This month I’m talking to award-winning photographer Jacky Chapman. Jacky is no beginner to photography. She began her career in 1987, working for newspapers such as the Times Educational Supplement, and The Guardian. Since then she has worked continually for national and international clients. Amongst her many clients are household brands such as Shell International, Gillette, Costain, and the BBC. She has worked for charities such as Victim Support, Raleigh International, Mencap, Princess Trust and Barnardo’s, FEED London to name but a few.
Jacky describes herself as a ‘visual storyteller’ which is very apt – take a look at her portfolio to see why. Today I’m asking for a few pointers as to how we might improve our photography. This is her response.
1 Fewer and fewer people are using traditional cameras now. What are your thoughts on Smartphone photography?
I must admit that I do like smartphone photography! It means that you always have a camera in your pocket, so you won’t miss anything! There are lots of editing functions on a Smartphone and more people are using them so they can upload pictures straight to their social media accounts.
I am super pleased to say that one of my iPhone images won an award recently! This image was taken the night before the Protestant Orange Marches, in Belfast in July 2021, when bonfires are lit as traditional eleventh night celebrations. I did have my ‘proper’ Canon camera with me, but the situation didn’t feel right to start pulling out large cameras and long lenses. With the iPhone I was easily able to wander amongst the crowds, chat to the residents and snap away!
Having said that about iPhone photography, I would however always advocate using a camera if you have access to one. You have far greater control over how you photograph. A camera also feels more intimate to use. Looking through the view finder, composing exactly what you want in your image, feels a lot better than looking at a screen, especially if the sun is shining on it!
2 Can you give us some tips on how to compose an image?
There are a few rules that l unconsciously follow.
- The rule of thirds. By following this popular composition rule, you can learn to create stronger looking images. You can find the three-by-three grid on both a Smartphone and a camera. The basic idea is to place your subject or point of interest on the intersecting lines of the grid, creating balance, and a more engaging image. But also remember that rules are also there to be broken. Learn and practice the rule of thirds then once mastered you can break it!
- Try to avoid placing a person or object directly in the middle of the frame. Think about photographing them slightly off-centre. This links nicely with the rule of thirds!
- Think about perspective so you can direct the focus of the viewer. I tend to do this by having something in the foreground, then my subject or main point of focus in middle ground… and then the background. This technique of shooting is a way to draw your viewer into your image and focusing them to concentrate on what you want them to see. For example, you could use something in the foreground that will create blur, like a branch of a tree and then behind it the house/ person/ flower.
- The golden triangle. This is another classic rule of composition that both photographers and painters use and is like the rule of thirds. Basically, it’s incorporating triangular shapes into your work and/or using diagonals (instead of three-by-three grid) to create a more dynamic feel. Before long you’ll be finding your own way of shooting that people/followers will start to say ‘that’s a (insert you own name here) photo’
- Think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to experiment! There’s no excuse now we are digital. Usually, I take the predicted shot first, just to get it in the bag, and then I play around and look for different angles, trying to find a unique way to convey the narrative. Get down on your knees or stand on a chair. Change the angle of view. Challenge perspective, challenge composition, challenge yourself to produce something exclusive!
3 How can we put a portrait sitter at ease?
Prepare your sitter beforehand if possible; Chat about colours, necklines, and patterns. Suggest that they bring a choice of clothes, different colours and accessories such as scarves. Reassure them that you will direct them into the poses you want and that you will not focus on the bits they don’t like. Show them the pics as you go along, so you can make changes if necessary.
Give yourself time. It’s important have to a rapport with your subject, keep them relaxed, chat to them. Make it fun for them and you!
4 What is the best way to take a close-up?
When I am photographing a portrait, I will switch between my 85mm lens, 17-40mm or even my 70-200mm telephoto lens {although it’s getting a tad heavy to hold these days!} If you are using a smartphone, get as close as you can and try not to zoom in, as this decreases the quality. Use your legs and walk closer to your subject but remember not to encroach too close and invade your sitter’s comfort zone!
5 Is there a best time of day or evening to take a photo?
Avoid the midday sun if you can, as there are very harsh shadows. The best times are about two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset (this is called the golden hour). This will give you wonderful, muted tones and soft pastels. Or photograph in what is called the blue hour, which occurs just before golden hour (around 30 minutes before the sun rises). In the evening, it is just after the golden hour and starts about 10 to 15 minutes after the sun has set. This gives inky, indigo hues. If you are looking to shoot night-time photography, this is the best time to nail that pic!
6 Should keen amateurs take a short/evening course or is it best to learn by trial and error?
Group learning is a fantastic and fun way to learn photography and there are millions of courses that you can do, but I’m a great believer in practice. All I can say is practice, practice, practice, every single day, whether you do a course, or you learn off your own steam!
