I have learnt, from this task, how to use my DSLR camera successfully. The first techniques we experimented with was changing the aperture (F stop) and shutter speed. Aperture refers to how much light the camera lens is letting in. The smaller the F stop the more light gets through, meaning everything in the frame is in focus. Whereas, if the F stop is larger less light is let through meaning the background is often more out of focus. Shutter speed refers to how long the shutter is open. If you use a low shutter speed lots of light can enter the lens and a high shutter speed is used when less light is required.

The other techniques that are key to consider when producing a photo with a narrative are:

• Distance – How close to the camera is your subject? If using a close up we see the subjects emotions and if it’s a longer shot we can see the surroundings more clearly.
• Angle – Are you looking down or up at your subject? Looking down at a subject, using a high angle, represents they are vulnerable and using a low angle suggests the subject is powerful and superior.
• Framing – Where is your subject positioned within the frame?

Above are contact sheets consisting of all the photos my group and I took when experimenting, using these different angles, framing and camera techniques to produce photos with a narrative behind them.

These skills that I have learnt from this practice photoshoot will be very helpful when it comes to doing my photoshoot for my music magazine. I will now be able to use angles, distances and framing to create images with a clear narrative.