Photo Techniques

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PHOTOTALKS: DIETER DE LATHAUWER

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:08:56 -0500

PHOTOTALKS: DIETER DE LATHAUWER:

BY STEVE BISSON

1. Photography as a necessary mean of investigation in a less strictly natural habitat. Pending from emotive to rational, from deliberately casual to precise indefinite. Attract attention to release it slowly. Moving on the edge of reality and its perception. Tell us in general…

Using Color to Create Strong Image Compositions

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:05:32 -0500

By Ron Bigelow

Color is one of the most obvious elements of composition. Everyone knows that intense colors make people take notice of your images. Ever wonder why there are so many sunset and flower shots? Color is the reason.

Color has a couple of functions in photographs. First, color grabs the attention of the viewer. Perhaps, because this function of color is so palpable, many photographers miss the more sophisticated, and in some cases far more powerful, function of color: color sets the mood of an image. Since color is such an important compositional ingredient, the experienced photographer will want to use color to its fullest extend — incorporating both functions of color into images.

Grabbing the Viewer’s Attention

Utilizing color to grab attention is often rather straight forward. Generally, what is required is a saturated or intense color. This type of color tends to grab the viewer’s attention and focus it on the area of color. Furthermore, the color tends to keep the viewer’s attention for an extended period of time. When the viewer’s eyes do wander, the color tends to bring the attention back.

There are a couple of primary ways to use color to grab a viewer’s attention. The first way is to use very saturated, bold colors. An example of this approach would be a dramatic sunset. The second way of using color to grab a viewer’s attention is to use a mix of contrasting colors. An example of this approach would be an image of fall colors where there is a combination of red, orange, and yellow leaves.

Mood

Setting the mood through the use of color tends to be a more subtle application of color than when color is used to grab the attention. However, that does not mean that it is any less powerful.

Different colors elicit different moods. Since there are a huge number of colors, it is not possible to cover all of the colors and their impacts on viewers’ moods in an article such as this one. Instead, a few colors will be reviewed in an effort to convey how colors affect viewers’ feelings.

Blue

Blue tends to bring forth feelings of calm or cold depending on how the color is used. This is a reflection of how we perceive the color in nature: the deep calm ocean is blue, peaceful cloudless skies are blue, and large amounts of ice have a blue tint. Therefore, a photographer that wishes to create a feeling of calm in an image should include blue objects in the image such as a peaceful blue stream or a blue lake.

Green

Green often communicates a feeling of lushness and freshness. Again, our feelings about this color are tied up with how we frequently experience that color in nature. We tend to associate green with spring and new growth. Green is frequently used in landscape photography. Green meadows, plants, and fields can be used to convey the mood of a flourishing scene.

Yellow, Orange, and Red

The last colors to be evaluated are the warm tones: yellow, orange, and red. These colors are associated with feelings of warmth and comfort (again the colors are tied to how we experience them in nature). Sunsets are a perfect example of how these warm colors create a comfortable feeling. Photographers that wish to take advantage of these colors can include, in their photographs, objects such as flowers, plants, food, and rocks that contain these colors.

Light

So far, we have looked at using color to create mood in photographs by means of including objects, with the appropriate colors, in an image. However, there is another way to use color to create mood in an image – the use of light. Early morning and evening provide a photographer with colored light which can be used to powerful effect in images. Before sunrise and about twenty minutes after sunset, everything is bathed in a soft blue light. This light can be used to create a calm mood such as an early morning shot of a beach bathed in the cool, blue light.

Just after sunrise and before sunset, the light is often very warm with red, orange, or yellow hues. This light can be used to create feelings of comfort such as a beautiful mountain peak bathed in a soft, warm, golden light.

Summary

When properly utilized, color can be one of the most effective methods of conveying mood in an image.

Ron Bigelow has created an extensive resource of free articles to help you develop your photography skills.

4 Rules of Composition for Landscape Photography by Darren Rowse

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 01:00:44 -0500

While I’m not always a fan of sticking strictly to the ‘rules’ or ‘guidelines’ of photography I think they can be well worth knowing and keeping in the back of your mind as you shoot (whether it’s so you can follow them or break them for effect). Here’s four ‘rules’ for landscape photography that might be helpful for those just starting out (ie they’re not meant as a definitive guide but rather a starting point) :

1. Diagonal Lines

Photo by Feuillu

Using diagonal lines can be a very effective way of drawing the eye of those viewing an image into it and to the main focal point.

