In my last few posts, I have written about the technicalities or the basic rules of photography, composition, lead lines and so on. Now I would like to take the next step and try to write about what makes a good photo good. This is impossible, for a number of reasons, we all see, colour in different ways and we all like different types of images, with that in mind the main person that you have to please with your images is your self.
This is a very simple concept; create images that you like, even passionate about. This will add quality to an image that everyone will see even if they do not know why, your passion and knowledge of a subject will show in your image. Many artists of all types when starting out crave appreciation or approval and they only start to advance their art when they stop trying to please other people.
Choosing not to follow the rules of composition is not the same as not knowing about composition, yes you may get lucky but most likely you will not. The same is true about finding images that you like, you could take thousands upon thousands of photos and you may get lucky, another way would be to learn how to read an image and then look at the images of photographers that are passionate about their work. Do not just limit your self to photographers but look at all types of artists work, see if they have followed the rules of composition or have they broken the rules and if so does it work for you.
The more you look at different artists work the more ideas you will have for your own work, do not copy other peoples work to pass off as your own. What you are aiming for is to take your first steps to building your own style, do you want people to look at your image and say that it is in the style of or a copy of some famous photographer or would you like them to say that it is your image and that you are the famous photographer. that is what building your own style is all about.
If you would like to know more about taking your photography to the next level then why not have a look at George Barr’s book ‘Take your photography to the next level’ as he is a much better writer and photographer than I am.
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Friday, 4 March 2011
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Depth of field (DOF)
Depth of field is the term for how much will be in focus, sharp or blurry in a photo.
Many people like to have everything in focus in a photograph; this is down to personal preference and subject matter. Zooming in or out lets you chose how much surroundings to the left and right you include with your subject, depth of field lets you chose how much surroundings you keep (in focus) in front and behind the subject.
First off, there is no right or wrong, it is you photo and it is up to you how much you have in focus or not. If you are photographing a beautiful landscape you might want everything in focus from your feet too the horizon but if you are photographing a person in a busy street you might want just that person and not all the other people so that the viewer of the photo knows who the subject is.
So how do you control the depth of field? Well, by using the f-numbers or f-stops, these numbers let you know what the aperture is set at. The aperture is a hole in the lens that opens and closes a bit like the iris in your eye, the bigger the f-number the smaller the hole which gives you more DOF, the smaller the f-number the bigger the hole which gives you less DOF. So big f-number = big DOF and small f-number = small DOF.
As the aperture opens and closes it will let more or less light through the lens, so with a large f-number you will get less light and so you will need a longer shutter speed, and the reverse is true of a small f-number.
It can be hard to see the effects of DOF on the display on the back of your camera, so until you know what results your camera will give you at what setting I would advise you to take a few photos at different f-number and you might come up with a great photo.
Photography is all about trying new ways of doing things and above all have fun.
Many people like to have everything in focus in a photograph; this is down to personal preference and subject matter. Zooming in or out lets you chose how much surroundings to the left and right you include with your subject, depth of field lets you chose how much surroundings you keep (in focus) in front and behind the subject.
First off, there is no right or wrong, it is you photo and it is up to you how much you have in focus or not. If you are photographing a beautiful landscape you might want everything in focus from your feet too the horizon but if you are photographing a person in a busy street you might want just that person and not all the other people so that the viewer of the photo knows who the subject is.
So how do you control the depth of field? Well, by using the f-numbers or f-stops, these numbers let you know what the aperture is set at. The aperture is a hole in the lens that opens and closes a bit like the iris in your eye, the bigger the f-number the smaller the hole which gives you more DOF, the smaller the f-number the bigger the hole which gives you less DOF. So big f-number = big DOF and small f-number = small DOF.
As the aperture opens and closes it will let more or less light through the lens, so with a large f-number you will get less light and so you will need a longer shutter speed, and the reverse is true of a small f-number.
It can be hard to see the effects of DOF on the display on the back of your camera, so until you know what results your camera will give you at what setting I would advise you to take a few photos at different f-number and you might come up with a great photo.
