Taking Better Photos for Telling Stories in Your Library
Michael Porter, Cindi Trainor (slides), Helene Blowers (slides)
____________________________________
It’s about this:
…learn techniques for shooting and editing better photos, camera settings that make for the best photos, and basics of editing an image. Learn how to capture library events more effectively and artistically, take and select better photos for websites and promotional materials. Licensing work and finding others via Creative Commons will also be covered.
And we’re talking about this:
- who
- why
- pictures can tell a story in an instant
- pictures document events
- we already do amazing things
- we have amazing visual stories to share
- many opportunities to to capture valuable moments
- programs, special and everyday events
- displays
- board meetings
- behind the scenes
- documenting our successes with photos communicates the library’s value to the community
- how
- leave cameras out for staff to use
- establish guildelines for staff taking shot
- plan for specific types of images you can repurpose
- make it a daily/weekly habit
Seven principles of design
- balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical
- rhythm: movement, pattern, repetition
- emphasis: focal point
- contrast: variety
- unity: harmony
- proportion
- scale
Seven elements of design
- line
- shape
- form (mass)
- light (value)
- texture
- space
- color
Presentation principles
- rule of thirds
- use of three equal sections (horizontal or vertical) in a 2D space
- each section can stand alone as it’s own image
- variation on the sections can create interesting photos
- “the golden mean” (it’s about math and design; just look here)
- unity
- color
- negative space
- white space
- rhythm & repetition
- balance
- fonts as graphic elements
- personalization
- simplicity
- balance
- humor
- have fun!
- experiment!
Libraries and Librarians flickr photo group: use it!
Example of libraries using photography on a regular basis
Useful flickr plugins
The Legal Handbook for Photographers (book) covers expectations for privacy
The Photographer’s Right (PDF) explains the rights of photographers
Libraries and Librarians flickr group has ongoing discussion about photo permissions/legal issues, etc.
The camera should not be a crutch!
Know the process. What makes a good photo?
- shutter speed: how long the shutter is open
- ISO: film speed
- the lower the number, the more light is required to hit the film
- raising ISO can create digital noise (grain)
- stick with 100 or 200
- aperature: size of lens opening
- wides aperature (lower number) lets in more light
- wide aperature=narrow depth of field
- depth of field helps to isolate the subject
- shooting in RAW format allows more control over the image post-processing
- captures all light that hits the sensor
- photo processing software allows user to control color, contrast, etc.
Shooting in JPG leaves interpretation of the scene to the camera
Know the camera
- camera modes
- focus points
- aim for center point, then recompose to rule of thirds
- move closer to the subject as needed to fill the frame
Know the light
- color temperature (white balance)
- if available light is hard to balance, convert to black and white
- natural light is great for portraits
- first and last few hours of sunlight are good for photos
- longer shadows add interesting detail
- flash
- whenever possible, avoid the on-camera flash
- use flash for fill when subject is shadowed
- work with natural light whenever it’s available
Tricks
- no need for fancy backdrops. use what’s available, like blankets
- take as many pics as you can
- don’t delete shots from memory card unless…
- the photos is obviously a bad shot
- the photo exists in two other places in the world (e.g., computer hard drive, flickr, server)
Photo editing tools
Books
- Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson
- The Digital Photography Book by Scott Kelby
- Real World Camera RAW by Bruce Fraser
- The Photoshop CS3 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
- Exposure Photo Workshop by Jeff Wignall
- Lighting Photo Workshop by Chris Bucher
Websites & blogs
Photography can enhance the library’s website by drawing users from graphic elements to text content, resources, etc.
Tools for creating photo content have become cheap and free. The rest depends on talent.
(SIDE NOTE: I BROKE 1000 ON MY FLICKR ACCOUNT WITH UPLOADS FROM TODAY’S SESSION. SEE PHOTO #1001 HERE!)
Tools
The library brand is about our community
Marketing has gone from “mass” to “niche”
People have gone from being “consumers” to “multisumers” with roles of consumer, customer, user, participant, producer
The Renaissance Generation by Patricia Martin
Cultural consumers thrive on informaiton and ideas to fuel their creative self-expression
Developing strategies for the Web
- What strategic elements do we need to engage our users and get their support?
- ENGAGE
- enable customers to connect with library staff, its services, and with each other in meaningful ways so they can feel connected
- ENRICH
- provide our customers with a rich online experience that enhances their local branch experiences and daily lives so that they feel their getting value
- EMPOWER
- enable our customers to personalize their library experience and allow our community to celebrate and feel good about themselves
- Social photo sites allow us to save and share images long past the time when we no longer have the technology that we did when the photo was first taken.
It is important to remember that ‘viral’ is not about the brand… it is actually about the users — about me an dyou. If i forward a ‘viral’ piece I will do so, because it says something to you about ME. it provides me with SOCIAL CURRENCY. -Gavin Heaton
The best way to get customers to market your brand is to allow them to promote you by marketing themselves.
Filed under: ALA2009, conference notes, learning, marketing and outreach, multimedia, photography | No Comments »