The ‘lines’ need not be actual lines – they could be the shape of a path, a line of trees, a fence, river or any other feature in an image.

Converging lines (two or more lines coming from different parts of an image to a single point) can be all the more effective.

Read more about using Diagonal Lines in your digital photography.

2. Geometric Shapes

Photo by Mattijn

By positioning key aspects of a landscape on points of a geometric shape you can help create a balanced composition. Perhaps the most common and easiest way to do this is to use a ‘triangle’ shape between objects in an image with three objects in a frame positioned with one to each side and one more central.

Using Geometric Shapes in this way isn’t something that I’ve done a lot of – but it is one technique to get balance in a shot and if you’re clever, to lead the eye into it (in a similar way to the diagonal lines rule above).

You can see this illustrated (to a point) in the photomontage image to the right.

Read More

photoradar: Black and white minimalist photography tipsIn our...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:58:53 -0500

photoradar:

Black and white minimalist photography tips

In our hectic, image-saturated world it’s easy to see why Zen-like minimalist photography has become popular. Simple framing, long exposures, square crops and eery mono treatments can create stunning and visually soothing results.

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Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:57:48 -0500

Still Life Photography: Lighting Tips

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:56:18 -0500

Lighting is crucial for still life photography. Here are some tips to help create a beautiful shot:
1. Simple backdrop
2. Contrast lighting
3. Light directionally
4. Pay attention to angles
5. Light for shape

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Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:54:35 -0500

kilsoquah: Ben Canales

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:52:33 -0500

kilsoquah:

Ben Canales

samlim: As all of you may have noticed, I’m fond of using a...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:50:36 -0500

samlim:

As all of you may have noticed, I’m fond of using a plain wall as backdrop for my subjects simply because I consider it neutral, simple and yet somehow edgy compared to using a seamless background. Also its better to create shadows on a plain wall because its much more realistic and dramatic especially when you’re using only one light source. Positioning models against a wall is also much more easier since they can lean against it and do lots of variations with their poses.

Adding elements to your composition such as a wall socket, a light switch, etc. is something I’ve picked up from browsing through Magazines and I somehow thought that it adds a bit of interest in the background. Just make sure to level your horizon in-camera so that it doesn’t look weird on the finished product

Photographer: Sam Lim | Model: Jomie Naynes | HMUA/Styling: Rory Gonzaga | Direction/Styling: Kriska Santos

Tumblr | Facebook | Deviantart | Multiply | ASK ME ANYTHING

“Live out of your imagination, not your history.” - Stephen...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:48:53 -0500

“Live out of your imagination, not your history.”

- Stephen Covey

creativeithink: Rule of Thirds It’s more of a suggestion than a...

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:47:07 -0500

creativeithink:

Rule of Thirds

It’s more of a suggestion than a rule but it makes for great photos. It’s definitely something for new photographers to keep in mind when envisioning their composition.

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Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:44:58 -0500

theraabit: The view from my grandmother’s apartment.

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:43:48 -0500

theraabit:

The view from my grandmother’s apartment.

7 Tips on Photography

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:38:00 -0500

If you’re new to photography and looking for some simple tips and tricks to get your photos looking better, this article will give you 7 tips on photography!

These tips are all compositionally based and help you use your “eye” more when taking photos.

Tips on Photography #1 – Avoid the Center

The rule of thirds is what they call it in the photography books. Basically this advises people taking photos to avoid the center when photographing subjects or objects. This is a great tip to start following with your photos. Simply avoid placing people, animals, or anything of interested dead center. Instead, move it to the left or right, or even to the top or bottom.

An example of this is when you take a picture of a person. The main point of interest is their eyes. So, simply avoid placing their eyes dead center. Place them somewhere else!

Tips on Photography #2 – Use Lines to Lead the Viewers

Lines are everywhere. It’s just a matter of noticing them and using them to create dynamic and more interesting images. This is actually the first of two more tips just with using lines!

