Category: Composition
The Importance of Location to Your Photography
It often gets said that “you can take a great photograph anywhere.“ I actually take issue with this statement, even though I acknowledge it is probably technically correct. Is it possible to take a great photograph anywhere? Sure, I suppose it is possible. It is just that it is extremely difficult and very unlikely in… Continue reading The Importance of Location to Your Photography
Your Next Step: Simplifying Your Message
Recently, I have judged a few photo competitions. In doing so, I found myself making the same comments over and over again. It was helpful to me because I now think I have a clearer understanding of what you are struggling with in your photography (whether you know it or not) and how you can… Continue reading Your Next Step: Simplifying Your Message
Creating Great Photos: What It Takes
If you are reading this, it is because you have a passion for creating great photographs. You think a lot about how to improve your photos. You work at it. Probably a lot. So let’s talk a little about how to do that. Specifically, what does it take? But First, What It Doesn’t Take You… Continue reading Creating Great Photos: What It Takes
Find Creativity in Photography: Connect the Dots
or Using the Practical to Become Creative Do you want to become more creative? I think we all do. But how do you do that? By focusing on creativity itself? I really don’t think so. In fact, I don’t think you can really teach creativity. But at the same time, I don’t think creativity is something you… Continue reading Find Creativity in Photography: Connect the Dots
The Color of the Sky
We all know the sky during the day is blue. We know that clouds are white (or grey). And we know that the sky can turn different shades of yellow and orange at night. But why? When you are photographing in the outdoors, the sky is such a huge part of your pictures that it… Continue reading The Color of the Sky
When It Comes to Subjects, Use What You’ve Got
If there is one type of photography I would most like to do, it is coastal photography. I could take nothing but seascapes the rest of my life and be happy. However, I live in a suburb of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. I am 300 miles from the nearest ocean, which is not particularly attractive… Continue reading When It Comes to Subjects, Use What You’ve Got
Composition: What Do You Do When There is No Subject?
Landscape photographers face a problem that other photographers usually don’t have: deciding on a subject. For example, when a portrait photographer prepares to take a picture, there is no question what’s the subject will be: the person. Similarly, a wildlife photographer always knows what the subject of their photo will be as well: the… Continue reading Composition: What Do You Do When There is No Subject?
Composing Back to Front: The Best Approach to Composition
All pictures really boil down to 3 parts. Those parts are the subject, the background, and the foreground. All are important, and if any one are is not right, the picture will not turn out well. But these 3 parts are not of equal importance. Further, there is a particular order in which you should… Continue reading Composing Back to Front: The Best Approach to Composition
A Process for Working the Scene: Sketching
Some photographers never carry a tripod. It slows them down and gets in their way. Other photographers always shoot from a tripod. These photographers usually prefer being slowed down, and are very precise about the pictures they take. If you are one of these types of photographers, this article isn’t for you. Rather, this article… Continue reading A Process for Working the Scene: Sketching
In Defense of “Chimping”
If you are just starting out in photography, then what I’m about to tell you in this article will seem like the most obvious stuff in the world. In fact, it will appear banal and stupid. But if you’ve been shooting for a while, you might have been exposed to a philosophy that I think… Continue reading In Defense of “Chimping”
Take the Obvious Shot
Sometimes when we approach a given scene with our camera in our hands there is an obvious shot. You know, that shot of the front of the building. Or the straight on shot of the scene before us. Sometimes we take that shot, but sometimes we don’t. I mean, sometimes that shot is just so… Continue reading Take the Obvious Shot
A Framework for Composing Your Pictures
The first part of this series covered the critical importance of composition and the lack of abundant resources for helping you learn it. It also touched upon establishing a process – not all the rules and concepts, but a process – for you to go through in getting started with composing your pictures. That is… Continue reading A Framework for Composing Your Pictures
The Critical Importance of Composition in Photography
I will start this article by stating my belief that composition is the most important aspect of photography. I don’t think composition is “an” important part of photography. I think it is “the” most important aspect. It is what we should all spend a disproportionate amount of time thinking about. We Worry About Everything But… Continue reading The Critical Importance of Composition in Photography
Getting Extraordinary Lighting
You may have heard that dawn and dusk are the best times for photography. And that’s true. The best lighting is almost always to be found at these times. In fact, many outdoor photographers simply put their cameras way between about 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. So step one of “how to get extraordinary lighting”… Continue reading Getting Extraordinary Lighting
Applying the Rule of Thirds
There is probably no rule in photography as well known as the “Rule of Thirds.” And for good reason. It serves is a simple yet fundamental principle to use for taking good pictures. In this article I will explain what it is and show you how to use it. If you are already familiar with… Continue reading Applying the Rule of Thirds