| Let us learn how to shoot pictures. Lessons of composition:
As the Institute of photography in New York recommends, for getting a good photograph, it's necessary to know the object of the photograph, concentrate on it and remove extras from the frame.
So, you should know what you want exactly to take a photograph of. Off course, there is a possibility of successful accidental frames.
A good photograph should talk about itself. As far as possible, so that the person, who is seeing the photograph, is addressed with a question, for example, “Where is this statue?” but not like “What is this?” Cases of deep regret due to uninteresting photographs are very frequent. How can you make them interesting?
The following are several suggestions.
Fill the frame with the object of the shot.
Don’t be lazy to go closer, shift the instrument to the right – to the left, up and down, so that the entire space of the frame is filled with what you want to shoot. And try to avoid extras as far as possible. Off course, you remember about the possibilities of your camera, i.e., focusing on a close distance. A simple hand held camera (soap box) can take sharp photographs no closer than 2.5 meters.
View finder — non-optical aim!
Sometimes, some photographs impose the impression that the photographer does not see anything except the object of shooting. This is correct, if it is necessary to take a photograph for passport.
Pure psychology — some types of border or cross marks, which shows the area from where the automatic system of the instrument takes data for auto focusing and the automatic display, is provided in the center of the window of the view finder for many instruments. The person simply brings important things on display inside this border (cross). How to fight with this phenomenon? Cunning manufacturers of cameras have provided preliminary focusing for these cases. It means, it is necessary to aim the camera where the person wants and press down the start button half way. In this case, the automatic system focuses the object required by the user and will not move more. Now you can reformat the frame as per your choice, obviously within the limits of sensible meaning, i.e. moving with fixed focusing is not recommended — here it is necessary to remember about the depth of focus. Reformed? That’s good, now the button can be pressed completely, respectively the instrument gets clicked, buzzes and in general takes the shot. Only now the frame is compiled as per your requirement.
Let us take the space of a frame and let us divide it. Divide it into three equal parts in horizontal and vertical directions. It is necessary to position the important part of the future snapshot topic wise in the cross point of these dividing lines.
So we have four basic focuses (cross points of lines). Opportunely, such lines or similar marks are available in view finders of some costly cameras. It is appropriate to ask the question about the selection of the most suitable focus for the topic. There is an opinion, that the left lower part and upper right are the strongest as per their action. The eye starts its movement along the picture especially along the diagonal, where these strong focuses are located. First impression — it is very important.
The very popular mistake lies in the fact that very little importance is given to the boundaries of the frame. It is necessary to keep the head of the human being (sometimes it is also cut) and he should stand on the ground (or any surface). Prior to pressing the button, make a habit to quickly go through the perimeter of the window of the view finder to check whether everything is covered or not. It is very difficult to get accustomed to this. But later…..
Composition in photography is similar to the composition in a painting — the requirement to point out the beauty, uncommonness or other important peculiarities of a topic. The aim of composition is to create a picture which will be liked by you and viewers who will see it.
After completion of the selection of the composition of a picture, it is necessary to: first of all attract the attention of the viewer, secondly retain the viewer’s attention and really awake the desire in the viewer to see your other photographs.
What ever pictures you take, try to meet these conditions.
Attention can be attracted by dark paints, dimension, uncommon edging or a controversial topic.
Attention can be retained by an interesting topic or sketch. Try to simplify the picture up to the minimum required; which opens the meaning of the picture and takes the viewer to the main idea of the frame. The photograph should not embarrass or insult the senses. Try to make it harmonious and pleasant to the eye.
The photograph should be of a technically high quality: properly exhibited, qualitatively displayed and sharp in displayed places (if of course, any special effects are not used).
It is necessary to know that the camera sees the world with only one eye, that’s why it is not capable of generating three dimensions. That’s why compositions should be such, that it ensures a deep sense for the viewer, i.e. multi aspect. It should have close, middle and rear aspects.
And finally regarding the angle:
The idea is that the view of the object from different sides is different. In connection with this, some parts of the object may be visible or some may be hidden. For example, Baba-Yaga (a witch in Russian folk tales) with a huge nose may have a slim and attractive neck, which can be taken on film. In short, by changing the angle (i.e. shooting point) it is possible to change the entire view, matter and idea of the topic.
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