By Cari Cooney
At the end of each November, many American families join together to celebrate loved ones, football, and food. We call this day Thanksgiving. On this day, we enjoy excessive amounts of food and fun.
With family and friends united, you may want to capture the moment on camera. Here are some helpful tips for the amateur photographer in us all. There's magic in holiday celebrations and some of these tips will help you convey that magic through pictures.
If you want to have photos you're actually thankful you took of your tasty holiday celebration, follow these hints.
Candid camera
Many of us may experience Thanksgiving in modest homes. When friends and relatives arrive for the festivities, you will find them spread out around the house before the big meal. To capture the atmosphere, take candid photos.
This simply means walking around with your camera taking pictures of people in their natural state. Don't ask them to pose or smile. In a few minutes they'll forget you're taking the pictures and act naturally.
Shutter speed
It would be best for you to set your camera's shutter speed at the fastest setting. This way, you can walk from room to room, snapping pictures quickly. You'll avoid blurry images if you're moving while shooting.
It's also helpful to have a fast shutter speed when you attempt candid shots, so that you'll get a crisp image if your subject suddenly moves (and they will). Remember, a true candid shot means that the subject is unaware he or she is being photographed.
The gotcha here, of course, is that a fast speed captures less light, so make sure you're using a flash properly if the room isn't really well lit.
Zoom
You may find out that zooming in on your subject increases the appeal of the photo. If you want to snap a picture of two people having a conversation, zoom in on them. Having too much background or other people in the shot can clutter the image, and what you were hoping to capture could be lost in the jumble. Do it quickly, as these candid moments disappear quickly.
Here are two pictures that will help you see what a difference zoom can make in the artistic appearance of your photos. Since my relatives aren't over for Thanksgiving yet, I had to take pictures of this quite nice cornucopia.
Figure A shows a lovely fall centerpiece is the attention of the photograph. This shot really doesn't do it justice.
FIGURE A
The table looks empty here. We can do better. (click for larger image)
To make the still life "pop", zoom in as shown in Figure B.
FIGURE B
The zoom function makes this picture "pop." (click for larger image)
When it comes to candid photography of your friends and relatives, keep framing in mind, but get the shot. You can always play with the crop function in your photo editor once they all go home.
Pose the impossible
The most important picture you can get is one that includes everyone. A great shot would be where everyone is sitting at the dinner table. You can capture this image by using a few tricks to help you perfect the moment.
Of course, this won't help you get your camera-shy relatives ready to "say cheese." You're on your own for that one!
Assert the position
To make everyone's smiling faces visible in a large table shot, you'll need to arrange the chairs a certain way. You can pull them out from the table and give them a small turn towards the camera. Figure C shows an empty table with the chairs set up correctly for a group shot. Notice the slight angle of the side chairs facing the camera's position.
FIGURE C
Notice the chairs are turned towards the camera. The front chairs should be out further than the back. (click for larger image)
This arrangement makes the table inviting, it just draws you right in.
To make sure everyone is visible, pull each side chair out a little less than the one before. Everyone will have their own "level" in the picture, and you'll be able to see more of them, not just their heads. The chairs in back can be left as is, and if anyone is in the front with their back to the camera, you can either move them to the side, or give their chair a quarter turn.
Another way to ensure a good shot is to elevate yourself. Stand on something (make sure it's stable) to raise yourself up a few feet. Look at Figure D for an example of an elevated angle.
FIGURE D
It's much easier to see everything when standing above the level of the image you're trying to take. (click for larger image)
This method works well when you're trying to incorporate not only people, but also your food. You'll have a clear bird's eye view of the table and can capture your guests, and the guest of honor: the turkey! You can turn the chairs just like the previously discussed Figure C shows, and combine both techniques to snap this shot.
Red-eye and getting yourself in the shot
Don't forget to set the red-eye function on your camera, if you have one. There will always be one family member with red eyes (no, not your mother-in-law) no matter how great your camera is regardless of whether you're using a red-eye reduction feature with it. You can digitally remove them later.
Also, don't forget that you're part of the family too. If your camera has a self-timer and you have a tripod, set it up and jump into that shot!
Let's eat!
Those are just a few simple techniques that an amateur photographer can use to improve picture-taking skills just in time for Thanksgiving.
Remember to take plenty of pictures of people socializing, being themselves, and having fun. Make sure to get some of everyone, and that includes you! Finally, avoid taking pictures when people have their mouths full of food. It may seem like an important image to capture, but honestly, photos of people chewing just aren't very flattering. Your relatives will thank you.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!