Photography - How to do it right, and wrong.
Photography - How to do it right, and wrong.
BUZZ NOTE (2019): This article was posted 7 years ago, and as it is still relevant today, and most likely not seen by many of today's NT members who use a camera, I thought it to be a good idea to post it again. You might note that some of the comments do not seem to reply to another's comment, but that is caused because the comments of members who have since deleted their NT membership have automatically been deleted. Although many of you have probably now seen most of the photos already,I hope that this instructive article will be helpful for those of you who like taking photos. I have not amended anything below this BUZZ NOTE.
This is in response to a challenge by A.Mac to provide something instructive to the group. Well, I'm far from perfect, but here is my attempt, using photos I've taken over the years.
1. What is wrong with this photo?
It looks as if the statue has buried his staff into the back of my wife's head. It's important to make sure the background does not make your photo into something you didn't intend. It would have been better for her to stand beside the statue instead of in front of it - making it more interesting perhaps by putting her arms around it.
2. What is wrong with this photo?
On the subject of backgrounds, it would have been better to blur the background so that the subject, the person climbing the stairs on his head, stood out from the crowd rather than get lost in it. Many digital cameras have an adjustment to blur background, and manual adjusting cameras can open the lens up for shorter depth of field.
3. What is wrong with this photo?
More background problems. Distraction. That's me shooting into a large convex mirror used to see if traffic is coming, but I didn't notice the bicycle. Since the rider was wearing a bright red jacket I had to de-saturate the colour in order to lessen his impact on the photo.
4. What is right about this photo?
On the topic of de-saturation, This is an example of where using black and white adds much to the dramatic effect of the photo.
5. What is right about this photo?
Framing. It does two things - one is that it adds to the depth of the photo, more of a three-dimensional effect, and secondly it frames the subject itself.
6. What is wrong about this photo?
If you are going to use a flash, never aim it at something shiny such as glass, especially mirrors, or as you can see, a marble plaque. It would have to be on a much greater angle to lose the bounced flash that washes out the photo. If possible, stick to natural light in those circumstances.
7. What's right about this photo?
Two things, The primary colours add much interest to the photo, and the monk is looking into and not out of the photo. Placing him at the right lower quadrant was the trick - which is better composition.
8. What's wrong and what's right with this photo?
What's right is using human beings to display the massive scale of the Buddhas, as a contrast. What's wrong is having the human subject looking out of the photo. It would have been much better if she had turned around to look at the statues. There is some distraction caused by the workmen in the background.
9. What's right about this photo?
It is somewhat unusual because shooting against the sun does not always work out well, but in this case it did. It helped to jack up the contrast to make the ripples of the water more prominent.
10. What's right about this photo?
A shot at night over water towards something that is lit up - make sure you keep enough of the foreground to show the reflection. That would be a good idea for daylight shots as well especially if the water is smooth so there is a good reflection. However, for night shots, a little ripple makes the reflection more interesting.
11.What's right about this photo?
Composition, plain and simple, and by plain it requires no colour, which would have detracted from the drama of the tracks. A branch in the foreground was needed for depth.
12. What's right about this photo?
A photo of people doing something, in this case playing chequers, is always a more interesting photo than people standing there staring at the camera.
13.What's right about this photo?
You cannot see any faces clearly. If you use any of your photos for commercial purposes or put them on a site with public access it would have been necessary to get signed model releases from those who could be recognized.
14. What's right about this photo, and what's wrong with it?
The converging lines gives a great feeling of depth and perspective, but the people in the photo are too far back, and should have been a little closer.
15. What's right about this photo.
It is tinted in a sepia-brown tone, which adds to the effect of a farm, along with the lower open field portion. The composition is important here - the downward angle is set up by the vertical sides of the buildings and the upright trees.
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Buzz,
This is a text book of outstanding examples and explanations ... it's extraordinarily instructive.
I have posted articles to both the Group and The Forum (Photography & Art) and it seems that, for some reason, The Forum draws more attention (albeit far too little in my opinion). I'll talk to Perrie about whether or not to article can/should appear simultaneously in both areas, or, whether we should just go with the forum.
