FRESH LOOK

The same way a good reporter must have a “nose” for news stories, I believe a photographer should also have an “eye” for pictures. He or she should be able to passive situations otherwise not noticed by others. Kalechi Amadi-Obi the award winning Nigerian photographer said it better; to get a good image you just need a good eye. Capturing that good image however, can sometimes prove tricky, especially when you are faced with a “common subject”; that which has been photographed enough times. Famous monuments and significant buildings fall into this category, and photographing such with the same predictable point of view does not tell any new story. Seeing your subject in an unusual way will most definitely result to remarkably good images. This may require you walk around, experiment with different angles, change lenses, wait patiently almost an entire afternoon for that perfect lighting, or even climb atop tall buildings. Whatever it is you do… give your subject a fresh look!       

In recent times, the Library is arguably the most photographed subject around campus. A close-up gives it a rather dramatic look.   

      



                                             Camera - NIKON D3100

                                             Focal Length - 18mm
                                             Shutter Speed - 1/60 sec
                                             Aperture - f/5.6 

                                             ISO/Film - 100
                                             Category - Architecture 
                                             Uploaded - July 31st 2013  
                                             Taken - July 18th 2013

                                             Location - USIU, Nairobi
                                             Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

After literally doing a 360 degrees around my subject, I stopped at this angle. The brick-wall made for a great foreground, and all that was remaining was for someone to walk into the frame... 

A long shot from one of the sides taken while on my knees ensured that I included more details of the library and the well-trimmed lawns.

Camera - NIKON D3100

Focal Length - 32mm
Shutter Speed - 1/60 sec
Aperture - f/5.0 

ISO/Film - 100
Category - Architecture 
Uploaded - July 31st 2013  
Taken - July 19th 2013 
Location - USIU, Nairobi 

Copyright - Stephen Mukhong

            Camera - NIKON D3100
            Focal Length - 38mm
            Shutter Speed - 1/80 sec
            Aperture - f/5.0 

            ISO/Film - 100
            Category - Architecture 
            Uploaded - July 31st 2013  
            Taken - April 3rd 2013

            Location - USIU, Nairobi
            Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

MOTION BLUR

You can right several wrongs in a picture during post-processing, but you can’t rescue a blurry image; this is one advice that has been repeated to me constantly over the years. Image blurring is caused by accidental camera movement and it is one of the main reasons we discard otherwise dissent images. There is enough advice out there on how to avoid blurry images, from use of tripods, image stabilizers to hand-held techniques; The emphasize is on razor sharp images. However, according to Lou Jones, there is no written rule that says everything must be static. Deliberate blurring some subjects within otherwise sharp images is an effective way to show action, movement, or to create a particular mood. Completely freezing a subject will make you lose the drama and excitement of the event. Motion blur can be achieved by using an ideal shutter speed setting which controls the appearance of a moving subject. Fast shutter speeds <above 1/300 sec> stops (freezes) movements while slow ones <below 1/60 sec> blur moving subjects. Try panning during exposure by moving the camera in the same direction as the subject motion. This will make the subject be in focus and cause the foreground and the background to blur. I tried this during a rugby match where a player was racing past, holding the ball and I followed his motion by turning the camera while releasing the shutter. This is effective at relative slow shutter speeds of about 1/30 sec and below.

A player in full flight! during the 'Wazee kwa Vijana' (USIU Alumni vs Students) rugby match that I shot for the PR department.

          

   Camera - NIKON D3100

   Focal Length - 50mm
   Shutter Speed - 1/30 sec
   Aperture - f/5.7 

   ISO/Film - 200
   Category - Sports 
   Uploaded - July 25th 2013  
   Taken - July 20th 2013

   Location - RFUEA Ground, Nairobi
   Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi

  

BACK STORY

When telling an overall picture story the background is equally as important as the middle ground and the foreground. If rightly used, backgrounds can truly complement the foreground subject(s). However, they have the ability to easily overpower the middle ground and foreground elements, in the process becoming the lead story. Special thought should always be placed when deciding what to use as a background. Rule of the thumb is to avoid destructive backgrounds; if you want the foreground subject to stand out. In such situations plain backgrounds are recommended or the use of wide apertures and long focal lengths to throw destructive backgrounds out of focus. Before releasing the shutter, I am always wary of clashing colors, destructive lines, and the most common one of people that don’t belong. It helps changing your angles (though am always accused of not doing the same) or even moving the subject all together, to either include or omit some elements in the background. Another solution is to just create your own! By either using various backdrops like in studio shoots, or adding backgrounds during post-processing. Whatever you do, make your background tell an exciting story of the complete picture.

I was focusing on the newly weds' hands when I noticed my little friend in the background. I decided to include her in the frame as I found her curious expression thought-provoking.         

   Camera - CANON EOS 7D

   Focal Length - 135mm
   Shutter Speed - 1/60 sec
   Aperture - f/5.7 

   ISO/Film - 200
   Category - Wedding 
   Uploaded - July 1st 2013  
   Taken - June 1st 2013

   Location - Jacaranda Hotel, Nairobi
   Copyright - Stephen Mukhongi