Simplify!

One of the best ways to have better composition in your photos is to Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!

 Here is a crowded busy image of a landscape in Arizona:

Let's look at all the different ways we can simplify it while still take a photo of red rocks in Arizona:

 

For this part of your assignment take two photos.  One of the whole scene, and one where you re-frame it to simplify and declutter your subject.

Here is an example about a messy teenage room and doing the laundry:

 

See how much more simplified the image of the socks is?  Do you still get the feeling that someone is messy?  

Rule of Thirds

Based on the Golden Mean, the Rule of Thirds is an age old guideline for composing images.  Divide your scene into an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid, then place your subject(s) near any of the four intersections.  It has been proven that people first look for a subject at these four intersection points.  By placing your subject there you are also able to leave room around them to show where they are and what they are doing.  Some of your cameras have these gridlines on your LCD screen to help you. 

Notice in this image the horizon line is being placed along one of the horizontal axis and the woman is along one of the vertical ones?  This creates more visual interest in the photo than if they were just in the middle.

This poor baby is plunked right in the middle... BORING!

Ah, thats much more balanced and pleasing to the eye

Point of View: Bird's Eye

In Bird's Eye shots you are shooting from a high viewpoint as though you were a bird flying overhead looking down on everyone.  No, I do not want a bunch of shots of your feet.  Climb a tree, stand on a chair, get creative!

Point of View: Worm's Eye

In a Worm's Eye View pretend you are a bug crawling along a surface.  Yes this means that you occasionally must get down on the floor... us photographers need to stay flexible.

Sometimes the bug may also look up.

Leading Lines

Diagonal lines are especially dynamic.  Use them to lead the viewer to the subject, guide the viewer across the frame or create “vanishing points”

This creates a sense of three-dimensionality to your otherwise flat photograph.  Paper is flat, your monitor is flat, but through leading lines you can take us "into" the frame visually.

Take At An Angle

This one is very simple, but can add a great deal more interest to your shot.  Simply tilt your camera sideways so that your horizon line shifts.

Fill The Frame

Filling the frame means just that: Fill the Frame!  Your subject should be so large and so close that we do not see any background or negative space around it.

Depending on how close you are getting, you may have to set your camera to Macro Mode.

Frame Your Shot

Framing your shot is like creating a box or frame around your image to tell the viewer where to look.  It is NOT a literal picture frame, but can be made by shooting through things.  This could be leaves, architecture, other people, in between things, getting low on the ground, getting high above the subject.  Just make sure there is a frame around your main subject to lead our eye to it.

Macro Photography

Macro or Up-Close photography is a way of getting as close as you can to your subject and still getting a clear and focused center of interest.  The background will be blurry due to the extreme depth of field because you will be widening your Aperture.  

In order to take Macro shots, you will need to make sure you are on Macro Mode by pushing the tulip button on your camera.  Below is a slideshow of macro photography examples.

Another Sequence Example

Photographic Sequence

A set or series of photographs that are intended to tell a story or evoke a series of emotions in the viewer.  
Your sequence must be between 3 - 6 shots in order to tell your story.