Photographic print sizes

Now, when we take photographs we pay attention to composition in the viewfinder, but did you know you should be paying attention to how the image will look in different print sizes that are available?

A lot of cameras today record photographs in roughly a 3:2 ratio. This means that the long side is 1.5 times as long as the short side is. That's the reason 4x6 has become a popular print size today. Now, when we look through a viewfinder it is this size that we see and generally compose our pictures with it. But the ratios are not the same for all standard print sizes and that means you image will be cropped to some extent.

An image at 5x7 or 8x10 size has ratios are different than the 4x6 format print. Now, prints at the 5x7 size have a 3.5:2.5 ratio print size. Note that the long size is 1.4 times as long as the short side is. Photographic prints at the 8x10 size have a 5:4 ratio print size. Here, the long side is 1.25 times as long as the short side is. It's often easier to think in terms of the length multiplication factors instead of the actual ratios of the sides.

If you are shooting images (such as portraits) where enlargements are likely, you need to leave some extra room on the long side of your image so that important items are not cropped out. When you plan for the squarest ratio (the 8x10 print), you should almost always be able to crop a nice image out of your original. Many standard prints are not exact matches to one of these three ratios, but few are below the 8x10 length multiplication factor of 1.25, so shooting for 8x10 format should allow room for nice cropping.

Here are the standard Print Sizes and their length multiplication factors:

• 4x6 - 1.5
• 5x7 - 1.4
• 8x10 - 1.25
• 10x13 - 1.3
• 11x14 - 1.27
• 10x20 - 2
• 16x20 - 1.25
• 20x24 - 1.2
• 20x30 - 1.5

Now, how you have your image processed and printed can be just as important, or more important, than the image. The print is your presentation of your image. Always make sure its a good presentation by understanding your different considerations.

Who will print your photographs is a huge decision to make. The biggest difference between amateur photographers and professional photographers was the labs they used. A professional's negatives and raw images looked little better than an amateur's because of the lab. Labs that offered individualised processing and cropping made the images match the photographer's vision of the image. Some photographers prefer to process their own images so they retain complete control over the creation. Remember, photography processing should not be taken lightly or decided upon quickly.

Balanced composition

Informal balance gives uneven or unequal balance in the picture. When you have a large object in the picture it should be counter-balanced with a smaller object or objects to make a good layout.

Imagine a seesaw with a 5-year-old boy on one side and his Father on the other. The balance will be uneven as the father is larger and will make the seesaw heavier. Now the boy will be high in the air and the Father will be on the ground.

Now, in a photo scene, if you have a large tree on the right side of the picture frame then you must try to balance it with a smaller object such as a house, a small tree or even the figure of a person on the other side of the picture. The ways you balance the objects in your picture frame will determine the success or failure of the photo. You will have to resort to the use of different types of lenses in order to create the balance you require.

A very wide angle lens can create unbalanced composition very easily by taking the objects in front of the lens up close. The front objects will appear very large in the picture frame while the rear or distant objects will appear smaller even though they are actually larger still.

One way to create unequal balance is to find a position that will cause one object to appear larger or smaller because of the angle you took the shot. When you are out creating photographs be sure to keep these rules about balance in mind and try to incorporate them.

Smack in the centre is a definite no, no in good photo-composition rules. With the main subject right smack in the centre of the picture area it is called a Bull's Eye composition. Avoid this at all times, unless you have a definite reason for doing so. When the main subject is in the center of the picture frame the eye will go in to the picture and stay in the center of the frame looking at the main subject and will not move around in the picture to see and enjoy any other items in the image. now, the eye will get tired very fast and lose interest in the photo.

The purpose in taking photographs is to have people look at them, enjoy them, and talk about them. When they cannot get interested in a photograph they will not bother to look at it. It's best to always have the main subject off-centre in the image. Just a little off-centre it will improve the picture's composition.

Black & White photography

A huge benefit of digital photography over regular film picture taking is the fact these little devices actually give a photographer instant access to many different special effects and filters. Perhaps the most spectacular of these effects is the ability digital photography gives to switch instantly from colour to black and white. Instead of having to change out film types or drain color from a shot on a computer screen, digital photography does this immediately.

Black and white photography tends to be under-rated and underused. If it’s used to create an impact with a shot, the resulting image can be stunning. For example, landscapes, portraits and even still life type shots can all benefit from an occasional switch over to black and white reproduction. Tale time to learn how to take full advantage of this digital photography technique.

Black & white digital photography can be a little tricky to master, but since the cameras generally come equipped with monitors to instantly see results, the risk factor of walking away with a bad shot is minimial. Pictures can be reviewed on the spot, anyone trying this digital photography technique will find they can see their pictures and make adjustments instantly if the shot isn’t quite what they’d planned.

You neeed to make the most of black and white pictures taken on a digital camera, and there are several tips beginners can use. Some of these tips do talso ranslate to regular film photography.

It's a very important technique for black and white digital photography and even colour - to see the shot. Pay attention to what the camera sees and shows before snapping the photo. With black and white digital photography, the monitor will likely switch over to black and white mode, which makes this simple. Pay attention to the images as they are presented and make sure the image presented is the one you want before you take the photo. Learn to rely on the monitor or the view finder, and you’ll know when more light is needed, when subjects need to be moved or even when it’s best to move.

Mono contrast is important - because black and white digital photography doesn’t rely on colour to tell the story, the contrast of shades will need to be carefully chosen. The right contrast is one of the most important black and white shooting tips. It's important to make sure subjects stand out even more so in black and white than in colour shots. Whilst a dark blue shirt might look awesome against a dark green setting in color, it will likely get lost in a black and white image.

Lighting is a factor - while that dark shirt and dark background can present problems in contrast, lighting can help solve the problem. A good way to master lighting for this type of digital photography is to play around and be willing to experiment to see what works. Try to use the black and white settings in all kinds of situations to really master what needs to be done under different circumstances to effectively light up a scene.

Mastering the black and white setting on a digital camera can be fun. Providing drama and impact, black and white imaging is a different way to record the world.