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Great Photo Composition Part II

The “rules” for composing great digital photos are simply great guidelines for beginners. The following suggestions are not binding – experiment to your heart’s content. Photography is not about perfection. It’s about capturing images that will be pleasing to you and those you want to share the pictures with.

The key suggested guidelines for image composition:

· Envision the desired image in your minds-eye. Visualize what you want in the image before taking the picture.

Another great guideline for composing superb photos:

· Choose a primary point of interest before taking the picture. Determine which area is of the most importance to you and compose the picture around that area. What is the key item or subject (the Center of Interest).

A Short Series On Composition

Though I am not too interested in abstract art, or conceptual photography, I do believe photo images should be unique, almost a story in picture. By manipulating your camera, the subject, the surroundings, or your method, extra-ordinary scenes evolve from commonplace landscapes or subject matter? Before snapping a single photo, you should carefully consider the conditions (lighting, weather, glare, closeness…). To this end, many people don’t advocate using the LCD screen to set up and take the picture. However, this is probably the single greatest factor for producing great images.

I would like to take a few days to cover a few guidelines for composing (setting up) great photos. I’ll take a couple of days and give one or two tips at a time.

Stay tuned….

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with digital camera, digital photography, photo composition, photo images, photo imaging., photographs, photography

Off Center

Keeping the main topic of your shot slightly off center will make for a more interesting image, of course you do not want to have your topic too far center. This may not be revolutionary or life altering, but this variation will create interesting alternatives and distinctions. Just a little something to mix up your photo images.

Just by having the subject off slightly, right, left, up, or down, can turn a good picture into a remarkable or memorable picture.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, photo images, photo imaging., photo subject, photographs, photography

Consider Your Angle

Consider the angle of your shot before hand. Will the photograph look better straight on, to the side, or at an odd angle? How close or far away should your image be? Some topics might even look impressive from below or above. So do yourself a favor, before clicking the photo, take a second to consider an alternate shot.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with Add new tag, digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, photo images, photo imaging., photographs, photography

Best Time For Photography

Well that really depends on what you plan to photography. Interior or portrait shots generally don’t matter, unless you plan to use natural light. The best time of day to find natural light is prior to sunset. Generally speaking, the light is softer yet bright enough to fill out your picture. Also, the light at dusk is generally full of warm colors, think of all the oranges and pinks you see in a sunset sky. For the best nature based photographic enhancement, bring out your camera in the evening.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, Natural light, photographs, photography, sunset

Take A Sequence Of Photos On The Same Topic

For something a little different, try to compose a series of photos on one subject spread over a specific time interval. Chose a slowly evolving topic to photo-document over several days, perhaps the growth a plant or fruit on a vine. Take photos at approximately the same time over several days or weeks. This will look great when the photos are view in succession.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with camera, digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, photo images, photo imaging., photo subject, photography, Pictures

Wide-angle Lens and The Tripod

When you use a wide-angle lens to capture a panorama shot, watch out for the distortion sometimes caused by such a wide-angle lens. Generally, the width of the lens and the generally slow aperture needed for some shots can create minor issues with the overall photo quality. Secondly, a larger lens can make your camera awkward or unbalanced; the shaking of your hand can ruin a good photo. Though there are several ways to compensate for this, one of the simplest ways to compensate for this to use a tripod.

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with camera, digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, photography, wide-angle lens

Can You Really Say Good and Blurry In The Same Sentence?

When is a blurred picture good? When you want to show movement, perhaps the blur of a pitcher’s arm as he throws a pitch or a racecar crossing the finish line. Reset the shutter speed to a slower setting. This will allow motion to be captured and your camera captures the image.

Posted by Brian Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials and tagged with digital camera, Digital photo, digital photography, photo images, photo imaging., photographs, photography

Another Great Use for Digital Cameras

Digital Cameras make the ultimate keep-sake preservers. What I mean is that a digital photo is far superior to keeping traditional photos, little cluttery knick-knacks, or hundreds of little projects (though you should keep some of the kid’s “art”).

Just the other day, my son lost another tooth. This was his second in five days which leaves a considerable gap on the right side of his mouth. Well parents know that those toothless smiles are cute.

I snapped off several digital photos and I have a painless keep-sake. I can store them on my computer forever, set it as my background, print it off, email to grandma…. The possibilities are endless.

Remember, Our Digital Photography eBook is at - http://digitalphotographysecrets.weebly.com/

Posted by Heather Trimmer in Digital Photography Essentials

Candid Shots

We all have pictures hanging on the wall or in our wallet where the photographer said, “Say cheese.” Sometimes it is painfully obvious in an over-acted, hyper-smile. Many are cute or adorable or handsome. There is definitely a time and place for looking at the camera and giving a heart-felt, warm smile.

How about candid shots though? How many times do we interrupt a child’s play or a couple’s conversation so they can say cheese? In that moment where the focus and joy of the activity is disrupted, a little magic is lost.

Capture the sheer abandon of a child lost in the fun of a fantasy game. Portray the happiness or interest of a couple lost in conversation. Photograph the natural wonder and excitement of someone inspecting the ocean or an animal at the zoo. A good candid photo encapsulates a whole range of emotions and unspoken thoughts in a way that a staged, pre-set portrait can not.

You can certainly keep the fixed and specific shots. People generally like to be aware when their picture is being taken. However, sprinkle in a healthy dose of “surprise” shots. You will capture a true and natural essence that is unparalleled in joy.

Our Photo eBook is Available at – http://digitalphotographysecrets.weebly.com/