Most of us have heard the old adage, ‘get it right in camera’. So, we often change white balance, use filters, and adjust exposure settings to get the best captures we can given conditions. If we really want to make every pixel count, I believe we also need to avoid cropping our images whenever possible. Continue reading Make every pixel count
Category Archives: Composition
Creating impact using subject bleed
As photographers we can sometimes miss opportunities to add visual impact to our images by how we choose to compose them. This short article discusses creating impact using subject bleed. Continue reading Creating impact using subject bleed
Using corner exits in garden photography
In an earlier article the idea of corner exits as a composition tool was introduced. This article demonstrates some examples of using corner exits in garden photography. Continue reading Using corner exits in garden photography
Focal length and depth-of-field
As photographers we spend time considering how we want to compose an image. We often think about balance, leading lines, ‘rule of thirds’ and depth-of-field. Typically we associate aperture settings with depth-of-field. One of the factors we sometimes overlook is how lens focal length and depth-of-field are related. Continue reading Focal length and depth-of-field
Composition Tip: Overlapping Elements
As photographers we can fall into patterns of behaviour with our compositions. Breaking out of it can be as simple as changing our perspective and overlapping elements in our images. Continue reading Composition Tip: Overlapping Elements
Angles and alignment in landscape photography
Creating landscape images, like other forms of photography, is very subjective. What appeals to one photographer may leave another scratching their head. When I’m out creating landscape images I often find angles and the alignment of elements in a scene intriguing. Continue reading Angles and alignment in landscape photography
Cropping images of birds-in-flight with the Rule of Thirds
As photographers we all do our best to really think about the composition of our images and construct them to achieve a sense of balance. When we do this well we are able to control eye flow and create a pleasant viewing experience for people looking at our photographs. To accomplish that we often use the Rule of Thirds in our compositions. Obviously this is much easier to utilize when photographing static subjects such as landscapes and much more difficult to achieve when our subjects are moving. Continue reading Cropping images of birds-in-flight with the Rule of Thirds
Using the ‘rule of thirds’ in composition
The ‘rule of thirds’ is a fundamental consideration in landscape photography composition. In this short article we’ll illustrate how to apply the ‘rule of thirds’ with various types of subject matter. Continue reading Using the ‘rule of thirds’ in composition
Improving image eye flow by creating corner exits
Back in the day when I was working in corporate life I gained quite a bit of experience creating and managing advertising, usually print based. When we designed ads it became second nature for us to constantly think about fundamental concepts like visual depth, dominating elements, and ad balance. The goal was to achieve good eye flow in the ad. Since leaving corporate life I’ve tried to apply what I learned about advertising design to my photography.
Continue reading Improving image eye flow by creating corner exits
Creating and Using Leading Lines
One of the most important considerations any photographer makes is determining the compositional lines in the images they create. In this short article I’ll be discussing how various elements can become leading lines and add to the visual flow of your images. Continue reading Creating and Using Leading Lines