The key to any endeavor be it artistic, industrial, or personal is to have a clear-cut goal.
In photography, our goal is to consistently create photos that duplicate the beauty of the subject that we're viewing through our lens.
In mentioning this, I hearken back to a conversation that I had with Michael Kenna, a photographer whose work and opinion I respect immensely.
I had just shown him two of my photos, which happened to be black and white snow scenes.
After carefully looking at them, Michael simply asked me, "Are these photos as good as what you saw when you were there?" I replied that I didn't think it possible to duplicate that beauty in a photograph, and his reply is one that I will never forget: he looked at me and said, "Then why bother?" As his words sank in, I realized how right he was - as photographers we need to have the goal, with each and every shot, of creating an image that is even better than the actual subject we're shooting.
You may be saying, 'I always strive to make my photos as beautiful as the subject...
but how do I consistently accomplish this simple goal?" My answer is that we do it through light and composition.
Here are some composition tips that I discuss in my book, Black & White Nude Photography: Rules of Thirds: Many beginning photographers consistently put their models or subjects in the middle of the frame.
Dividing the frame into thirds with imaginary lines and aligning the subject with those imaginary lines gives your image better harmony.
Frames: Doors, windows or other framing objects can help to define a model and/or subject by directing the viewer's eye.
Using frames within frames can emphasize the effect.
Negative Space: Empty areas set off the model or subject of your photo.
Use the space to provide an uncluttered background for your subject.
Control the Viewer's Eye Movement: Photographers can deliberately plan the path of the viewer's eye.
For example, positioning a model where paths or creeks converge draws the viewer's eye to the model.
Tonal Contrast: Contrast helps to set elements of a photo off from one another.
A light figure posed against dark clouds provides strong contrast that sets off the model.
Use of filters helps to create color and tonal contrast.
Tell a Story: Expressions, poses and scenes combine to suggest emotions and events helping the viewer to become more involved with your photo.
Remove Noise: Rid the frame of extra detail and unneeded elements that prove distracting.
Try incorporating some of these techniques and see how your photos really pop!
In photography, our goal is to consistently create photos that duplicate the beauty of the subject that we're viewing through our lens.
In mentioning this, I hearken back to a conversation that I had with Michael Kenna, a photographer whose work and opinion I respect immensely.
I had just shown him two of my photos, which happened to be black and white snow scenes.
After carefully looking at them, Michael simply asked me, "Are these photos as good as what you saw when you were there?" I replied that I didn't think it possible to duplicate that beauty in a photograph, and his reply is one that I will never forget: he looked at me and said, "Then why bother?" As his words sank in, I realized how right he was - as photographers we need to have the goal, with each and every shot, of creating an image that is even better than the actual subject we're shooting.
You may be saying, 'I always strive to make my photos as beautiful as the subject...
but how do I consistently accomplish this simple goal?" My answer is that we do it through light and composition.
Here are some composition tips that I discuss in my book, Black & White Nude Photography: Rules of Thirds: Many beginning photographers consistently put their models or subjects in the middle of the frame.
Dividing the frame into thirds with imaginary lines and aligning the subject with those imaginary lines gives your image better harmony.
Frames: Doors, windows or other framing objects can help to define a model and/or subject by directing the viewer's eye.
Using frames within frames can emphasize the effect.
Negative Space: Empty areas set off the model or subject of your photo.
Use the space to provide an uncluttered background for your subject.
Control the Viewer's Eye Movement: Photographers can deliberately plan the path of the viewer's eye.
For example, positioning a model where paths or creeks converge draws the viewer's eye to the model.
Tonal Contrast: Contrast helps to set elements of a photo off from one another.
A light figure posed against dark clouds provides strong contrast that sets off the model.
Use of filters helps to create color and tonal contrast.
Tell a Story: Expressions, poses and scenes combine to suggest emotions and events helping the viewer to become more involved with your photo.
Remove Noise: Rid the frame of extra detail and unneeded elements that prove distracting.
Try incorporating some of these techniques and see how your photos really pop!