But I will stress that you need to know your camera! YouTube is fantastic for finding out all about your camera, especially if you learn visually like me… I don’t like reading manuals!
I suggest that you set yourself a challenge and shoot a pic every day! An extremely popular challenge is the 365-day one, whereby you take a pic every day of the year. If that is too much of a commitment try it for a month, or even just a week.
It could be inside your home, at your office, whilst you are cooking the evening dinner. Shoot anything that takes your fancy! Be creative and if it doesn’t work out, well, it really doesn’t matter does it. It is all about getting used to where the buttons are on your camera and how the shutter, ISO, and aperture all work together. Maybe go out and try to find things to shoot that are of a certain colour, or choose a certain place and photograph it every day from different angles or with different lenses or at various times of the day.
Strive to photograph your subject in a unique way, for example use a wide-angle lens or shoot a close-up. Build up a story about your subject or location, create a narrative.
Practice lighting; take photos in sunshine, in shade, at night. Be creative and just practice – it is all about learning.
Look online and find photographers that inspire you (they all have websites and blogs). A lot of photographers are happy to give away their secrets (post-production tips, what camera they use, etc.) – it’s never been so easy to
learn.
7 I’ve seen a lot of photos of you on social media! Have you taken these yourself using a delayed shutter release, or have they been taken by friends and colleagues?
It’s a mixture. The ones that you see of me on a job are normally selfies taken on my iPhone. Switch to the front-facing camera so it’s a selfie. I prop it up on the table or chair setting the timer for 10 seconds. I think about what else needs to be in the composition, for example my cameras, soft box, stepladder and camera bag. If I’m not happy with the result, I just do it again.
8 What are your thoughts on using filters in post-production?
I don’t really have a problem with the use of filters in post-production. If I am working on my own story, which may need creative elements, then I might use filters to add drama or create mood. I’ll play around in Photoshop until I’m happy with the look of an image. If I wanted something to be true to the image, for example an event that I wanted to show exactly as it is, then I would not use filters. Neither would I use filters for a brand shoot or portrait unless it was specifically part of the design brief.
I photograph in Adobe Raw, which increases the information captured, improves dynamic range, increases the file size and allows easier photo manipulation.
However, if you are a beginner, just use jpg – you can still play with highlights, lowlights in post-production!
9 How can you avoid cameras shake? (Is this still a thing?).
If you get a blurry picture, that usually implies that your shutter speed is too low. When you take a photo, you have three things to think about and all these setting work together:
- The ISO or in my early days of photographing it was call ASA. (100 ISO, 400 ISO, 800 ISO etc.) This is your camera’s sensitivity to light .If photographing in bright sunshine I would use a low ISO. If photographing indoors I would use a higher ISO.
- The aperture (f1,8 f2.2, f5.6 etc.) controls the depth of field. If I wanted to take a photo, which showed everything in the room to be in focus, I would use f22. If I just wanted to focus on your eyes, and have the rest of the background out of focus, then I would use f1.8.
- Shutter speed, (60,125, 250 etc.). If you want to avoid camera shake, use at least 125 or above or put your camera on a tripod where you can use a lower speed. If shooting fast action aim for a much higher shutter speed setting.
But remember as you change one setting then the other two settings change too. Shutter speed, ISO, and the aperture all work together in a triangle, each setting affecting the other.
10 When should you use flash?
When I started, I was working as a press and editorial photographer. You had to get the pictures quickly, so if the Prime Minister rocked up, you did not have time to set anything up. I always used ‘on camera flash’ bounced off the ceiling. If the ceiling were too high, I would then attach a piece of white card (using a rubber band) to the flash head!
Fast-forward to now; I try to use natural light as much as I can because I prefer it. It’s easy; you can see what you’re getting. Having said that, I do have a whole bank of other flashes and soft boxes that I often use for portraits and personal branding.
Once you’ve cracked the basics of how your camera works then you can start to think about using external flash, or LED lights. These can create dramatic results. LED lights are extremely popular now; they are thin, lightweight, and extremely easy to use. It is a constant light source, in the olden days I used to use tungsten lights to light very dark places!
You can get amazing images with flash combined with daylight, but that is a whole other interview!
A final piece of advice
Keep your batteries charged!
If you are just starting out in photography, then master one thing at a time. Get to know your camera, make sure you know exactly what all the buttons are and what they do. Then you can progress, but most of all have fun and be experimental!
As a final thought…When people ask what camera I use, I tell them my eyes!
About the author
Jacky Chapman is an award-winning photojournalist, visual storyteller, and portrait photographer. During lockdown she niched into Brand and Personal brand photography that runs alongside her documentary work. You can see Jacky’s documentary work here and her brand work here. She has a new website coming soon dedicated just to her brand photography! Contact Jacky here.
