|
THE ART OF A THOUSAND WORDS
|
|
A stunning photograph is on par with a powerfully written piece in terms of the
impact it can leave on a person. Iconic black & white imagery, wonderfully evocative
sepia snapshots, breathtaking colour photos. Of people, monuments, buzzing street
life... there's literally an inexhaustible scope to the world of photography. Hey,
if you can see it, you can click it, right? But it's a world with its own charming
nuances, one you need to understand to be able to eventually master. These few pointers
will nudge you in the right direction...
|
GOD IS IN THE DETAILS: A Practical Guide to taking that perfect Photograph |
Get a different angle on things: Choose a vantage point which suits
your subject, not a height that's comfortable for you. Lay down on the ground, climb
up a stair or two, duck into an open manhole if you have to! It's amazing the difference
an interesting angle makes to a photo.
|
|
Think like an Art Director: Know where your photograph's going
to be published, and in what format. Study the style of the publication in question,
and get a good feel for the colours and fonts they favour. These can prove to be
incredibly useful pointers in taking a much better picture.
|
Hunt for contrasts: Dark on light and light on dark is a great
way of making an impact.
Learn the 'Rule of Thirds' – then break it later: Divide your photograph using
imaginary lines into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Then place your subject
at the point where these lines intersect. This is one of the basic composition rules.
Whether you follow it religiously or break it rebelliously, it's a good idea to
know the rule as a starting point.
|
Have an eye for detail: Develop your observational skills to the
point where you're immediately drawn to something out of the ordinary.
|
|
Leave something to the imagination: Viewer's don't need to be hit
on the head with everything. Let there be a sense of mystery to your photograph,
a fill-in-the-blanks which keeps your viewer engaged.
|
Explore the interplay of relationships: That child flying a kite
by the creek looks wonderful. Just walk back a few steps though, and you'll see
his mother a bit further behind him, wonder and affection in her eyes. Take the
time to develop a richer picture.
|
Do away with clutter: Keep things simple and focused. A lot of
elements, and viewers will struggle to find the 'heart' of your photograph.
|
Frame it well: A branch or a window in the foreground, and suddenly
your photograph has a much better sense of perspective to it.
|
Crop it better: Do away with unnecessary elements on the corners
and sides. Is that hint of a lamp-post on the left adding anything to the picture?
Be your own harshest editor.
|
Get intimate: Develop a relationship with your subjects. You can't
expect them to open up their lives to you, if you're viewed as 'that stranger with
a camera'.
|
Get up close & personal: There's no two ways about it. If your
photograph's going to have any sort of impact whatsoever, you need to get as close
to your subject as possible.
|
Keep things 'unposed': Forced smiles and model postures are uncomfortable
for most people to imitate, and hard for viewers to relate to. Try capturing your
subject in a natural setting.
|
Play around with light: Work with the edges of the day, exploring
the beauty of early morning and that mysterious time just before sunset.
|
Don't forget the basics: If you're shooting predominantly Digital,
there's a tendency to forget the fundamental techniques of photography. Make an
effort to keep your mind sharp about the essence of good photography. Play around
with the camera on manual, giving those aperture, exposure and focus skills a healthy
workout.
|
Have a little patience: 3 hours and nothing much has happened,
right? That little stroke of excitement could be just a couple of seconds away.
Keep yourself vigilant and open to the possibility of magic at all times.
|
Those were just a few technical tips to help you take a memorable photograph. But
really, something above and beyond all of them is to be curious to the world around
you. Explore, question, involve, experiment... you never know what stunning photographs
your curiosity could fetch you.
|