Competent Communication Manual
Project #3: Get to the Point
Speech Title: What Makes a Good Photographer
Delivered at: PIPCA Riyadh Toastmasters Club
Evaluated by: CTM/CL Jojo Bollozos
Introduction
May I ask the audience in the left to stand up and join your colleague in the right? TM Fritz please move towards the back, and TM Ben please move forward. I want you to give me sweet smile. [Identify who did not smile] TM xxx a little smile more, please. Okay, everyone look at the camera and smile [point and click the camera on the group]. One more… wacky smile [point and click the camera]!
Salutation
Fellow toastmasters, ladies, gentlemen, and visitors good evening! Let us return to our seats now and be seated. When I asked you to smile, a while ago, did you ever hesitate to obey my request? I guess none. You were all cooperative.
Tonight, let me share to some good tips on what makes a good portrait or people photographer
Body
By today's definition, a person who holds and uses a camera is easily labeled as a photographer. Anyone can be a photographer without really understanding the mechanics of photography, as long as he or she can point a camera towards the subject and able to take a snap. Let us change that impression tonight.
There are three challenges that you should always remember when taken a picture.
The Technical Challenge
First is the technical aspect. This would sound scary for most of us that is why we rely on the Auto or P mode on our camera and never bother to switch to other mode. That is all right! Modern camera has improved dramatically such that difference between the pictures taken using Auto mode versus those taken by professional with complex setting may no longer be noticeable for the untrained eyes.
Advance users would like to experiment on the Aperture Mode, which is highly recommended for low light scenarios, and for making a blurred background thus creating a 3D effect. If you want to take a picture of your running kids, you might as well consider using Shutter/Time Mode. This is the setting appropriate for sports and moving subjects.
Whether you are shooting in Auto or professional setting, always be cautious with the direction and source of light. Take note, good natural lighting gives beautiful rendition of color. Flash and artificial light such as fluorescent light can give off-tone colors. That should explain why you look like zombies in some of your night pictures.
The Artistic Spectrum
The second challenge that you should remember in photography is the artistic aspect.
How you compose the subject, and how you position the subject relative to the shooter plays critical role in achieve a good picture. To illustrate my point, take a picture of smiling person but with straight body then compare it with the picture of the same smiling person but with angled face and curved body position. I am sure; the latter would draw more attention than the first one. This artistic component is called proper posing.
Be observant with the sizes of your subjects too. This means height and width. Placing the slender subjects in front and the chubby one on the far end gives a balance on the picture. Likewise, avoid placing a tall subject alongside a short subject. You would not like to appear like Frodo the hobbit when standing besides a tall person ala-Shaq O'Neil, right?
And to make the picture it more pleasing to the eye, be particular with color coordination. The rainbow is the best color pattern in nature. You could follow this pattern with your subjects unless you want to emphasize one particular color over the other.
The Command or Control challenge
The third challenge that you should always remember is control or command over your subjects.
This is always the most difficult and troublesome aspect in photography. You need to be stout hearted and firm, but at the same time sweet and charismatic. Ironical, is not it? How can you be sweet and the same time authoritative? That is for you to discover by experience and practice.
Building rapport and being in control of your subject is the most important aspect of portrait photography. Before lifting the camera, make sure that you talk to the subject make them comfortable at your presence. Try to bring out the unguarded and relax personality of the subject. If you succeed in doing that, you can easily control the subject; how to smile, when to smile, and how to pose - naturally.
Conclusion
Let us recall what we have done a while ago. I observed the three challenges that I just discussed with you.
First, I checked the source and direction of the light. Since I was in hurry to take the picture, I just set the camera to Auto Mode. That was the Technical Challenge
Second, I studied the proportion of your sizes and the coordination of the color of your clothes. I rearrange you to hide the "well-endowed" bodies behind the well proportionate ones. That was the Artistic Challenge
And lastly, I displayed control over the subjects – all of you – when you followed my instructions without hesitations. That was the Command or Control Challenge.
Closing
In parting my fellow toastmasters, I want you to remember the next time you stand in front of a camera that as the model, you can influence the result of the picture. If your photographer does not know what to do, you can suggest the tips that I gave you. Believe me; you will look better in the pictures.
Back to you toastmaster of the evening
