While on a recent year 9 school camp out in the bush (about 400km north-north-east of Perth),l I was asked to run a quick photography lesson. The intention was to give the students some photography tips before they spent some time shooting photos for a photography competition.

bushwalking

Mount Edon, Western Australia

I had prepared some brief notes before-hand, and thought it would be worthwhile posting them here on my blog. I started by talking through a number of photography rules.

a student taking a photo
Warrdagga Rock, Ninghan Station, Western Australia
1. There are exceptions to every rule.
   I'm sure most of you have heard about the rule of thirds and numerous other photography rules. Remember that these are only guidelines - they are not rigid rules that you must adhere to. There are certainly situations where you can break these rules.
2. It's not about the gear.
   Having better / more expensive camera gear doesn't necessarily mean your photos will be better. Know how to use your gear, and understand the various settings, including all the modes. Know the limitations of your gear, such as the minimum focus distance, maximum ISO you can use before you get too much noise, maximum aperture your lens supports, etc.
3. It's all about the light.
   Photography is all about capturing the way the light falls on something, so learn to appreciate shadows and direction of lighting. The time of the day is also important, as it has a big impact on the lighting. The golden hour is the first and last hour of sunlight in a day, and the blue hour is the time of twilight in the morning and at night - both great times for photography.
4. Don't share all your photos - share your good photos.
   Only share your good photos. Don't share too many photos of the same thing, and cull out the bad photos first. People aren't interested in seeing 50 photos of the same thing!
5. Print more photos.
   In this digital age, people don't print enough of their photos, and only look at them on the screen. Take the time to print some of your photos and hang them on your fridge or make a photo board. Make a photo book of your photos from a holiday or trip.
6. Take more photos.
   The best way to improve your photography is to take more photos. Carry a camera with you, and make a point of using it.
7. Try different angles.
   Too often people only shoot from eye height while standing. Vary your viewpoint by getting down low, get up high and shoot down, get closer, etc.
8. Be aware of the background.
   Always think about the background when taking a photo. It is not ideal to have a sign post growing out of the back of someone's head! If appropriate, use a large aperture to decrease your depth of field to blur the background.
9. Shoot silhouettes.
   When the sun is lower in the sky, try shooting silhouettes by getting the sun behind the object or person that you are photographing.
10. Take photos according to a theme.
    As a photography exercise, it can be worthwhile to try taking a series of photos that all adhere to a specific theme. For example, take photos of objects that are a specific colour, or look for a specific shape or pattern. Try only long exposures, or try only short exposures.
11. The best camera is the one that's with you.
    That's a saying attributed to well-known photographer Chase Jarvis, who emphasised the fact that if you have a camera with you, you are more likely to take photos of things that matter. (He created an iPhone app called "Best Camera", published a book of his iPhone photos, and created a website to allow people to share their iPhone photos.) In this modern age, many people have a capable camera built into the smart phone that in their pocket, and many people need to use it more than what they do!

unknown

Warrdagga Rock, Ninghan Station, Western Australia

I then followed up with some tips for photographing wildflowers.

• Think about the light source, light intensity, light direction, and shadows.
  Bright sunlight will cause harsh shadows, especially if it is directly overhead. An overcast day is great, as the clouds provide a soft diffuse light. If there are no clouds around, create your own shade on the item being photographed.
  

  Everlasting (Rhodanthe chlorocephala)

  Warrdagga Rock, Ninghan Station, Western Australia
• Watch your background.
  You do not want a bright background when photographing wildflowers. Ideally, you want a background that is darker than the flower, as it will help highlight the flower in the photo. Use a short depth of field to ensure only the flower is in focus, and everything in the background is out of focus.
• Watch your focus.
  It is important to get the right part of the flower in focus.
• Think about your viewpoint.
  Don't only photography flowers from above, looking down. Try getting right down on the ground, so you can shoot the flower from ground level.
• Know your gear.
  Know how your camera focuses, understand how to select different focus points, and know the minimum focus distance of your camera/lens.
• Watch the wind.
  Wind will blow flowers back and forth, and can make it challenging to get sharp photos. Use a fast shutter speed to freeze the motion, try blocking the wind, and take multiple photos.
• Leave no trace - take only photos, and leave only footprints.
  Watch where you step, to ensure you don't unnecessarily damage vegetation. Don't litter, but take your rubbish with you, and don't pick any wildflowers.