Presentation to CIP SSA staff during a lunch box session on basic photography tips and tricks. Presentation by Vivian Atakos

1. L u n c h B o x S e r i e s
March 29, 2017
Basic photography tips and tricks
Vivian Atakos and Christine Bukania

2. First things first…. Familiarise with device
• Understand your camera – whether professional or non professional;
phone camera. How does it work?
• Resolution of the pictures you are taking? Determines quality of the image
• How to adjust settings to different situations – What icon is used for
different situations? Close-ups, landscape, portrait, panoramic, auto
• How do I click? Seems obvious but not. Need to push button to focus then
push to take picture

3. Let light be your friend
• Avoid taking pictures in places with insufficient light; take pics
outside; disable flash for better pictures.
Darker situations, call for patience. Stand still and avoid moving
objects
• Outside – sun should be behind you. Subject will directly face
the light. Downside, people tend to close their eyes

4. Picture the picture frame
Imagine the frame. Not this
But borders of your photo
• Is everyone in? But also the composition. Art of photography
• Experiment! Experiment! No film to waste with digital
photography
• Use of viewfinder versus LCD screen. Limits distraction of things
not in your frame. Better focus
• Move in closer! Avoid zooming – image affected by movement
• General rules of the picture frame – don’t cut off feet when frame
already reaches the ankle, avoid objects/ persons disturbing the
composition
• Observe photos of photographers! Ask for tips when you meet
them
• Take lots of pictures of the same item

7. Rule of the thirds
Imagine four lines - creating
nine even squares.
Some images will look best
with the focal point in the
center square, but placing
the subject off center will
often create a more
aesthetically composed
photograph.
Photos are pleasing and
interesting to look at. Eyes
wander

9. Pictures for publications – Newsletter/ Annual
report
Should tell a story – combine items in your frame to tell a story

10. Always try to maintain eye
level with your subject
How are elements combining
to tell your story

11. Focus!
Should tell a story – combine items in your frame to tell a story
Check for that icon on your frame – circular, square. Focus on
specific parts of your frame.

12. Focus!

13. Different perspectives

14. What next?
Manage your photos:
Folders:
• Date pictures were taken
• Activity
• Location
• Photographer
Include at text file ‘readme’ with a brief explanation of the photos in
the folder
Post processing: Many phone apps can process and they are
available on Google Play
CIP SSA maintains a Flickr Account.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/106872707@N03/albums/
Send us your best 10-15 photos per visit for inclusion

16. The International Potato Center (known by its Spanish acronym CIP) is
a research-for-development organization with a focus on potato, sweetpotato,
and Andean roots and tubers. CIP is dedicated to delivering sustainable
science-based solutions to the pressing world issues of hunger, poverty,
gender equity, climate change and the preservation of our Earth’s fragile
biodiversity and naturalresources.
www.cipotato.org
CIP is a member of CGIAR
CGIAR is a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Its
science is carried out by the 15 research centers who are members of the
CGIAR Consortium in collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations.
www.cgiar.org