Photography lesson for teachers

Rule 1: Engage your brain. You need to think to take a good photo. You don't need the best equipment, good photographers can take wonderful photos with a soda can and a pinhole.

Rule 2: Turn off the flash. The flash will make your photos look flat. Most digital cameras will take an acceptable photo in natural light in a classroom.

Rule 3: Be deliberate. Those old guys with glass plate cameras couldn't waste a shot so they took lots of care about framing, focus, foreground, background, etc. And their photos are better than yours because of it. Beware of the snapshot. Lots of bad photos do not make a good photo.

Rule 4: Don't stand the subject in front of the window. Have the window behind you. Move the subject over so something darker than they are is behind them.

Rule 5: Don't stand the subject up against the wall. Move the wall several metres behind the subject. Beware of poles and trees growing out of their heads. It might look OK in 3D but photos are 2D and a tree growing out of your head is not a good look.

Rule 6: Bend your knees. If you are taking a photograph of children, get down to their level, or below.

Rule 7: Take a look at the background. Is it interesting? Would it be a good photo without the subject in it? If not, move the subject. The background becomes more important in 2D.

Rule 8: Often the first photo in a series is the best. Go figure.

Rule 9: Frame your shot in the viewfinder. Get in closer. Bend those knees. Never cut off the subjects hands or feet. Having hands in the photo is better than no hands.

Rule 10: Take a look at the photos you take. Do they suck? Why do they suck? Try not to do that next time.