Want to make your next set of vacation photos really stand out? It’s easy if you follow a few simple guidelines to improve the composition of your photos.
Composition is an artistic term for how the various elements visible in your digital photos are arranged. Digital photography gives us all kinds of flexibility and control over the photos we take. Then through the use of digital photo editing software like PhotoShop, we can easily improve how our digital photos look. Still our basic decisions about composition are made when we take a digital photo. Here are some tips to improve your decisions which will then improve your photos.
1. Rule of thirds - This is the most common rule for composing photos, and it can be very effective. Just imagine what you see through the viewfinder of your digital camera as divided by 2 vertical and 2 horizontal stripes into 9 sections or a 3 x 3 grid. You can use the rule of thirds by placing the focal point (most important object) in your photos right on one of those lines, instead of in the center of the photo. For example, if you’re taking a photo of a landscape with a building in the scene, place the building in the top 1/3 of the frame, and fill the bottom 2/3’s with the foreground. Or if you’re taking a photo of a sunset on the ocean, shoot the scene so that the sky fills the top 2/3’s of the frame.
2. Don’t be afraid of a close-up - Sometimes you can create a very dramatic photo simply by filling the frame with part of an object. For example, if you are attending an antique car show, go ahead and photograph all the cars. But try for some dramatic photos by taking a full-frame shot of just a hood ornament. Or if you’re photographing a historic building, try capturing a tight shot of a unique architectural detail.
3. Try different vantage points - Most of our photos show the world from about 5 1/2 to 6 feet off the ground. For a more dramatic effort, try a different angle. Try photographing that antique car from the ground looking up - sort of a dog’s eye view. If you can find something to stand on, try shooting down for a bird’s eye view.
Changing your shooting angle can make a big difference in how the same scene looks. If you’re photographing a sunset over a lake, try taking a shot from almost water level. The waves will stand out clearly against the water.
Digital photo editing software like Photoshop allows you to reframe your photos. You can crop your existing pictures to make their impact stronger by applying the rule of thirds after the fact. You can also select a small detail in your larger photos to crop so that it fills the entire frame. However, digital photo editing software cannot help you much when it comes to camera angle. So when you take your next set of photos, remember the dog and the bird. Let your imagination run free, and you can separate your photos from the ordinary.
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Dave Hunt has shot landscape and scenic photos in almost all states of the US and in most countries in Europe. He is the author of numerous articles on photography, travel and recreation. You can find more articles, tips and how-to’s, along with and the latest news and information on digital photography at: http://www.digitalphotographygeek.com For tips on travel and vacation ideas, visit: http://www.deskatravel.com and http://www.bahamasbeat.com |
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