Howard Moo Young, Contributor
BLACK RIVER - I used the natural opening among these trees to frame this boat as it sailed up the mouth of the Black River. Standing on the riverbank, I took time to compose this photograph carefully, getting rid of the unwanted clutter out of the frame. - Photos by Howard Moo Young
Few pictures can be taken from an armchair, even a cursory glance at any selection of effective photographs shows that most, if not all, required effort to find an interesting subject, waiting until natural lighting conditions were just right, altering the arrangement of still life, and so on.
Pressing the shutter release is the least important part of the photographic process; what counts is preparation and training yourself to see, anticipate and organise images in the viewfinder.
The best way to become a competent photographer is to use your camera. The more you handle and experiment with it, the more familiar it will become, and the less it will get in the way of what you're trying to achieve.
Cameras and lenses, however, attractively packaged and enjoyable to fiddle with, are only a means to an end - producing photographs.
When you reach the stage that they are almost second nature to operate, you will have more time to concentrate on the image. You can afford to make mistakes, especially you digital buffs, and it is better learning from these than to sit at home imagining a perfect picture that may never find its way into a print.
Continuing from last week, here are some more tips to help make your pictures better:
Concentrate on your composition
Understanding the elements that make great photos is the key to creating them.
Stop reading! Peek over the page of this Sunday Gleaner for a second and take a look of what's in front of you. It doesn't matter what you see - it could be the inside of your living room, a view out of a window, or an airport lounge. Now, imagine what that scene will look like if you photograph it. How would you give it impact?
The chances are that what you see in front of you at this very moment wouldn't make a great photo. Or maybe it would.
Maybe you need to consider not what you are looking at, but how you're looking at it. One of the fundamentals of creating great images is composition. This can make or break your final result.
No matter how good (or bad) your subject, if you don't consider your composition that could be the end of a great photograph.
This is why committing yourself to the rules of composition may be one of the best things you could do.
Frame it right
Use your camera to create a frame around what you see.
I have learnt to crop in-camera, and you can too, don't wait to get your pictures back to do it at home on the computer. Nowadays, I've met a lot of photographers who rely on the computer to do everything - to crop, take out unwanted garbage such as empty cups and paper bags, sharpen the image, etc. They don't devout enough time to compose carefully. A common fault in many photos is that the point of focus is surrounded by irrelevant information and so loses impact.
Try to think graphically when taking photographs. What you see with your eyes will be completely different framed up through the camera and reproduced on a two-dimensional surface. Have you got trees growing out of people's heads, or someone's leg that isn't relevant to your picture? Every element within the frame should be clear and uncluttered. When composing, make sure that everything you see in the frame is what you want to be included in your photo. Look beyond the point of focus and be selective about what other information you include in the frame. Use the camera to cut off the information you don't need. It's a discipline which will help you to take better pictures and one that I constantly exercise.
Don't just stand there
Adjust your viewpoint. Take two steps sideways, backwards or forwards. Bend your knees and see how the scene you're framing changes with the slightest movement. Use this method to crop out information you don't need. A step to the left could mean, for example, that the tree growing out of a person's head now comes out of the ground. Don't keep taking pictures at eye level. Look for something to climb up unto, such as a chair or rock. Moving your viewpoint up, down or sideways is a great way of getting interest into your picture. When shooting children, get down to their eye level, it makes a world of difference.
A frame within a frame
Create well-balanced and striking compositions by framing your subject within the confines of an architectural detail, such as a doorway or a window. Such frames often serve to simplify an otherwise distracting background. With a little imagination, suitable framing devices can be found almost anywhere. Try framing through objects, such as an arch or the branches of a tree.
Identify your focal points
Every image should have one - and it shouldn't just be slap in the centre of the frame. The focal point is the area which our eyes are drawn to, and it forms the basis of the photograph. Everything else in the image should support this point.
Horizons
Try to keep your horizons straight, it's like hanging a picture on the wall lean, it bothers me. Landscapes generally look better if you break the scene into thirds, with two-thirds of the image made up of land and one third sky, or vice versa. Focus with your subject in the centre of the image, then reframe your shot to suit your composition.
Critique your work
Honesty is your best policy.
One of the best ways to become a better photographer is to critique your workÉhonestly. Don't convince yourself that you've taken a brilliant picture when perhaps you haven't, because you've become so emotionally involved in the making or taking process. Creating great photographs depends as much on our skills for editing and critiquing as it does composing.
You might have got up at the crack of dawn, found the most incredible location and caught the light at just the right moment, but maybe you've missed that certain something which makes a great picture. And the sooner you can tell yourself when you've done this the better. Honest, constructive criticism of your work is part and parcel of the photographic process.
Re-assess your work
It may look different the second time around.
Go back to your work after weeks, months or even years have passed. You may see it in a completely different light. An image that didn't impress you then, might make the perfect sandwich with another subject you just took yesterday. I've done this many times over with good results.
More tips next week!
- Howard Moo Young, a graduate of the School of Visual Arts, New York, is an Advertising, Graphic Design, and Photography Consultant with over 40 years experience. Email: mooimages@yahoo.com
