We can plan our shots as carefully as we might, but luck plays its part too. There are always factors we cannot control, from people to weather to wildlife.
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Once we learn some composition techniques, we no longer need to ‘rehearse’ them in our minds before taking a photo; they become instinctive. But whether you study and follow the ‘rules’ of composition, or prefer to take a more relaxed approach to photography, there’s no denying that certain compositions are especially pleasing to the eye and impactful.
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How often in this busy world do we take the time to just sit? Sitting to enjoy a view, to take a pause from all the activity that fills our days, to simply relax? And if we do, are we 'wasting time' or are we using it wisely to recharge our batteries?
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Whoever said 'We build too many walls and not enough bridges', and when, sadly it seems very apposite to our times. Wouldn’t the world be a better place if right now we were building more bridges than walls? And yet, the world is full of walls, and we have to admit that they are often necessary.
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Juxtaposition is often referred to as a literary device, placing two concepts close together to highlight their differences. But it is just as effective in visual arts, including photography. And these contrasting elements hopefully work together to elicit a response from the viewer.
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How often have you looked at a photo and immediately rejected it? Too bland, too flat, out of focus, poor composition… It may have looked good at the time you took it, but for one reason or another it didn't turn out as you'd hoped and planned.
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After any trip I like to explore how the photos I took might look in black and white. I never shoot in that medium, even on those occasions when I already feel it would be the best option, because it’s easy to transform from colour to monochrome but impossible to do the reverse in any realistic manner.
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There’s a tendency when we photograph something to want to fill the frame. Empty space around our subject can feel like a waste, while omitting anything may feel as if we’re not telling the whole story. But good composition is all about balance, and clutter in an image can make it hard to ‘read’.
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I love to seek out a local market when I travel; you discover so much about a place there. What people like to eat, how they dress, how they interact with each other (and you!) And markets are wonderful for photography. Whether like me you enjoy candid street photography or prefer to ask your subjects to pose, you will almost certainly get some great people images there. And the goods on sale also offer many photo opps.
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I often find myself drawn to photograph the little details I see around me, whether close to home or on my travels. So much so that I often come home to find I have lots of photos of the details of a building and none of the building as a whole to provide context.