Photography is all about trying new ways of doing things and above all have fun.
Monday, 27 December 2010
Christmas cards for next year
We are in the middle of the holidays and you are having a well earned rest with the family, the last thing on your mind is next years holiday season but it should be. Now with all the Christmas decorations up, family (models) around and big meals you should only be putting your camera down for recharging or down loading photos to the computer.
The weather is pretty and festive, even if it is a bit cold. So now is the time to get out and take as many photos as you can, so that you will have lots of new images for next seasons greeting cards. Now is also a good time to be working on next seasons greeting cards as you are still in the festive mood, get them up loaded and the search engines will have a good nine months to find and index them before the 4th quarter buying frenzy starts.
I know that it can be hard to think about holidays so far in advance but once you get into the habit the rewards are many. Your stress levels will be lower as you will not be in a rush to get your images up loaded and what if there is an issue with copyright or key words, you have nine months to get them fixed.
So record that next program on TV and get your camera out of its box.
The weather is pretty and festive, even if it is a bit cold. So now is the time to get out and take as many photos as you can, so that you will have lots of new images for next seasons greeting cards. Now is also a good time to be working on next seasons greeting cards as you are still in the festive mood, get them up loaded and the search engines will have a good nine months to find and index them before the 4th quarter buying frenzy starts.
I know that it can be hard to think about holidays so far in advance but once you get into the habit the rewards are many. Your stress levels will be lower as you will not be in a rush to get your images up loaded and what if there is an issue with copyright or key words, you have nine months to get them fixed.
So record that next program on TV and get your camera out of its box.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Colour in photos
The colour in your images can have a very big effect on how the image is perceived, it can be the simple emotions of feeling warm or cold, or it can be more complex. Not only can colour give the viewer an overall feeling for the image but the colours them self’s can compete within an image ether giving balance to an image or throwing the balance off making the viewer feel uncomfortable.
Some colours dominate more than others for the human mind but it depends on what their surrounding colours are. You can use colours that ether clash or complement each other for different effects within your image, if you look at a colour wheel the colours that are next to each other complement and the colours opposite will clash. Now this does not mean that you should not have them colours in the same image, just that you should be aware of what effect they will have on the mood of the image.
Where the colour appears in your image will effect the composition of the image and also the balance of different colours and how many. Sometimes a colour can compete with the main element of an image lessening the overall effect and sometimes the colours them self’s can be the main element of an image.
Changing the settings on your camera can make a place look totally different than what your eyes see, like using daylight setting indoors under tungsten lighting will give you a warm feel or a yellow / orange cast to the image. the thing is to play with colour till you get the image that you had in your minds eye in the camera, and do not forget to have fun.
Some colours dominate more than others for the human mind but it depends on what their surrounding colours are. You can use colours that ether clash or complement each other for different effects within your image, if you look at a colour wheel the colours that are next to each other complement and the colours opposite will clash. Now this does not mean that you should not have them colours in the same image, just that you should be aware of what effect they will have on the mood of the image.
Where the colour appears in your image will effect the composition of the image and also the balance of different colours and how many. Sometimes a colour can compete with the main element of an image lessening the overall effect and sometimes the colours them self’s can be the main element of an image.
Changing the settings on your camera can make a place look totally different than what your eyes see, like using daylight setting indoors under tungsten lighting will give you a warm feel or a yellow / orange cast to the image. the thing is to play with colour till you get the image that you had in your minds eye in the camera, and do not forget to have fun.
Saturday, 2 October 2010
Lead lines
Lead lines are elements in an image that draw the viewers eye into and around the image, the ones that come to mind first are the railway lines that seam to come together towards the horizon or a winding river or path that draws the viewer through the image. although these are lead lines that are seen in some of the more famous paintings and photos that are popular you do not need to use railway lines, paths or rivers but in fact can use almost any line to direct the viewer around your image, even unseen lines.
