I have already written three blogs on the basics of photography. Now we take it to next concept where photography takes the form of an art work. Every photo has a story to tell. Creating this visual story involves composing the given situation in most creative form. Let us look at some of the rules to compose wonderful images.
Game of light, shadow and colour: Photography is all but playing with light, shadow and colour. Depending on direction of light, depths of shadows and breadth of color variations can help you create great images. Sometime just two colour, black and white are enough.
Rules of third: Imagine your frame is divided into grid of 9 equal sized blocks created by two equidistant vertical and horizontal lines. Ideally your subject should be placed on intersection points of these lines.
Leading lines: While creating an image try and take reference to gateway created by arches of trees or use long stretch of the jungle roads. This gives a sense of depth and direction to your image.
Reflection: Nothing can create more magic than catching the reflection of your subject in water.
Eye-level: Eye level shots are difficult to make from gypsy during safari. Try and use terrain to your advantage and ensure your shooting height is at same level as that of the eye of your animal.
Patterns: Vertica/, horizontal, diagonal are standard patterns to create a “Wow” feeling in the image. It can be created by trees, mountains, rivers anything and everything. Keep your eyes open for patterns.
Fill the frame: Sometimes filling up frame gives a grandeur feel to image. Use it effectively to showcase the details of the story.
Frame within frame: While creating story frame see if you can create one more frame made from elements in your image and fit your subject into it. It changes the whole perspective of how the subject looks.
Follow the gaze: While composing an image try and ensure the direction in which your subject is gazing has space to give sense of what it’s looking at. This is especially useful when doing bird photography.
Depth of field: Blurring foreground and background can give a 3D feel to the image. Try and ensure you keep tab on your “f” number.
Head turn: Try to click an image when animal turns and looks around. You will get most memorable pictures.
Light my eyes: If you want to bring your picture alive, try and click picture where light shines in eyes of your subject.
Last very important tip as an incentive for reading through all point. Once you understand and implement these rules, you need to break, mix and match them effectively to be creative. Remember Photography has many genres and you need to explore as many of them as possible to know if you really like a particular genre and would like to call yourself say a wedding photographer, wildlife photographer etc.
So next time you are about to press shutter thing twice about the composition and story you want to showcase without a saying/writing a word.
That’s called photography!