Photos are like memories in print: stories passed down from generation to generation or scenes from a place otherwise forgotten.

“Everyone wants to capture and record their own personal history. Photographs become our tangible memories, our physical records, our touchable proof,” said Diane Maxwell, a professional photographer in Butler.

It is an unfortunate truth, however, that the snapping of shutters, the bright burst of flash bulbs and the careful posing of friends and family does not ensure photographic success.

Beginning photographers often feel the frustration of visiting their film developer or uploading digital photos only to find what looked perfect in the viewfinder looks less than perfect later in print.

“People try to exceed the limits of their equipment,” said Dave Prelosky, a photographer for the Butler Eagle.

Some of the common mistakes he has noticed are when there is too much distance between the photographer and the subject and when people do not understand or make use of the controls and settings on their camera.

For Roger DeYoung of Saxonburg, the key is practice.

After years of taking pictures as a hobby, DeYoung has taught himself to take better pictures.

“It’s just practice, shooting a lot of pictures, reading and looking at artwork.”

His practice has paid off, earning him awards in last year’s Saxonburg Festival of the Arts photo contest.

For Aryl Bashline of Butler, a passion for photography turned into a passion for teaching.

Bashline, an adjunct art history professor at Waynesburg College, offers a course in beginning photography in the Continuing Education Program at Butler County Community College.

“I tell people, especially my students, ‘Everyone thinks they can take a good picture,’” pointing out most beginning photographers could use a little instruction.

Shooting in the sunshine

For Bashline, shooting landscapes and wild animals is more appealing than being commissioned for portraits or events.

“Nature gives you less trouble,” she joked.

Traveling to local sites such as Moraine State Park, McConnells Mill and the Todd Sanctuary, she said she enjoys wandering through the outdoors looking for unique photo opportunities.

“You just walk outside and off you go,” she said.

Armed with a single lens reflex or SLR camera, loaded with 35mm film, and a high-end point-and-shoot digital camera, she has learned to take two cameras in case one malfunctions.

“I always take two cameras in the car,” she said, noting it is frustrating to drive a distance to take pictures, only to realize your camera is not working properly.

As far as timing, Bashline is flexible.

“Basically for me it’s whenever I can get out there and get the pictures,” she said.

Though she shoots mostly during the mid-afternoon, she added some photographers advise shooting in the first two hours after sunrise or before sunset.

Also called the “golden hours,” these times provide a warmer quality light, noted Katherine Mickle, who instructs photography classes at Slippery Rock University.

Bashline recommends considering which direction the sun will be shining before planning a time to take photos.

“The sun usually should be behind you,” she said.

Though she does not recommend shooting during harsh, midday light, she said polarizing filters or neutral density filters can help balance out bright scenes.

“Always take your flash,” she added. “You should really always have all your equipment with you.”

Even when shooting during daylight, Bashline watches for shadows that can be softened or eliminated using a flash.

In addition to proper lighting, the framing of each photo can make it stand out.

