Rules of Photography
There are many rules of photography, there are rules regarding each of the following:
Planning Stage
• Unless you are doing event photography you need to have a plan
• Do a storyboard to organise the compositional nature of your photographs
• Who or what is your subject
• Make sure you have the props and lighting you may require for your shot
The Camera
• Types of cameras and how to use each
• How to Focus
• How to use the Shutter Speed
• How to use the aperture
• Understanding light in relation to each of these
Composition
• Eliminate distracting elements
• Rule of Thirds
• Lines
• Filling in Frame / Headroom
• Camera Shots
• Camera Angles
Using the Black Bag
• Ensuring you have all the right equipment before you begin
• Ensuring all equipment is dry
• Make sure you only touch the edge of the film when loading it onto the reel
• The Tank needs to be sealed tight with the negatives enclosed before opening the black bag
Developing the negatives
• Ensuring you have the right equipment
• Ensuring you have the right chemicals, and the right quantity of each chemical
• You need a timer
• Running water
• Somewhere to dispose of your chemicals
• A squeegee and a place to hang your negatives to dry
Darkroom Processes and Procedures
• Make sure only the safety lights are on
• Always keep your paper enclosed within its container, take one piece out at a time. Any exposure to light will render your
paper useless
• Ensuring you have the right chemicals, and the right quantity of each chemical
• Have a visible clock in the room, keep an eye on the time your paper is in each batch of chemicals. You do not want to rush
this process.
• Be mindful of others in the room.
• Pay attention to your teacher and his/her directions…they know what they are talking about.