Many lead lines work on a subconscious level making them hard to compose in camera but with a bit of practice you will soon have the hang of it. The lines are used to guide the viewer into and around your image so you need to be careful that the lines in your image do not lead the viewer out of frame or too the edge of your image. Some lines will go from edge to edge in your image like the horizon but if you had railway lines going to the horizon this would give you a “T” of lead lines that would help to lead the viewer’s eye around the image. This would be more effective if the horizon was 1/3 from the top giving a tall “T” rather than 1/3 from the bottom giving a short “T”.
Having one major lead line in your image can give you a very strong composition but the use of multiple lines can also give you a strong composition without it being so obvious to your viewer, the trick is to make them work together and not compete with each other. Unseen lines as I like to call them is a persons line of sight, so if you have a person with a principal position in your image looking at something in or outside of the image then it will be human nature for people to follow the line of sight to see what they are looking at.
A lot of things can effect how well lead lines work not lest of which is the viewer, if they come from a culture where people read from left to right or from right to left will have an effect on how well the image may work for them. As with all rules for composition once you know them they are but tools for you to use or not to help you create your image and when you understand them feel free to break them.
Next time I will be looking at colour and how you can use it to bring feeling to your images.
Many lead lines work on a subconscious level making them hard to compose in camera but with a bit of practice you will soon have the hang of it. The lines are used to guide the viewer into and around your image so you need to be careful that the lines in your image do not lead the viewer out of frame or too the edge of your image. Some lines will go from edge to edge in your image like the horizon but if you had railway lines going to the horizon this would give you a “T” of lead lines that would help to lead the viewer’s eye around the image. This would be more effective if the horizon was 1/3 from the top giving a tall “T” rather than 1/3 from the bottom giving a short “T”.
Having one major lead line in your image can give you a very strong composition but the use of multiple lines can also give you a strong composition without it being so obvious to your viewer, the trick is to make them work together and not compete with each other. Unseen lines as I like to call them is a persons line of sight, so if you have a person with a principal position in your image looking at something in or outside of the image then it will be human nature for people to follow the line of sight to see what they are looking at.
A lot of things can effect how well lead lines work not lest of which is the viewer, if they come from a culture where people read from left to right or from right to left will have an effect on how well the image may work for them. As with all rules for composition once you know them they are but tools for you to use or not to help you create your image and when you understand them feel free to break them.
Next time I will be looking at colour and how you can use it to bring feeling to your images.
Thursday, 12 August 2010
The rule of thirds
To days image idea will look at the rule of thirds, as with many rules, they can be broken but there is a big difference between braking the rules for effect and not knowing them or ignoring them. Now before you get your camera have a look through some magazines and books, news images will have the subject in the centre but if you look at advertising and art images you are more likely to see this rule applied.
Now when looking at an image in your minds eye draw a line down from top to bottom 1/3 in from the left of the image and then again from the right, now repeat drawing the lines across the image 1/3 in form the top and bottom. So now, in your minds eye you have overlaid a grid of four lines, nine boxes and four intersections (where two lines cross) over the image, it is important that you do this with your minds eye as it will help you when composing with your camera.
When you look at an image try to work out which elements you are drawn to first and if your attention keeps jumping from one element to another. Now overlay your minds eye grid, you should find that the elements you are drawn to are very close to or on one of the four lines, if it is a very strong element then it will be close to or on one of the four intersections.
Nest time you use your camera keep in mind the grid when composing your photo and rather than just have your main subject in the centre, try placing it on one of the four lines or intersections. If your subject is a person and they are looking to their left then place them on the left of the photo so that you will follow their gaze into the centre of the photo this will give the photo a felling of space and travel.
The photos in this post all make use of the rule of thirds but that is not the only rule they use and next time I will be telling you about lead lines.
Now when looking at an image in your minds eye draw a line down from top to bottom 1/3 in from the left of the image and then again from the right, now repeat drawing the lines across the image 1/3 in form the top and bottom. So now, in your minds eye you have overlaid a grid of four lines, nine boxes and four intersections (where two lines cross) over the image, it is important that you do this with your minds eye as it will help you when composing with your camera.