It would be a shame for this article to go largely unseen ... any photographer, new or experienced could sharpen his/her skills going through your presentation.
We'll figure out what works best ... and soon.
LOL. It only took 7 years, but thankfully Perrie and TiG have provided the solution by implementing the procedure of promoting articles from groups to the Front Page, and I thank them for that, and I thank you for giving me the ability to do so on your group.
Your compliment is much appreciated. Yes, I wish it could be seen by more people, but I really don't want to spend againthe time it took to post this article. I tried using a group announcement which I believe goes to all group members' email addresses.
It looks like I spoke too soon - 7 years ago.
Buzz:
Really good. Although I have not gotten into photography the way I intended to a few months/year ago, yours and A.Mac's time and effort will greatly increase the quality of those photos I do take.
This really was instructive , not just because of the clear explanations but also the relevant photo examples .
Kneivel approves :
Terry,
Your comment is a high compliment! Please share your images.
Filling the frame as you have adds power to a subject and, with animals and people subjects, the eyes being in good focus is the most important element even if the rest of the image is less than sharp.
Nice work.
Thanks Terry, but you're exaggerating to put me in the same class as A. Mac.
Give Kneivel a touch of catnip for his approval, my treat.
Thanks A Mac . It was beginner's luck ...
I'll do that Buzz . Even if involves me getting "nipped" myself .
It's not luck when you set out to take an effective photo ... and succeed!
That was excellent Buzz! I plan to start back up my camera and this group soon, possibly even this weekend. I did appreciate your picture examples.
Thanks D'Wayne. The group definitely could use more contributors.
Don't sell yourself short, Buzz ... I can't imagine a more informative article, perfectly illustrated.
As much as I'd like to take credit A. Mac [and to give you credit for that long ago instruction about the eyes] I really did get lucky here . I was mostly concentrating on keeping the fur beast still while I took the shot and also framing it to get a lot of him in the picture .
OMG... Finally KNIEVEL!
Well he is a handsome fellow. A spoted Bi-color
Nice to see daddy's little boy!
Buzz,
What an outstanding photo essay of the sites around your home. I really want people to see it and use it as an inspiration so that they take part in the photo group.
As Mac said, I have been concerned about getting the photo group off the ground. I don't want really wonderful work like this getting lost, and I would like more membership participation.
Again, really great work!
We've been hearing about this feline for years and now finally we get to see him.
Thanks Perrie, but the photos are not all around my home. Some were taken in Chongqing where my wife came from and a few are older photos I had taken in Canada with my Canon F1.
I hope it's not an anti-climax ...
Very well done, Buzz. Great to see some 'do and don't' photos with specific info that we can follow. The photos are interesting too.
Thanks for posting these. You're wife is lovely too.
Above this comment which is posted by me during February 2019, are comments that were posted seven years ago. If they do not seem to be replying to any previous comment, it is because the comments being replied to were automatically deleted when the member deleted his/her NT membership.
Articles like this never lose their relevance! I generally instruct new photographers one at a time, and never fail to start each one with ... “you can’t get it right until you first get it wrong.”
When a photograph falls short of the photographer’s expectations, at that moment of disappointment and frustration, he is most likely to be riveted on both the disturbing result and ... the analytics of an experienced tutor with the causes, effects and the way to avoid the same wrongs going forward.
I'll have to admit that I am a graduate of the fine school of photography know as ''Point and hope for the best''...
I spent 8 years studying every aspect of photography, and it always amazes me how often 'point and hope for the best' works out. Some of my best client portraits happened while using that very technique.
My start in photography was as a pre-teen with a Kodak Brownie camera and the "How to Take Good Pictures" guidebook published by Kodak.
Buzz, I see pleasing aspects in all of the imagery you posted, be it humor (intended or not), technique, or the aesthetical quality. You are really quite good, you know. If you have never studied formally, I'm extremely impressed (and/or jealous).
You're too kind. I never studied photography, but I've learned a lot from A.Mac.
Good instruction is always worth repeating.
I have posted instruction photo essays on cropping and on framing as well which I may re-post soon.