Submitting Photos to The Elks Magazine
HEN you are taking photos to ac- company fraternal news items, The Elks Magazine recommends that you keep in mind the following points in addition to the ten tips described in this article to help us publish your photo. In relation to subject matter, photos should always include people—at least one person and no more than ten people. The photos must depict charitable events, and they must show the people who are the recipients of the charitable activity. Photos should not depict the presentation of bank checks, gift certificates, or savings bonds, nor should they ever indicate the presence of alcohol or cigarettes.
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Photos must be of sufficient quality to reproduce well. In addition to following the tips on focal points, composition, and good lighting, try to position the subjects so that all faces can be seen in full view. For this purpose, relatively close-up shots are better than large group scenes. Photos will be re- jected if they are newspaper photos, photo-
This is an example of a publishable photo for a fraternal news item. The subjects are clearly visible, the background is uncluttered, and the photo was taken from relatively close up.
copies of photos, photos printed on computer printers, Polaroid photos, or negatives. They will also be rejected if they are bound with paper clips, stapled, or have writing on the back. When taking photos with a digital camera, make sure to use a camera with at least a four megapixel capacity. It is important to set the camera at its highest resolution because digital images must have a minimum resolution
of 1,500 by 900 pixels, or dots, per image to be repro- duced in the magazine with acceptable quality. Digital cameras generally can be set for high resolution by accessing a resolution options menu and choosing an option labeled with a word like “high,” or by actually selecting or setting dimensions in pixels. Finally, it is a good idea to submit more than one photo (but no more than three of the same event), if possible, so that a range of selection is available. —P.H.
Notice how other photographers have constructed photos that you admire. Study the angles used, the lighting, and so forth, and then imitate them.
open window or door. Even digital cameras may register the subject as being much darker with the light behind it. If a person’s face is not properly lit, whether indoors or outdoors, make sure you activate the flash when you take the photos. But even with a flash, if you are taking photos at night or indoors, you need to be doubly careful to take them from close up.
Shoot Verticals
Perhaps that tall building fits into the frame if you turn the camera ninety degrees. Often a close-up of a person looks better after the camera is tilted to a vertical position. Changing
T H E E L K S M A G A Z I N E
the orientation of the camera from horizontal to vertical is a quick way to produce an entirely fresh view of a familiar subject.
Find a Focal Point
Most photos benefit from having a strong focal point. This is particularly true with landscape photos. The focal point can be a building, a structure, a tree, or a boulder that has a striking shape. Putting a focal point into your landscape photos draws the eye into the picture and prevents the scene from looking empty.
A variation of the focal point is the lead-in line—a line or object, such as a fence or a river, that leads the eye into
the picture from the foreground to the background. Make sure that such lines or objects run diagonally toward the main point of interest to draw the viewer into the photo.
Study Photos You Like
Notice how other photographers have constructed photos that you admire. Study the angles used, the lighting, and so forth, and then imitate them. Great photographers are the best teachers you can have— and their classes are free.
Practice Makes Perfect
Try these ten tips as often as you can when taking your own photos. Your pictures will improve, and you will feel more confident that you are faithfully capturing the moment and preserving exactly what you see. ■
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PHOTO: HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA, LODGE
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