Search results for: photography composition rules
About 57 filtered results
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
If there’s one question fledgling photographers often ask, it’s “How did you get such a nice background?” Backgrounds are an essential element of a photograph that are often neglected. In fact, it’s safe to say that a background is as important to a composition as the subject itself. After all, a distracting one will detract from an image.
In this guide, we’re going to cover the many methods used to capture clean, smooth backgrounds in our images. This will encompass the settings and gear involved as well as the in-the-field techniques you can
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
First, a disclaimer: Like composition, lighting portraits is a subjective exercise. A setup that works for one situation may not work for the next, and lighting that one photographer adores might repulse another. Cultivating a personal lighting style involves an awareness of conventional approaches and willingness to go beyond what everyone else is doing. Study portraits
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Now that you understand your camera from Part 1, the next step is understanding what makes a good photograph. Derek goes over some of the core elements of photo theory, composition, perfective, and storytelling.
0:00 - Intro
5:05 - Review of what makes an effective photograph
5:47 - Composition
12:54 - Rule of thirds
18:37 - Golden/Fibonacci spiral
23:47 - Leading lines
32:59 - Negative space
38:29 - Asymmetry
41:52 - Frame within a frame
43:10 - Patterns/Repetition
44:34 - Perspective
55:01 - Storytelling - Photo breakdown
1:15:29 - Photo
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Composition in photography refers to the way in which we arrange visual elements in an image. It's how we position the subject in the frame and how all elements combine to create a visually appealing photograph.
All photographs © Mathew Malwitz
Expensive cameras and long lenses can only get us so far. It's not the gear that makes the photo, but the photographer. A creative and observant eye is the key to making visually pleasing photographs. These skills can be learned, and with practice, you'll be well on your way to creating strong
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Despite what you might have seen on the internet, you don’t need all the money and time in the world to photograph wildlife. Sure, an African safari would be nice, but it is by no means the only way to capture stunning images of wild animals. In fact, regardless of where you live, odds are there’s a vast ecosystem that likely goes unnoticed. If you have trees in your neighborhood, you’re off to a great start.
What You Need to Photograph Wildlife
While gear plays a crucial role in our ability to photograph wildlife, it isn’t everything. In this
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Getting started in photography can be overwhelming. With so many tutorials out there, where do you even begin? Do you need an expensive new camera? What are the rules of photography? Take a deep breath—we're here with a new educational photography course. In this episode, Sam discusses tips for new photographers to give you a place to start.
0:00 - Overview
0:28 - What Is Photography?
0:42 - How to Find Inspiration
1:18 - What Do You Need
1:46 - Composition Tips
3:26 - Storytelling: Creating a Gallery
4:30 - The Most Important Rule of All
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
When you first head out to take photos of wildlife, what’s the first thing you think of? If it’s not lighting, we’ve got news for you. Photography is, by definition, the capture of light on a light-sensitive surface. The word “photograph” is derived from Greek roots that translate to “drawing with light.”
We can have the most expensive camera and lens combo, but without good light, we’ll never get the most out of it. Understanding our primary light source and its many qualities is essential to improving as a wildlife photographer, and in this
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
These days, everyone has a camera right in their pocket. Smartphones have long been the go-to camera for quick photos of our friends, family, pets, and of course, ourselves. With features like portrait mode, users can simulate blurry backgrounds and isolate their subject for more eye-catching images. What else could you ever need? What if I told you that with the
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Family portraits are a great way to capture a moment in your family’s history. You may find yourself wanting to capture family photos every few years or so, more often when the little ones are, well, little. Maybe you’re looking for a way to take matters into your own hands, or maybe you’ve been taking your own family photos for years and have found yourself being asked to take photos of friends, family members, or even paying clients.
Family portraits can be a lot of fun to shoot. Maybe you’ve been taking photos of your kids and want to
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Typically confined to the northernmost latitudes of our planet, the northern lights—or "aurora borealis"—are a natural spectacle many dream of seeing. Recently, it may seem like auroras are occurring more often and are visibly farther south than ever before. Maybe you've already seen one or even photographed one with your phone.
While rare, exceptionally powerful auroras have been seen with the naked eye as far south as Alabama. These are uncommon, but in mid-latitude states, visible auroras are a bit more frequent. Last summer, I found myself
by Mathew Malwitz · Posted
Anyone who has dabbled in pet photography knows that it can be a rewarding yet challenging experience. While pets are considered to be part of the family, they’re still animals who walk to the beat of their own drum and do things at their own pace. Even the best listeners can be easily distracted or have trouble sitting still for more than two seconds. If you’re considering trying your hand at photographing our fuzzy friends, we’ve put together this helpful guide for you. In this guide, we’re going to cover the essentials for those with a
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Photographer Russell Graves discusses composition and how it can be used in various cases to make for stronger imagery.
0:00 - Intro
5:50 - Composition rules
22:41 - Image examples
52:04 - Final thoughts
53:12 - Q&A
by Zach Young · Posted
The aesthetics of street photography has evolved greatly over the years. On one side of the spectrum, you have the more “natural” look championed by icons like Henri Cartier-Bresson, William Klein, and Vivian Maier: no added light, no post-processing, no cropping, etc. Elsewhere, you have the innovators, the iconoclasts—artists like Bruce Gilden and Dina Litovsky—who regularly eschew the natural aesthetic by utilizing a
by Allan Weitz · Posted
Though there aren’t any hard rules on the subject—and all rules are made to be broken—wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses are often considered to be the go-to lenses for landscape photography. It’s not like you can’t capture wonderful landscapes with normal or telephoto lenses (you absolutely can), but due to their broad capture angles, wide- and ultra-wide-angle lenses usually win out over the alternative choices. For those who wish to go wider than ultra-wide, you have to turn to fisheye lenses.
Photographs © Allan Weitz 2020
What Is a
by Todd Vorenkamp · Posted
Many of us believe that astrophotography requires a ton of know-how plus the investment of highly specialized (and expensive) gear to create successful images. The truth is that you can capture astrophotography with any camera and any lens. But, as the saying goes, your mileage may vary.
If you already have a camera and lens, you might want to head over to my three-part series Basic Backyard