The story of one photo
Is photography able to tell a story? How is it possible to exteriorize things, that are impossible to tell, with images? First and foremost, you have to understand, that photography is not all about observation, it also involves feelings.
How to tell a story with a camera?
Every photographer wishes his photos to make people think and reflect on subjects being presented. It’s all about empathizing with things you take pictures of. If a photographer can’t do that, he’ll never be able to move the viewer, who looking at the photo would feel absolutely nothing. A good photography is the one that does the trick, and it does, if it derives from a deeper state of thoughts and reflections, as well as, from active state of spirit. Only then it’s true and authentic. Photography worth presenting should have simple composition and at the same time its content has to be ambiguous within the meaning.
Where to go for inspiration?
Inspiration could derive from nature or the world surrounding us. It’s worth it to fill it with contrasts. Search out for a story, which is happening within the reality around you. Sometimes you have to revisit a certain place to discover its potential for further photo shooting, where you will create the world you want the viewer to see. If you manage to take an ambiguous, imagination stimulating and encouraging for further interpretation photo, you could say you’ve scored an undeniable hit. Sometimes, you should think more interesting and original frame through, before you push the camera trigger. It’s about the position you take pictures from, once a while it’s worth trying different perspectives instead of classical one – from underneath, from above, at an angle etc. It could turn out to be that the photo looks different and much more interesting than you would ever expect it to, making your story special and magical.
How to add depth and uniqueness to your photos?
Most of the times, apparently simple pictures seem to have “it”, the thing that makes a particular photo special in the eyes of the beholder. Sometimes, you need to be at the right place in due course to take a perfect picture, which wouldn’t need to be processed in order to become special. Even if it is a story of just one frame, the amount of work you put in would be worth it. You could try to use three different plans – the main, which is the closest to the lens, e.g. tree branches, behind which you stand, the middle, which is slightly further and the third, in the background. This should add exceptionalism to your story written with a camera.
If you exclusively wish to save vital aspects within a photo, try not to photograph the whole background along with its elements. This could distract the attention away from the main motive. After all, you would like your photo to communicate certain aspect of your choosing to the viewer. It’s not all about the things you see in the picture, the unseen is equally important. The visual presentation of a photo should be balances as a whole. Which composition could be called decent? The one you would gladly look at.
How to express your own opinion with a photo?
It’s up to you what reality is going to be visualized through your photography. Perception plays a vital role because what you see as a photographer will be reflected in in the eyes of the viewer. The perspective you choose, is the image of your photographer’s perception. The hard part of photography is to express what we feel, see and want others to experience. Most photographers ask themselves this one question – how could I express the state of mind I had the moment I took the photo?
Light
Light is of great importance, depending on what you’re aimed for. It has a strong influence on picture’s message and the way it’s being perceived. Subject to what you’re going to present, the way you’re willing to express your own opinion, the objects, seen in the picture, would seem more focused of softer, sharper and glossy or more blurry and softer. Here one has to observe the illumination of objects, being photographed. You have to figure out quickly, how the light influences the effect of your work in order to be able to set it on your own or to use naturally.
Composition
Unfortunately, composition within photography is commonly ignored. If you wish your picture to be balanced and organized, it’s good to stick to the principle of tripartite division, in other words, divide the scene into 3 parts – horizontal and vertical (9 equal parts in total), and set the most important elements on the lines of intersection. It’s one of the principles of decent composition, which is especially vital in case of photographers, who wishes their photos to be extraordinary.
Your opinion should be expressed in the picture, only if you’re able to pass the message, the things you felt while taking the photo. The aforementioned composition is the key to skillful and conscious setting the mood of viewers. The basics of composition are not a must, however, it’s definitely worth it to get the hand of them for further works. Composition has become the tool to get photographer’s message over and to express the emotions he felt towards the place or the situation while taking the picture. If you wish the viewer to perceive your picture in a certain way, it needs to be harmonic, in accordance with the principles of composition.
Perspective
Perspective could also be used to express your opinion. A person photographed from above would seem strong and important, on the other hand, the same guy photographed from underneath would lose his authority in the eyes of the viewers. Perspective adds certain content, the things you wish to express.
Nevertheless, once in a while, it’s worth doing things your own way and compose a picture just like you wanted to. Don’t hesitate to do so, if you feel that the object being photographed is located in the central or strong spot. Nevertheless, you should act on the spur of the moment. The principle of tripartite division in not always the appropriate one, especially when it comes down to emotions and feeling you wish to present. Feel free to experiment. Photography is the freedom of expression!
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