Digital Camera World » photo composition

Photography composition tips: 3 killer ways you can master perspective

jmeyer — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:01:28 +0000

Learn how to take control of perspective in your photo composition. In this tutorial we offer our best photography composition tips through your choice of lens to shooting position so you can start making perspective work for you.

For artists and draftsmen learning how to create a sense of perspective is one of the first disciplines to master. In a nutshell it’s the art of rendering the three-dimensional world that we see around us onto the two-dimensional surface of paper or canvas.

Of course, this is also what we do when we take photographs, but because the camera essentially does the work for us it tends to get overlooked.

However, being aware of some the basic principles will help you understand how the elements of your composition work. Knowing how lines draw the eye in and can be used to create a sense of distance can make you a better photographer.

While it’s tricky to manipulate perspective ‘in-camera’ in the way a draftsman might play with it using pen and paper, there are aspects that you can control through your choice of lens, angle-of-view and your distance from your subject.

You can choose whether buildings appear plumb-straight or ‘keystoned’ in your shots, and decide how much of the background to include in photographs of people and objects. You can even play with perspective to create entertaining optical illusions.

So let’s see how you can use perspective to take control of your picture taking…

PAGE 1: What perspective means to photography
PAGE 2: Photography composition tips – Linear perspective
PAGE 3: Photography composition tips – Background
PAGE 4: Photography composition tips – Perspective of scale

What is a Color Wheel: how to find the perfect shades and hues for your photos

jmeyer — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:00:40 +0000

Getting colors that work well together is crucial to any good photo composition. In our latest photography cheat sheet we answer the question, ‘What is a Color Wheel?’ and point out some of the key things you need to know.

The most useful tool for experimenting with colors is the color wheel. Used for centuries by artists and designers, these rainbow circles show how different colors interact with each other.

Primary colors (red, yellow and blue) are spaced evenly around the circle, with secondary colors (made by mixing primary colors together) falling in between.

As a rule of thumb, colors that sit next to each other on the wheel work harmoniously together, and colors that are directly opposite each other are complementary to each other.

It’s also worth keeping in mind when matching colors that different shades evoke strong psychological reactions in the viewer, and even small flashes of one color can really change the mood and message of a photograph.

Used correctly, color is one of the easiest ways to create really dynamic, eye-catching shots.

Infographic: What is a Color Wheel?

Click on the infographic to see the larger version

USE WARM SHADES WITH CARE
Cheerful yellows and oranges are classed as ‘warm’ colors. These have a big impact, and are best used in small doses. Tread with caution when using red – it has strong positive and negative connotations, signifying passion and love but also danger and sin. Blues evoke feelings of tranquility.

PRIMARY COLORS
For a really strong effect try mixing primary colors (red, yellow and blue) to make a bright, bold statement.

RESTFUL HUES
Matching together shades of ‘cool’ colors like blue and green creates an instantly calming effect. Or for instant contrast, mix a ‘warm’ color such as orange or red with a ‘cool’ green or blue.

CULTURAL COLORS
Color connotations vary around the world. In the western world, for example, the color of mourning is black, but it’s yellow in Egypt and purple in Thailand.

Color Theory: best color combinations for photography (and how to take it further)

jmeyer — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 23:01:13 +0000

Learning the basics of color theory can add instant impact to your photo compositions. In this quick guide we’ll take you through the best color combinations for photography according to color theory and how you can take it one step further to make truly amazing images.

Most of us use color in our photography without really thinking about it. As soon as you stop and really consider which shades you use in your shots and how you match colors together in your compositions, though, you’ll see a drastic change in your photos.

In this tutorial we’re going to run through the basics of color theory. We’ll look at how to use a color wheel to mix and match colors perfectly, and then focus on using color in four different ways to create bright, exciting shots in seconds.

You’ll need some bright clothes, but these can be picked up cheaply in charity shops. First we’ll show you how to add one or two touches of a single vibrant color to a mostly neutral subject to create portraits that really make an impact.

