Tips & Tricks to get the Most out of your Camera and Photography II
Oct 8, 2008 Tips, Tricks & Tutorials
Earlier, I wrote a little bit on some beginner tips to photography and digital photography in general. Since there is such a wealth of information available, I’ve decided to split what I know and what I have learned into three or four posts. This post I’d like to cover framing your photos, little details, rule of thirds, and leading lines, all simple and excellent ways to improve your photos.
Here are some simple, cost effective, no need for extra bits and pieces tips to help you take better shots.
Framing & Composition : the first one actually has nothing to do with wood.
When you think of a frame for photos, does your mind immediately think four pieces of wood around a photo hung on the wall? I bet it might–but that’s not the kind of framing I’m going to be talking about. I’m going to be asking you to think outside the…ahem…frame for a moment to look around you for things which you can use that isn’t wood.
For instance, take a picture of something in an empty window with a vista of trees and green grass in the background. You can use the window as a frame for the shot–a door way, support beams–anything that can create a frame within the picture leads to a more eye-drawing shot. If you’re still confused as to what I mean, here is a great stock example:
See it? It’s a great way to compose an image. Here are some quick tips on photo composition:
- Some times, people aren’t the most important subject. If you’re at an event, wedding, baby shower, picnic, family reunion, don’t just fill the card or roll of film with images of people–try capturing the environment around you to help preserve memories. Take photos of the meals, the drinks, clasped hands, wedding bands, decorations, baby booties freshly unwrapped and still in the gift box, streamers on the floor and so on. Capturing the environment events take place in often helps preserve the emotion and atmosphere, perhaps preserving a precious moment and memory for long after it has passed.
- Try to be aware of what is going on in the background anytime you take a shot. A too busy background, with buildings and cars and people and kids and dogs and godzilla might not help in taking that intimate portrait of someone. Be conscious of what’s going on behind your subject or object, if it’s too busy or comical (such as branches of a tree looking as if they are magically sprouting from behind your subjects head) change the angle of where you are shooting.
Use your negative space. Negative space is generally just space without much in it. It’s a great way to focus the eye on your subject or that which you want your viewer to look at. An example of this would be to take a portrait of a loved one on a bare painted or textured wall. The eye is forced away from the negative space of the wall to focus in on the person in the photo, for a great example of negative space use, take a look at the image I’ve put up to the left. Your eye is drawn to the bowl of m&m’s in the center, isn’t it? This is a great example of using negative space!
Always experiment, you are never holed up into one guideline or rule. In fact, feel free to set up your shots the direct opposite of what you are told not to do. Why? You never know what you’ll get! You may end up with a fantastic shot by breaking all the “rules”!
This way to the awesome! Using leading lines to direct a viewers attention.
Leading lines can be a great way to also draw the viewer along to the focus of your image. Lines pretty much represent a path between two points and lines in your photography don’t always have to be straight. They can be curvey, jagged, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal.
Lines imply and suggest motion.- Lines can be implied to your viewer. You don’t have to actually find real no foolin’ perfect lines. You can use shapes, objects and other things to suggest lines, the mind just needs a suggestion, most people will see them or have them form from such a suggestion.
- Did you know that, even the way you place a line in a shot could even determine emotional impressions? Horizontal lines could imply tranquility and rest, while vertical could imply power and strength, curved of S shapes could imply quiet, calm or sensuality.
- Lines that meet can suggest depth, scale and distance–like shots of railroads and fences.
Look for lines around you to help your photo!
Rule of Thirds, its not for diets.
Having the object you wish to take a picture of, or the subject of your image smack in the middle of every image every time isn’t always the best way to photograph someone or something. The rule of thirds basically divides your images up into nine even squares, with three lines both ways, splitting your image into thirds. Your subject or object should align somewhat near these lines or near the intersection. Lining your subject up to the left, right, top, or bottom instead of in the middle can create a far more attention grabbing, and, not only is it more interesting to look at? You are almost forcing the viewer to have to take a look at all of your photograph, taking in it’s entirety and the scene.
There are of course, several other things that can help you compose a great shot, but I feel that these are some of the more important tips to think about when you are just beginning. I hope that they’ve helped you as much as they have helped me!
If you are interested in reading the first article I wrote, you can do so here: Tips & Tricks to get the Most out of your Digital Camera and Photography I
Thanks & Credit goes to these Deviant Art photographers for the use of the wonderful stock:
clasixart - m&m’s
riktorsashen - Smith River
vw1956stock - Happy New Year
welder-stock - alps through columns
