot. 9:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Private Parties Morehead Bowling Automatic Pinsetters Open Alleys Every Night 915-919 E. Morehead St. ED 4-3761 Me? 1 lite Cote' beS+ EOlSTCHeO or definition; let us be content to say that it is the relative arrange ment of subject matter within the picture. The object is to place the main subject in such a manner that it is not crowded but occupies enough space. It sounds simple, but it is a big order. The amateur portrait shooter would do well to place the head of the subject in the upper half of the picture about nalfway between the top and the center so that the eyes fall on a line about one third down the frame. The best advice in regard to composition is to study some good photographs — even paintings— until the knack tor this difficult phase of the medium is acquired. In photographing a person, careful attention should be given to the background, a detail which is so often completely overlooked. A cluttered or distracting back ground behind a perfectly good subject mars the picture; great care should be taken to select a background that is as simple as possible. The sky is an excellent backdrop, but to use it a low camera angle is usually necessary. Grass generally serves well as a ready made background; water is another good possibility. The point is this: the subject deserves all the attention without having to compete with a background that catches the viewer’s eye at first glance. It goes without saying, of course, that an experienced oper ator can use various backgrounds to create different moods, but the beginner would do well to keep the;n as simple as possible. When using a simple camera, one must bear in mind that there is no way of focusing the lens; in manu facture, the instrument has been pre-set to cover a field from about six feet from the camera to infinity (as far as the eye can see). With this limitation, the photographer must remember that everything Labouisse & Couch, Inc. Cotton Brokers -ATLANTIC- EXPERT SERVICE • LUBRICATIONS o OIL CHANGES • WASH AND WAX T. A. McNeely's Atlantic 1257 East Boulevord Compliments of The KAY JEWELRY CO. Always on The Square ARNOLD JEWELERS Frank V. Taylor Regisiered Jeweler and Certified Gemologist— American Gem Societi/ 207 S. Tryon St. Phone ED 2-6727 3,1 JlaUlt HfecorJ JJit Pa r k e r-Gardner Company 118 West Trade - Since 1898 - Phone EDison 2-8257 within this field will be in reason ably sharp focus; if the camera is brought too close to the subject, a sharp image will not be regis tered. But at six feet, almost the entire figure of the subject is taken in; there are times when it is desirable to move in closer. Most simple cameras are designed to accept a supplementary close-up lens which almost any camera dealer can supply. It is wise to take the camera along when making this purchase. Such lenses are in expensive (between a dollar and a half and three dollars) and con siderably enlarge the scope of a box camera. But one must be careful; once the supplementary lens is in place, the field of focus no longer extends to infinity; the data sheets that comes with the lens will give all necessary infor mation. A careful estimation should be made of the distance between camera and subject and care should be taken that this distance coin cides with the recommended dis tance in the data sheet. The next consideration is that of lighting. Direct sunlight, con trary to popular belief, is not the most desirable portrait lighting. While sunlight may be used very effectively, it is harsh and hard on the subject; it gives strong high lights and very deep shadows and expressions that are generally strained. The ideal illumination prevails when there is a very slight overcase and lighting is soft with indistinct shadows. It is not neces sary to be concerned as to whether the light is strong enough; modern snapshot films have speed to burn. The beginner should pay careful attention to the angle at which the light strikes the subject's face. For women and children the angle should be closer to head on, but for men, character lines may be emphasized by a more angular lighting. Backlighting (the sun behind the subject, but not directly behind) is the most dramatic of all types of lighting,, but the Brownie enthusiast should tread with caution; a little experimentation is the best guide. Posing is probably the most dif ficult consideration in the photo graphing of human beings. There is a diversity of opinion among the best-known professional photog raphers as to whether a subject should be posed or caught un awares by the camera. There is a great deal to say on both sides. Posed subjects can be exceedingly i stiff and artificial, but the candid j approach can result in miles of ex- I posed film. One should consider a ! compromise between the two meth ods: the subject should be placed ; in a favorable setting in a general ' sort of pose, preferably with the body partially turned to one side rather than head on. The usual commands of “hold it!” or “say cheese!” are worth little to most photographers. The subject should be engaged in conversation, his consciousness of the camera allevi ated. The photographer must be forever on his guard to catch the fugitive expressions that are so characteristic of the subject. Enough has been said to give the reader some ideas. He should now dust off the Brownie, pur chase two or three rolls of film, take the family to the park (or backyard) on a Sunday afternoon, and seek out the creative approach to snapshot photography. C. C. Stu(dents Invite(d To U. N. C. Open House The following- is a letter to the ('oilejrian from The School of Med icine, The University of North Carolina: “The Physical Thei-apy Depart ment of the North Carolina Me- ' morial Hospital in Chapel Hill is having’ “Open House” on Wednes day, February 19 from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. and cordially invites all stu dents and faculty members who are interested in the subject to attend. There will be guided tours through 35 Students Make Fall Dean’s List Dean’s List for the fall quarter of 1957 has been released by the office showing two students with “A” averages and •'!.'! students with “B” averages. The following students made the Dean’s List: “A’s” John Earl Bal lard, Loretta Ann Young. “B’s” Essa James Bishara, David Louis Bohannon, William P. Calvert, William Wesley Clayton, Charles Leslie Cruse, Vickey Reece Eagle, Arthur C. P'arris, Richard Vernon Fuller, Albert J. (iarmon, Jim M. Gulley, James Rodney Hicks, Mary Gayla Hinson, Blake P. Hudson, Wayne Lee Kenimer, Johnny Mc Kinley Kirby, David Nixon Little, Frank Earl Lownam, Robert Eugene McCathern, Albert Osborne McEntire, Clifford McLean, Jr., Tommy Clark Miller, Roger Ed ward Palmer, Patrick Newton Parker, Alan Edward Pressman, Thomas J. Reddeck, William Louis Riley, Robert (ilenn Robertson, Harold Schwartz, Julia McManus Spurrier, Jacob Lightsey Wallace, Amzie Reid Wentz, Terry Eugene Wilkinson, Charles Bogart Wyatt. HERALD PRESS Offers You A Complete Printing Service 1930 Camden Rd. the department, demonstrations in the use of various pieces of e(iuip- ment and their application in the treatment of patients. Members of the faculty of the Section of Phy sical Therapy will be available to answer questions regarding the program as offered by the Uni versity. “This open house is in conjunc tion with the observance of PHYSICAL THERAPY WEEK which has been designated by Gov ernor Luther Hodges as the week of February 17 in the State of North Carolina. This recognition of the profession is designed to acquaint the citizens of the State with physical theiai)y, what it is, the services lendered to members of the community and the state, and programs available in North Carolina for Physical Therapy ed ucation. “The University of North Caro lina now offers a program for Physical Therapy education. This is a four year college curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therajjy. This program is designed to educate qualified therapists to meet the growing demand throughout the state and is open to both men and women. “Groups planning to attend are asked to send a post card to the Physical Therapy Dejiartment, North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, to inform them of the number of persons planning to at tend and the ajiproximate time of arrival.” Cordially yours, Margaret L. 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University of North Carolina at Charlotte Student Newspaper
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Feb. 7, 1958, edition 1
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