From there, we’ll experiment with using complementary colors (ones on opposite sides of the color wheel) together. The third stage is to mix shades of one color for striking effects, and to finish we’ll clash lots of different colors for fun rainbow photos.

We’ll also explain how getting the correct lighting can drastically change how colors are shown. Color can have a huge effect on our moods – used cleverly, it’s a brilliant way to really bring your photography to life.

Color Theory Tip 01 A touch of color

An easy way to experiment with color is by adding a bright pop of one shade to an otherwise neutral composition.

Red is a fail-safe choice, but any warm shade, such as orange and pink, will also work well as a focal point.

Our model’s red lips and scarf stand out against her black coat and the grey walls, drawing the eye in and making the shot come alive.

Color Theory Tip 01 A touch of color
Color Theory Tip 02 Matching complementary colors
Color Theory Tip 03 Shades of a single color
Color Theory Tip 04 color clash
Color Theory Tip 05 Taking it further – how lighting affects colour

Frame within a frame: composition tricks for adding depth and context

jmeyer — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:00:25 +0000

Using a found frame within a frame is a great photo composition trick for filling space and adding depth to an image. In this simple guide we show you how to find your frame within a frame and how to make it work.

Frame within a frame is a simple compositional trick that can prove particularly effective in city and travel photography. Including a natural or man-made aperture such as a gateway, aperture or hole in a hedge in the foreground of your shot creates a distinct border at the edge of your pictures.

One of the attractions of this form of composition is that it allows you to get away from a standard rectangular frame forced on to you by your camera’s sensor.

Using a natural frame allows you to create new inner picture shape. This adds variety to your shots, and often means you can mask out the acres of boring sky or grass that you would otherwise have to include in the frame

Adding the frame in the foreground is also one of the many ways of adding a feeling of depth to your shot, giving a strong suggestion of the third dimension that is missing from a two-dimensional photograph.

How to use a frame within a frame

01 Hunt high and low
Finding natural frames for your pictures can demand a bit of ingenuity, but once you develop an eye for it you will see them everywhere. You will need to change the camera’s height and position to ensure that you can frame the subject well within the frame you find.

02 The window view 
Manmade apertures are the obvious choice for this effect. Archways, gaps in gates and windows can be found giving views of most places if you are not too far from civilisation. This gate was ideal as it could be angled to frame the castle as perfectly as possible.

03 Foreground framing elements
Finding foreground framing elements is a great way of filling areas of empty space in a frame, such as featureless skies or acres of grass. Foliage can work well, and can be found in most places. This hole in a young holly hedge overlooking the keep does the trick here.

04 Focus of attention
For this type of photography, we’d recommend using the ‘A’, or aperture priority, mode. This gives you good control over depth of field. With every frame-in-a-frame you shoot, you will need to decide how much of the scene and how much of the foreground you want in focus.

05 All looking sharp
It is tempting to always have both the subject and the frame tack-sharp, but this can be tricky to achieve. To maximise depth of field to achieve this you will need a small aperture (f/22 say, as above). Use a tripod, and then focus on a point about a third of the way into the scene.

06 Go arty with blur
For handheld shots it is usually expedient to have the frame slightly out of focus to ensure the subject is sharp, accentuating the feeling of depth. A radical alternative is to use a wide aperture (f/3.2 here) and focus on the foreground and keep the subject teasingly blurred.

Final tip 
Found frames can be useful for hiding ugly signs, parked trucks and crowds of people, making the technique very useful for city photography – at home or when traveling.

Balanced Pictures: using color, shape, light and shade for perfect composition

jmeyer — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:00:07 +0000

Our latest guide to improving photo composition shows you how to create balanced pictures. Find out how to take pictures using color, shapes, light and many other factors to create harmonious compositions.

Balance in pictures is a powerful thing. Keeping a frame balanced isn’t quite as simple as getting the right proportions between subjects, or being able to split the image into chunks.

It can be based around colors, light and shade, and other factors.  Why do certain numbers in pictures work better than others? Read on to find out.