The way to use lines to lead the viewers is simple. Simply find your subject and look for lines around. Then move to a position where the lines point to your subject. This can be subtle or obvious. An example of this is having your subject stand near a wall and positioning yourself so the lines of this wall point to your subject. This prevents us from standing straight in front of the subject and taking a picture, reducing the depth. By using these lines, the depth of your shots will become much more expansive.

Tips on Photography #3 – Use the Horizon

Horizontal lines are very peaceful and relaxing. Just think of a sunset a flat field of grass in the summer. The flat lines with very few vertical lines make the photo more tranquil. You can use this technique when you want to make your photo more “relaxing”. Simply look around and see if your photo has lots of vertical or horizontal lines. If it has too many vertical lines try moving back or positioning yourself so the horizontal lines outweigh the vertical lines.

There are common examples of photos with lots of vertical lines but the horizontal line is stronger, making the photo peaceful. Think of a shot of a forest with thousands of vertical trees. The horizon that connects all the vertical lines dominates and makes the scene less “energetic”.

Tips on Photography #4 – Use Vertical Lines

The opposite can also be used with vertical lines. Instead of photographing a scene where the forest has a large horizontal line, get up close to one tree and use the height of the tree as a large dominant vertical line. Now the entire feel and energy of the picture has changed.

This is also effective for skyscraper shots. A shot of many buildings with a large horizon line makes the scene look more mellow. Get close and shoot up at one particular building (augmenting the vertical lines) and suddenly the photo has lots of energy.

Tips on Photography #5 – Use Empty Space

One very effective technique to use for photography is empty space. Many times people that don’t know anything about photography try to fill the entire image with stuff. This often creates cluttered and images that are not pretty.

Solution: Use space. Don’t be afraid of leaving empty space around your subject.

Tips on Photography #6 – Isolate

Very similar to the last tip, isolating your subject also can make photos quite interesting. Most people that take photos just take snapshots of everything. They don’t take time to get up close or zoom into a particular object/subject and isolate it from the surrounding environment. Try this: next time you’re taking photos somewhere pick a few objects and isolate them. Then, be sure the background is not cluttered. This can be done by using a shallow depth of field or simply positioning yourself so the background has empty space. Often times getting lower works great for this as you make the background the clear blue sky (plenty of empty space).

Tips on Photography #7 – Shoot During Sunset and Sunrise

One of the most useful tips that can get your photos looking great is shooting your photos only during sunset or sunrise until you start getting better. During these times the light outside is crisp. The atmosphere gets a nice atmospheric glow of colors in the sky that makes it pretty hard not to take a decent landscape shot.

Try only taking photos in the afternoon and in the morning. Avoid shooting when the sun is directly overhead. This produces harsh shadows that don’t work well for most average scenes. Of course, overhead lighting is great for certain scenes and accentuates details…but that’s for another photography tips post!

Boiling Bubbles from Yellowstone

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:34:56 -0500

Boiling Bubbles from Yellowstone

Photo Techniques

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PHOTOTALKS: DIETER DE LATHAUWER

Using Color to Create Strong Image Compositions

4 Rules of Composition for Landscape Photography by Darren Rowse

1. Diagonal Lines

2. Geometric Shapes

photoradar: Black and white minimalist photography tipsIn our...

Photo

Still Life Photography: Lighting Tips

Lighting is crucial for still life photography. Here are some tips to help create a beautiful shot:1. Simple backdrop2. Contrast lighting 3. Light directionally4. Pay attention to angles5. Light for shape

Photo

kilsoquah: Ben Canales

samlim: As all of you may have noticed, I’m fond of using a...

“Live out of your imagination, not your history.” - Stephen...

creativeithink: Rule of Thirds It’s more of a suggestion than a...

Photo

theraabit: The view from my grandmother’s apartment.

7 Tips on Photography

Tips on Photography #1 – Avoid the Center

Tips on Photography #2 – Use Lines to Lead the Viewers

Tips on Photography #3 – Use the Horizon

Tips on Photography #4 – Use Vertical Lines

Tips on Photography #5 – Use Empty Space

Tips on Photography #6 – Isolate

Tips on Photography #7 – Shoot During Sunset and Sunrise

Boiling Bubbles from Yellowstone

Lighting is crucial for still life photography. Here are some tips to help create a beautiful shot:
1. Simple backdrop
2. Contrast lighting
3. Light directionally
4. Pay attention to angles
5. Light for shape