Photography Tips

The right photography tips can turn an average photo into something spectacular. Many people have heard of the term "photographic composition," but aren't certain about how to effectively incorporate it into a photograph. If the technique is properly employed it can enhance photos, providing viewer's of the photo a more pleasant visual experience.

Your Tic-Tac-Toe Grid to Composition

A viewfinder may already have a "grid" etched into its surface, Which would be visible when peering through it. It is there to aid in composition. If the compact digital camera being used does not possess such a grid, then imagine drawing 2 lines from the top of the viewfinder's screen to the bottom, and then, 2 more lines from the left side of the viewfinder across to the right side. 2 horizontal lines, and 2 vertical lines, all lines evenly spaced. The result would be a "tic-tac-toe" type of diagram, or grid on the screen. Imagine this "grid" is superimposed within the viewfinder, and cast onto whatever one see's when they look through the compact digital camera's lens.

Composition to Direct the Viewer's Eye

The resulting grid creates "9 squares" with "4 points of intersection," or "4 points of composition." The squares themselves are not relevant, but the "4 points of intersection" are very important. Attempt to use any of those 4 intersecting points to aid in arranging and composing the photo, rather than always having the subject of the photo, "smack dab" in the center of the picture.

However, there are times when centering an object is necessary for proper composition. Take for example a photo of a person as a "portrait." In this case, having the subject in the center of the photo may in fact be a wise and necessary thing to do. However, if you are trying in any sense of the word to be "artistic," or to provide an interesting perspective on your subject (what ever it may be), consider incorporating this rule of composition.

Use any lines within your photo to help "guide" your viewer's eye. Whether the lines are naturally created by "streets," or by the "walls of a building," or any other visual effect that inherently creates visual lines, whether the lines were created by design/intention, or incidental, use those lines to intersect with one of the 4 points of composition.

Photos will prove far more interesting, than those who simply shoot "straight ahead" pictures. Use those lines to help "guide" the eyes of the viewer, and further use them to assist in "directing" and "leading" those eyes further into the picture. Think of the lines as "rails" whose purpose is to "point" one's view in the intended direction. This is one of those photography tips that will make a world of difference.

The Background Changes Everything

Another aid in composition is the background of the photograph. Although many may consider the background to be more than just a mere "aid," many new photographers fail to get the most out of a background that they can. Take for example a building or structure that is chosen as the subject of a photograph.

Let's say that it's believed to be interesting or attractive enough to make a great picture. The key is not to settle for one "view" or angle of the structure that you may have initially spied. Instead, move around the structure, and look at the structure from a different perspective each time. The key is noticing how the appearance of the subject "changes," by virtue of the innate characteristics of its background.

This will begin to enable you to look at the subject in different ways, literally, and give your subject an entirely different feel. Change the angle of the building as well, which can be accomplished with distance, or perhaps by leveraging height. Try this with the compact digital camera of choice, while employing a variety of photography tips to enhance a photo's final results.

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