Balancing light

Dealing with light in a scene is a matter of balance. The contrast between light and shade can make or break a picture.

Paying close attention to the two extremes when composing and framing your images will result in better photos.

Balancing a scene is a case of making sure that where there’s light, there’s also shade.

Highlights and bright areas are often referred to as ‘light’ (as in weight), whereas dark areas are described as ‘heavy’.

Try composing shots that have light and heavy areas placed according to the rule of thirds.

This image, taken in Bath Abbey, Bath, England is an example of how attention can be drawn to smaller ‘light’ areas in a picture. Without the larger ‘heavy’ areas the shot would feel unbalanced and the composition would suffer.

PAGE 1: Balancing light
PAGE 2: Odd numbers work best for balanced pictures
PAGE 3: Using patterns for balanced pictures

Emotional Images: how to add feeling with muted tones and harmonious color

jmeyer — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 03:00:09 +0000

Find out how to convey mood and make emotional images by using muted tones and harmonious color schemes. In this tutorial we’ll show you how to shoot on-trend emotional images without any fancy software.

Color combinations

“Seek the strongest color effect possible. The content is of no importance…” declared Henri Matisse, the daddy of modern art and leader of the Fauves – a radical group that used flamboyant color to express mood and emotion rather than as a means of realistic visual representation.

If the great man were alive today he might well have applied this dictum to digital photography. By using a long telephoto or macro lens to isolate dynamic color combinations, you can create intriguing and arresting abstract compositions where color reigns supreme.

Bright, artificial objects found in the home or outdoors make excellent ‘dominant color’ subjects – for the best results shoot from an unusual viewpoint and carefully frame your subject to conceal its identity.

Take care when selecting your color combinations, though – in man-made urban environments, random contrasting colors often appear close together, which can give images a chaotic, jarring or even offensive feel.

PAGE 1: Choosing your color combinations
PAGE 2: Emotional images in low-key color
PAGE 3: Using harmonious color schemes
PAGE 4: Using the Monochrome palette
PAGE 5: Diffusing flash for softer colors

Photo Anatomy: how legendary landscape photographer Joe Cornish sees an image

jmeyer — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 02:00:51 +0000

In our new Sunday series on Digital Camera World, we select pictures by famous photographers and explain point by point what makes them work.

In our latest instalment we look closely at an amazing landscape shot by Joe Cornish, who tells us how he composed and shot this stunning scene in the glorious peaks of England’s Lake District.

Dramatic location
Joe shot the landscape between the summits of Red Pike and High Stile. “It was one hell of a climb, carrying a large-format digital view camera outfit and a serious tripod!” he says.

Solid support
The exposure settings were 1/4 sec at f/11, ISO35, so rock-solid camera support was essential. He used a Gitzo 4 series Systematic CF tripod and a Really Right Stuff BH-55 head.

Balancing the image
The weather was bright and clear. “It was too harsh for photos until the last hour of daylight,” says Joe. “I needed a Lee ND 1.2 grad filter to balance the light.”

Camera and lens
To shoot this image Joe used a Linhof Techno view camera with an 80-megapixel Phase One IQ180 MF digital camera back and a Rodenstock Digaron-W 40mm f/4 lens.

Careful composition
The photograph is a journey from rocky foreground to horizon and sky via hills and lakes in the middle distance. Each of the elements is precisely positioned within the frame.

We Say
“When you are photographing large-scale landscapes, it’s important to shoot from a position that allows the inclusion  of foreground elements. In Joe’s image, the rocks act as a compositional device to frame and give depth  to the landscape, but they also help the viewer to connect emotionally with the scene.”
Chris Rutter, Technique editor

Camera Angles: 5 ways to add impact with unusual perspectives

jmeyer — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:00:14 +0000

Sometimes you can dramatically alter your photo composition just changing your perspective. This quick guide to using camera angles more effectively will help you take pictures you can be proud of. Below we’ll show you 5 simple techniques you can use to alter your camera angles for dramatic effect.

