Friday, August 17, 2012

How to Properly Use Photography Elements

By James Harden


When taking a look at elements, the perspective needs to be that of a fine chef who refuses to use all ingredients together in any one dish. In the same way, the photographer will not throw in all of the elements into one image. Lighting, composition, and exposure are the essentials. But, other elements can be just as critical including facial expression, pose, clothing, accessories, props, and various kinds of accent lighting.

Entrance of Key Elements

The composition of an image is dramatically affected by the depth of field, which allows you the ability to isolate your subject from their background or foreground. Still, by placing your subject in context, you'll be able to enhance the environment with a greater depth of field.

In addition to depth of field, shapes are also important and are the result of closed lines. However, shapes can be visible without lines by establishing an arrangement of objects within the camera's viewfinder. Since most primary shapes include circles, squares, triangles and hexagons, these are the most commonly seen shapes in nature. With space determined by shapes and forms, positive space is necessary, while negative space would be all space other than the shapes. For images to have a sense of balance, positive and negative space can be used to balance each other.

The next consideration after depth of field and composition is color. While there are thousands of patterns around us daily, emphasizing these color patterns is what leads to stunning shots. With a large pile of data and research on how color affects human emotions, it is critical that the photographer employ the ability to evoke emotion through color in order to created the desired effect.

Other Essential Elements Enter

Those who can effectively use lines, especially diagonals will triumph in the field of photography. While a striking photo has many components, you'll find that most of the time the subject will be found in a diagonal line when viewed through your camera. By taking a look at classic, still life paintings, you'll notice how this principle is implemented.

While exploring lines, consider the effectiveness of the rule of thirds. To put this principle in place, draw two horizontal and vertical lines so that they are evenly spaced from each other. This will dissect your image into nine sections that adheres to the rule of thirds. Then, your main subject will be found within the central section, but more than likely, on one of the four intersections formed by these lines. It is at these intersections that you will be able to optimize this rule.

Between the key elements of shape, lines, depth of field, and composition, you'll be able to improve your photography in no time at all. Elements are the foundation upon which we can be creative. So, put these elements into practice as soon as possible, and allow your creativity the freedom it deserves.




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