I've spent the better portion of an afternoon critiquing student work and several key ideas kept surfacing. Its interesting to me that although these concepts are relatively easy to implement , they seem very hard to remember to use.
So.... let's look at these ideas. Try to keep in mind that any one of these or, all of these can only add to the quality of your images.
When you are shooting your images, slow down and think through all the possible options.
FOCUS IS CRITICAL! Check it and then recheck it.
Correct white balance can add color, clarity , and impact to your images.
Use a tripod whenever possible.
Is my exposure correct?
Have I used the correct combination of aperture and shutter speed to give the effect I am after?
Is my composition in the correct format for my intended use?
Are there any elements in the photograph that are too busy or tend to clutter my composition?
Does my photograph tell a story?
This process of thinking through all of your options may take a few minutes but in time it will become second nature and you won't even slow down as you work through the answers in your mind. Your subconscious will take over and you will find that your work steadily improves. It's just a mental checklist but to some degree it will ensure that your photography is the best you can make it.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Two steps forward or two steps back ? Framing and Cropping
One of the more subjective topics in Photography is the framing or cropping of your photographs. Too tight and you lose the desired look, too loose and you don't emphasize the subject. Should you shoot in a horizontal format or a vertical format?
I've heard many theories on cropping ( and framing) over the years. Some pretty good and some not so good but there are a couple that stand out from the rest in terms of validity.
1- Compose your photograph in camera and then take two steps forward. Or...two steps backward.
This may sound a bit extreme but I have found that it is usually true. A tighter framing of any good composition can usually strengthen the composition. In an instance where tighter doesn't work, look at a looser composition.Vertical or horizontal, it really doesn't matter.
2- Cropping can add focal length. By cropping closer to your subject you can give the impression of added focal length in your pictures. Look at your catalog of images and evaluate each one for composition. Could they be improved by cropping in closer on the subject, or by using cropping to emphasize a detail or segment of a photograph?
3- Look for a shot within the shot. Many times you take a photograph concentrating on a particular aspect of a subject. After you get home and look at your images you may discover that there is more going on in the picture than you originally saw. Consider a crop that isolates this as a subject of its own.
The above ideas are good but rely heavily on your having properly set your camera as you take your photographs. Always use settings that are appropriate to the subject. Proper ISO selection, lens choice, correct metering pattern, good exposure. Having done this as you shoot your images will allow you some additional creative controls in the editing process. Look deeper into your photographs! Create new compositions using a different crop of your existing photographs.
Have fun with it! Always look for new ways to look at the "same old things"!
I've heard many theories on cropping ( and framing) over the years. Some pretty good and some not so good but there are a couple that stand out from the rest in terms of validity.
1- Compose your photograph in camera and then take two steps forward. Or...two steps backward.
This may sound a bit extreme but I have found that it is usually true. A tighter framing of any good composition can usually strengthen the composition. In an instance where tighter doesn't work, look at a looser composition.Vertical or horizontal, it really doesn't matter.
2- Cropping can add focal length. By cropping closer to your subject you can give the impression of added focal length in your pictures. Look at your catalog of images and evaluate each one for composition. Could they be improved by cropping in closer on the subject, or by using cropping to emphasize a detail or segment of a photograph?
3- Look for a shot within the shot. Many times you take a photograph concentrating on a particular aspect of a subject. After you get home and look at your images you may discover that there is more going on in the picture than you originally saw. Consider a crop that isolates this as a subject of its own.
The above ideas are good but rely heavily on your having properly set your camera as you take your photographs. Always use settings that are appropriate to the subject. Proper ISO selection, lens choice, correct metering pattern, good exposure. Having done this as you shoot your images will allow you some additional creative controls in the editing process. Look deeper into your photographs! Create new compositions using a different crop of your existing photographs.
Have fun with it! Always look for new ways to look at the "same old things"!
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