The search for a new angle in photography is a never-ending challenge. Showing everyone how we see the world around us from our own perspective is often the driving force for photographers.

Unusual and quirky angles are the mainstay of images with impact. We’ll show you how to get past the usual ‘record’ shot and compose a picture with instant wow factor.

Ideas For New Camera Angles: Shoot straight up

You’ve probably seen plenty of shots like this before. Why? Well, it’s an unusual angle that creates bags of impact and shows you the forest canopy from an arresting perspective.

It offers a ‘worm’s eye view’ of the world and works extremely well with wide-angle lenses. Spend time looking for the ‘perfect’ subjects.

If you find a reasonably symmetrical pattern, such as here, then keep it central. If it’s just a hole in the canopy, try placing it according to the rule of thirds.

PAGE 1: Ideas For New Camera Angles – Shoot straight up
PAGE 2: Ideas For New Camera Angles – Get down low
PAGE 3: Ideas For New Camera Angles – Twist the camera
PAGE 4: Ideas For New Camera Angles – Exaggerate features
PAGE 5: Ideas For New Camera Angles – Kneel down

Crop photos the right way: classic mistakes and how to avoid them

jmeyer — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 16:37:31 +0000

Knowing how to crop photos means getting your crop right both before and after you take the shot. In this easy-to-follow guide we’ll explain the secrets of success.

Image by Marcus Hawkins

Even when the shoot is over the image may still not be finished. Cropping can have a dramatic affect on the way we interpret and view pictures of the world around us.

It’s the first stage in image manipulation and begins with what you leave out of the shot when composing photos. In this section we’ll show you how to get the crop right both in-camera and back in the digital darkroom.

Crop photos with a long lens

Concentrating on a small part of your subject can often have a much more profound effect on the viewer and say more than the bigger picture.

This welder’s grubby hands make for a great example of how spotting and picking out the essence of a character pays off.

Cropping in so tight can sometimes be daunting, especially when dealing with people, but can be done from a distance by fitting a telephoto lens where you would ordinarily have chosen to use a standard lens.

This shot could have been taken cropped in even closer for even more dirty nail impact.

PAGE 1: Crop photos with a long lens
PAGE 2: Crop photos with a wide lens
PAGE 3: Crop photos using different formats
PAGE 4: Crop photos creatively
PAGE 5: Classic mistakes when cropping photos

Color Photography: understanding complementary colors

jmeyer — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 16:22:36 +0000

In the latest instalment of our series on color photography, we look closely at the color wheel to see which are the best complementary colors to use in your photo compositions, and which combinations should be avoided.

Getting colors to work together to produce a striking or harmonious image can be helped by an understanding of the ‘color wheel’ and the concepts of harmonious and complementary colors.

Harmonious colors lie close to each other on the color wheel, and used together in a photograph they can produce very peaceful, beautiful images. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel.

They can clash in a very ugly fashion, but they can also produce striking contrasts and vivid, vibrant images.

Once you start looking for harmonious and complementary colors, you’ll see many more ways of shooting familiar subjects and enhancing their properties.

Using opposite colors

You’ll see from the illustration of a color wheel that blue and orange are opposites and they do indeed produce a strong contrast in a photograph.

They don’t often appear in combination in nature, though, but blue and yellow are almost opposites and you’ll get a striking contrast if you photograph a field of yellow oilseed rape blooms against a blue sky, as you probably know.

Not all contrasts work so well, though. Red and green are opposites on the color wheel, but used together they can clash and create a discordant visual combination – maybe like us you’ve seen ads where red type on a green background (or vice versa) seems to ‘jiggle’?

There’s actually another factor in this theory of opposites which can play a part. Effective contrast comes not just from contrasting colors but contrasting brightness too.

This is why the blue/yellow combination is so striking – the blue and the yellow are very different in brightness, not just color.

PAGE 1: Using opposite colors on the color wheel
PAGE 2: Allow for a dominant color
PAGE 3: Composing photos boldly