Introduction
If you've read about the technical side of photography in Creative Control and The
Basics you should have a few ideas about how you can take good pictures. The
technical aspect is only part of the process though. Now you need to
think about the artistic side of things
Picking the Subject
You can photograph pretty much anything. With a bit of skill you can make
even the ugliest objects look interesting. It's also possible to make beautiful
things look boring. You can't let the subject do all of the work for you.
Read on to avoid
disappointing pictures.
Before Taking the Shot
Once you have an idea for a subject think -
- Do you want to include the whole of the subject in the
picture - sometimes less is more (see examples at bottom of page)
- What angle do you want to photograph it from? This
is decided in part by lighting, but also by aesthetics. Low angles are often interesting.
- What camera settings are most appropriate for the subject?
Blurred background, fast moving subject etc.
- Distractions - avoid trees growing out of peoples' heads,
animals that look like they have two heads because of where they are standing etc.
These are just three ideas. There are lots of considerations, but when starting
out thinking about these is a good place to start. Most importantly really
look through the viewfinder before taking the picture. You'll tend to look at the
subject that you're interested in and ignore the rest of the frame. Let your
eye scan around for problems. You may also spot something else that you want
to include more
prominently in your picture. Look before you click.
 |
This wide view of ruins in the city of York makes quite a nice picture BUT... |
 |
This much narrower perspective picking out one feature of the subject gives (for
me) a much more interesting picture. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Experiment and see what you like. |
|