Depth of Field

This first photo, of the blue butterfly, has a shallow depth of field, the butterfly is sharp and completely  in focus, and the background is blured and unfocused, drawing attention to the focus of the photo, the butterfly. The second image has a large depth of field, everything is clear and in focus, drawing the eye in towards the horizon.

This is a link to a website containing loads of information on how to edit the appeture settihngs on your camera to create a small or laqrge depth of feild, and tips on how to use it in photos, what looks best and why.

Lighting

This is a pixture of Lauren Bacall, and I have chosen this image because I think it is a great example of some interesting lighting. She is very harshly lit from above, creating an unusual effect, she looks beautiful but sinister, giving the photo an overall unusual atmosphere. I love the shadowing on her eye lids, giving the effect of winged eyeliner, and  beneath her nose and lips.

This is a link to a site with useful and easy to follow steps and facts about using lighting in photography.

Focal Point

This is a picture of an eye with the focal point as the iris and pupil. I chose this image because it has a very clear focal point, it is of a high quality, and the picture itself is beautiful. Around the edge of this photo, it is out of focus, which could've been set on the camera, but I think in this particular image it has been edited on afterwards, this helps draw your eye in towards the centre of the image. I presume the photographer was using a macro setting when taking this picture, by the sharpness and clarity, this was obviously taken on a very high quality camera.

This is a link to an article explaining use of focal points in photography, with tips and techniques. 

Composition

This is a picture taken from the 1954 film Rear Window, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, I have chosen this image, one because this is one of my favourite films, but also because I think it is an excellent example of composition. Firstly, the contrast an framing of the image is brilliant, and I love how what he is looking at has been edited so it is reflected on the lens of the camera, but also he has used the rule of third so that the reflection is a third of the way across. James Stewart's face and body is also off to one side, maybe not fully two thirds across, but it doesn't need to be, everything is framing and placed well, and the contrast between the light and dark really gives it an eerie feel. Overall, I feel this picture has a really interesting composition.

This is a link to a very useful help page explaining about what composition means, in photography, rules for a good composition and tips for beginners.