“Really look at the subject and move around to find the best shot,” said Mickle.“Some people don’t realize how important composition can be.“For example, if you are trying to show how tall the redwoods are, you wouldn’t keep a horizontal composition. The height would be accentuated by a vertical shot.“Also, don’t forget that the photographer can angle low or high to aid in that different composition.”Photos in motionWhen the subjects of her photos are in motion, Maxwell advises focusing the camera on something stable, then waiting to click the shutter till the subject moves into view.“Get as close to the action as you practically can and fill the frame up,” said Prelosky.When shooting sporting events, he advises getting as close to the action as possible and moving with the action as it moves through the field, court or stadium.Higher speed film should also be used to eliminate blurry shots.While shooting wild animals that may move at any time, DeYoung advises approaching slowly and taking pictures while getting closer.“I just kind of become part of their surroundings,” he said.“I think it’s mostly a matter of being in the right place at the right time.”Now using a digital camera, he also advises taking a large number of shots, with the option of deleting those that don’t turn out well.Portrait of successWhether taking group photos or individual portraits, professional photographers have tricks for keeping things interesting.To create less formal poses, Maxwell says a sense of humor is helpful.“If the subject is relaxed and comfortable, their inner personality will come through,” she said.To highlight the subject of a photo, she advises using a minimum number of props or background items that may distract the viewer.Whether standing, seated, centered or off to one side, the subject looks best if they look natural.“You’re trying to find a position that makes the person look comfortable in their environment,” said Prelosky.For group photos, Prelosky advises a casual approach.“First, let people be themselves,” he said. “Don’t demand that everybody stand and cross their hands. Let them be themselves.”Once comfortable, photographers must watch out for portrait pitfalls.For subjects wearing glasses, a photographer must move the light source or the subject to avoid glare.“There’s no magic formula,” said Prelosky. “Sometimes you can get the people to tilt the glasses forward a little bit.” He also advises using a flash off to the side for those with professional equipment.He added that standing back or at an elevation ensures that all group members are visible in the photo.Photographers should also watch for items in the background that could be distracting when printed, such as a tree which may seem to grow out of your subject’s head when developed.Photographs and memoriesEven after 10 years of professional photography, being commissioned to shoot weddings is an honor for Maxwell.“It is a privilege and a big responsibility to be chosen to photograph a couple’s wedding. Those photographs will become pieces of their history,” she said.On a day filled with emotion, Maxwell takes care to capture feeling and personality in candid shots.When shooting at a wedding reception or other event with dim lighting, she advises taking an external flash, since most internal flashes work with only a limited distance.“The better flashes will have much more power and the ability to move the head to bounce the light up, down, and side to side.”Though a large camera and flash can be hard to hide, Maxwell also tries to stay inconspicuous, so she can take photos of subjects acting natural.“Do not inhibit (the subject’s) movement or get in their way. Do not ask them to look or smile,” she said.When taking the time to frame a shot, a common suggestion is to use the Rule of Thirds, where the photographer mentally divides his or her frame into thirds both vertically and horizontally.

The subject of the photo is then placed at one of the intersections of the dividing lines.“Like any rule it’s a good place to start,” said Prelosky.“The biggest rule of thumb I have found is to fill the frame with what you want to see in the photo,” he said.He noted that if the subject is not prominent in the photo, the photographer may have to explain the photo’s importance.“If they would fill the frame up with the subject of the photo, what the photo is about becomes evident,” he said.Though not everyone has access to the same high-tech cameras, Prelosky says great pictures can come from less expensive equipment or disposable cameras.“A camera is just a crescent wrench, it’s just a tool. The photograph is not made in the camera, it’s made in somebody’s head,” he said.Picture preservationOnce the photos are taken and the best shots chosen, it may be time to enlarge photos for display or archive them for the future.According to Diane Khatibi, manager at ABC Photo and Video at the Clearview Mall, most clear photos taken with 35mm film can be blown up to 13 by 19 inches and still remain fairly clear.“They always lose quality whenever you blow them up,” she noted.She advises having film developed within a month of completing the roll and not leaving film cartridges in the sun or car.Film shields are also helpful when traveling through airports where x-ray machines can erase photos.For individual prints and negatives, Khatibi advises using acid-free archival material for storage.Though photos can now be preserved on compact discs, she said the quality of reprints is better if taken from the original negative.For photos, she recommends archival album sheets to separate and store individual prints.“(Photo) boxes are good, but I think I’d like to use archival material,” noting such products both protect and organize photos.For those printing digital photos, good printing equipment is just as important as the camera.When Bashline purchased her digital camera, a high-quality printer was factored into the budget.Though she enjoys the control of printing her own pictures, she noted a high quality photo is expensive and photo papers for home printers are not as archival as professional prints.Whether printing digital photos or those from film Prelosky noted that the type of paper used does make a difference.“In a very broad sense, gloss prints will show detail better than matte finish prints, but a matte finish won’t pick up fingerprints,” he said.Whether digital or film, high tech or low priced, photography gives people the opportunity to create keepsakes.“Photography freezes a moment. It records and captures time, place, mood, feeling and emotion. Those moments are gone in a blink of an eye but they are frozen in time in a photograph,” said Maxwell.