Tips and Guides
Positive Ageing Photography
Catalyst Foundation is helping people from all walks of life, so we want to reinforce this by appropriate use of imagery. We are aiming to raise awareness of the issue of Ageism in Media and to encourage other organisations and individuals to also use more realistic, diverse images in their marketing.
So here are some things to consider when taking photos of older Australians:
When selecting imagery for use in communications and marketing, think about the context and what your photo is being used to portray. Be careful to not dehumanise or make insinuations with your choice of image, when accompanying a news piece or blog, for example. Media should attempt to communicate a more diverse representation of what it means to be older without resorting to stereotype and caricature.
So here are some things to consider when taking photos of older Australians:
- Use realistic portrayals: don’t use unrealistically positive or unrealistically negative depictions of people in later life – and avoid photos that caricature or make a joke out of later life
- ‘Age-positive’ doesn’t mean showing older people only in a euphoric state or positive situation – the other extreme of older people skydiving or running marathons isn’t very balanced either
- We are looking for photos that include people being active and positive about ageing
- The older person should be in the forefront of the pictures (i.e. the older person is the focal point of the image or the focal point is on both the older and younger subjects of the image equally)
- Older people should be portrayed as respected equals, mentors or friends
- Older people contribute to society in a huge range of ways, so photography should depict them as valuable, important members of society
- Like all age groups, people 50 and over are not all the same, so photos should depict the diverse range of people to ensure an accurate representation of the population. Consider diversity of age, gender, race and ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, geography and more
- Think about inclusion, consider different themes such as communities, work, healthy ageing, housing, travel and settings where people from multiple generations socialise
When selecting imagery for use in communications and marketing, think about the context and what your photo is being used to portray. Be careful to not dehumanise or make insinuations with your choice of image, when accompanying a news piece or blog, for example. Media should attempt to communicate a more diverse representation of what it means to be older without resorting to stereotype and caricature.
Free Ageing in Media Posters are available:
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Want to see more examples of positive ageing? Click here to view our Inspiration page.
Photography Tips
hether you already enjoy taking pictures or are interested in pursuing a new hobby, you might be wondering about the tips to become a better photographer.
There’s no need to worry though — these five tips for beginner photographers will jump-start your knowledge of photography, helping you to take quality photos in no time.
1. Don’t stress about your equipment
You don’t need a fancy camera to take great photographs — your technique is more important than your equipment. In fact, most of the time, you can get the job done with your smartphone. The smartphones of today usually have high-resolution sensors that produce surprisingly sharp images. Not convinced? Check out the winning images from the iPhone Photography Awards. These professional-grade photos were all taken with phone cameras.
2. Learn to love the "Rule of Thirds"
There’s no need to worry though — these five tips for beginner photographers will jump-start your knowledge of photography, helping you to take quality photos in no time.
1. Don’t stress about your equipment
You don’t need a fancy camera to take great photographs — your technique is more important than your equipment. In fact, most of the time, you can get the job done with your smartphone. The smartphones of today usually have high-resolution sensors that produce surprisingly sharp images. Not convinced? Check out the winning images from the iPhone Photography Awards. These professional-grade photos were all taken with phone cameras.
2. Learn to love the "Rule of Thirds"
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One way to spot amateur photography is to look at a photo’s composition. Inexperienced photographers tend to put their subjects in the center of the frame.
The Rule of Thirds is one of the better-known composition tactics and is perfect for beginners. Divide the frame of your shot into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. Then, place your subject along one of the lines to increase visual interest. If you would like to learn more about the Rule of Thirds, you may view this interesting article. |
Image Credit: Moondigger/Wikipedia
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3. Don’t be stationary
Keep moving as you’re taking pictures. Try crouching down, standing on a higher point, laying on the ground, or circling your subject.
If you get stuck in one spot, you’ll find yourself taking the same picture over and over again. So, keep your feet moving to capture a variety of shots.
4. Experiment with light
Light is an integral part of any photograph and the more you pay attention to it, the better you’ll become at using it to your advantage. You may want to read up on different types of light but be sure to experiment with various lighting sources to experience the differences firsthand.
For instance, observe the differences between:
- Natural vs. artificial light
- Early morning vs. afternoon light
- Direct sunlight vs. overcast daylight
- Flash vs. no flash
5. Remember to practice!
One of the best tips for amateur photographers is to just keep taking pictures. As with any art form, practice is the best way to improve your skills. So, what are you waiting for? Get out (or in) there and put your photography skills to the test!
(This write-up uses information found here and here.)
Technical Guides
Are you wondering how to transfer photos from your phone to your computer? These practical guides may help. If you need additional help, we recommend searching for more information on YouTube.
How to transfer from Android Phone to Computer |
How to transfer from iPhone to Computer |