When you look at an image try to work out which elements you are drawn to first and if your attention keeps jumping from one element to another. Now overlay your minds eye grid, you should find that the elements you are drawn to are very close to or on one of the four lines, if it is a very strong element then it will be close to or on one of the four intersections.
Nest time you use your camera keep in mind the grid when composing your photo and rather than just have your main subject in the centre, try placing it on one of the four lines or intersections. If your subject is a person and they are looking to their left then place them on the left of the photo so that you will follow their gaze into the centre of the photo this will give the photo a felling of space and travel.
The photos in this post all make use of the rule of thirds but that is not the only rule they use and next time I will be telling you about lead lines.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Photo Ideas
Hi all,
Well I have been enjoying the summer such as it has been this past month, hot and wet which left me with a bit of a problem. On more than one occasion, I have headed out with my camera to a place of beauty to take photos that had blue sky and fluffy white clouds but the weather has been against me. As a result, I have been forced to plan for the worse and hope for the best and as a result, I have started to give my self weekly projects that can be carried out no matter the weather.
No matter what type of photography you are into or how accomplished a photographer you are we can all benefit from going back over basic techniques that we seldom use and work out of our comfort zone to tackle subjects that we do not normally enjoy. This will add to your skill base that you can draw upon when you come across a subject in difficult conditions. I am sure that you will be able to think up your own projects but to get you started I will be posting the projects that I have set for my self over the coming weeks.
Now, when thinking about your projects you should try to achieve a number of objectives; you should be able to carry out the project under any weather conditions and both outside and indoors, it should challenge your ability whether that be your artistic or technical skills. Keep your ideas all together in a small notebook that you should carry with you all the time, when you see an image that you like make a note of where you found it and what techniques you think they used. When you have completed the project be sure to go back to your notebook to add what worked for you and what did not.
To find beauty in the everyday
This is a very open project for what is beauty. Well that is down to you, this can be anything but the key is to look at your surroundings to find things that will make pleasing photos. As from my earlier post you will notice that I tend to look at things back to front from the normal way of thinking and this is the same, you first need to think what the photo will be used for, what will the end use be for the photo?
Knowing what the end use for the photo is going to be will greatly increase your chances of getting the desired photo. Even if they are to be used as practise photos in your image editing program to help you with masking or layering. This was just a quick one to get you thinking next time I will start to push your photography, I hope.
Well I have been enjoying the summer such as it has been this past month, hot and wet which left me with a bit of a problem. On more than one occasion, I have headed out with my camera to a place of beauty to take photos that had blue sky and fluffy white clouds but the weather has been against me. As a result, I have been forced to plan for the worse and hope for the best and as a result, I have started to give my self weekly projects that can be carried out no matter the weather.
No matter what type of photography you are into or how accomplished a photographer you are we can all benefit from going back over basic techniques that we seldom use and work out of our comfort zone to tackle subjects that we do not normally enjoy. This will add to your skill base that you can draw upon when you come across a subject in difficult conditions. I am sure that you will be able to think up your own projects but to get you started I will be posting the projects that I have set for my self over the coming weeks.
Now, when thinking about your projects you should try to achieve a number of objectives; you should be able to carry out the project under any weather conditions and both outside and indoors, it should challenge your ability whether that be your artistic or technical skills. Keep your ideas all together in a small notebook that you should carry with you all the time, when you see an image that you like make a note of where you found it and what techniques you think they used. When you have completed the project be sure to go back to your notebook to add what worked for you and what did not.
To find beauty in the everyday
This is a very open project for what is beauty. Well that is down to you, this can be anything but the key is to look at your surroundings to find things that will make pleasing photos. As from my earlier post you will notice that I tend to look at things back to front from the normal way of thinking and this is the same, you first need to think what the photo will be used for, what will the end use be for the photo?
Knowing what the end use for the photo is going to be will greatly increase your chances of getting the desired photo. Even if they are to be used as practise photos in your image editing program to help you with masking or layering. This was just a quick one to get you thinking next time I will start to push your photography, I hope.
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