We had some visitors from Creative Services, the media PR wing of George Mason University. They had some helpful tips to improve our photos as we work on our respective multimedia blogs.
Political events are difficult to cover because the imagery is usually very controlled by the organizers of the event. Photographers are often put on risers and thus have a limited view of the public figure. The trick is to try and find a unique angle or a moment that captures what you are trying to say.
Shooting in a classroom can be difficult—the overhead lighting can make people look ghoulish, and the subjects are mostly static. It helps to bring your own lighting such as a separate flash, which you can point toward the wall to create a soft glow in the room. Photograph the students engaging in discussion or doing an activity.
A few camera tips:
Your shutter controls artificial light. So a slower shutter speed will capture the motion of traffic at night. The aperture will control the ambient light in the room or the natural light of the outdoors. Depth of field can make portraits more interesting by blurring the background an focusing on the subject. You can create this effect by changing the aperture. Your ISO setting won’t add light, but it will turn up the volume. But be warned: anything over 800 will make your image appear grainy.