Photography Tips
Welcome to the Girls’ Voices At Home Photography tips! In these videos we orient you to what Girls’ Voices is all about, and how you can be a part of the movement for creative expression for girls everywhere. We have created these videos specifically in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so we have guidelines for you about how you can be your most creative while safe at home. We are looking forward to seeing what you create!
Photography 1:
Introduction
Meet Jessica Obert, Your Photography Guru!
Jessica shares her background, and why this is an especially meaningful time to share your authentic self through photography.
Safe at Home Creativity Guidelines
Rebecca Dharmapalan, filmmaker and Girls’ Voices for Change Judge, shares with us how to create safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Look and Be Inspired:
Take a look at these self-portraits by Girls’ Voices Scholars from around the world. What do you notice about their mood, their personality, and their environment?
Amowaj, from Jordan, 2016
Christina, from Chicago, 2017
Sikha, from Kolkata, India 2018
Photography 2:
Intention
In this session you will practice taking photos with a specific intention in mind. By the end of this course, you will have a series of photographs that that can unforgettably share your experience.
Intention
Jessica shares the power of intention, and why photography can be a powerful way to capture life and tell a story.
During this particular time we invite you to think about:
What is going on in your community? How is Covid-19 affecting you? How are you helping yourself and others stay safe?
Check out these prompts we created in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. These prompts are meant to get you thinking of project ideas.
Look and Be Inspired:
Check out these photographs from Girls’ Voices scholars from around the world.
Sarah Sunday, winner of 2017 Girls’ Voices for Change, shares the hope of Sudanese refugees children living in Kenya.
Check out the mood of this photograph from Ella in Brazil. What do you think was her intention with this photo?
We love the joy of this image from Wala in Jordan. How does this photo make you feel?
The girls from Christel House in Bangalore, India share a specific intention here. What do you think the girls are trying to convey?
Go Create:
Practice using photography to convey an emotion and your intention.
Share an image of something that represents what is challenging about this time for you. Then take photos of something that gives you hope or something that encourages you during this time at home.
When you look at the images, do they evoke the emotion you hope to convey? Select the photos that best share what you are trying to say.
Share them on Instagram with the hashtags #girlsvoicesathome and #intention, and we may reshare them! We can’t wait to see what you create.
Photography 3:
Framing and Composition
Framing
What’s in your frame? Jessica covers how to stabilize your camera without a lot of fancy equipment; the magical rule of thirds; and how to experiment with perspective to be your most creative. You can practice all of what she shares – the more you practice, the more it will become natural to you when you go out and shoot!
Composition
Jessica shares the choices she makes to bring together the elements she wants in each frame.
Look and Be Inspired:
Check out these photographs from Girls’ Voices scholars from around the world.
Milena in Honduras demonstrates the rule of thirds.
Zana in Kosovo shows an example of a close up shot.
Walaa in Jordan shares a super close up photo.
Qendresa in Kosova shares a long shot.
Go Create:
Take five photographs in which you utilize one of these skills – focus, rule of thirds, stabilizing, and changing perspective.
For extra points – give these images one unifying theme, related to what you and your community are experiencing right now.
If you want ideas for a theme, you can take a look at the prompts at the beginning of the course. Or like Jessica – take five photographs demonstrating finding joy during this time.
Share them on Instagram with the hashtags #girlsvoicesathome and #framing, and we may reshare them! We can’t wait to see what you create.
Photography 4:
Lighting
Jessica shares how to experiment with natural light to create beautiful and clear imagery.
Lighting
Jessica shares different times of day that make images look amazing. Take the day to notice all the ways that natural light can impact your photography.
Look and Be Inspired:
What do you notice about the way they captured light in each photo?
From Walaa in Jordan.
From Tia and Rose in Arizona on the Tohono-O’odham Reservation.
From Deneez in Jordan.
Go Create:
Identify light in your home. In the morning walk around your house until you find one room that has light in it that captures your attention. Take a photo, and share what you notice about the light: is it warm or cool, abundant or minimal, harsh or soft? In the afternoon walk around again and find light that captures your attention. Take a photo and share what you notice about the light. At dusk walk around one final time and notice light. Take a photo and share what you notice about the light.
Or, try this: take portraits of family members at different times of day. How does the light affect the portraits?
If you are unable to take photographs at different times of the day, take three photographs from your favorite time of day. Why do you like that time of day? What do you notice about the light during that time of day? Write short descriptions of what you enjoy about that time of day.
Choose one of the three options, and share with us on Instagram with the hashtags #girlsvoicesathome and #lighting, and we may reshare them! We can’t wait to see what you create.
Photography 5:
Moment
Jessica shares how to find extraordinary moments that truly tell a story. You will practice capturing meaningful and compelling moments from your day.
Moment
Being a photographer is about being “in the moment,” being observant, noticing details, and capturing emotions in an unforgettable way. Take some time today to notice some ordinary moments that may be extraordinary to you!
Look and Be Inspired:
Check out how these Girls’ Voices Scholars captured a moment. What is the story they are trying to tell?
Elisa from Honduras shares a moment between a young woman and her grandmother.
This image from Amowaj in Jordan shows a moment before a bird takes flight.
Go Create:
Share three photographs of memorable moments from your day. They can be moments in your day that give you hope, spark joy or inspire you during this challenging time. They can be moments that demonstrate the challenges people are going through, and ways in which people are showing their resilience. Choose the three photos that show how you noticed extraordinary moments from the day.
What will you remember most about this time? Try to capture the moments that show how this time is unlike any other.
For more advanced photos, practice capturing something in motion – like a pet running or water running from the spout.
Share with us on Instagram with the hashtags #girlsvoicesathome and #moment, and we may reshare them! We can’t wait to see what you create.
Photography 6:
Bringing it All Together with Editing
Bringing It All Together
Jessica shares how she likes to compose her photography to share on social. She encourages you to bring out your best images, include quotes, and frame your photographs in surprising and compelling ways!
Look and Be Inspired:
Jessica pulled her images together in Canva, a free image editing software, to edit her photos and add subtitles.
Jessica also made a version in which she put her photography and quotes together on a timeline, along with music. There are so many options for presenting your work!