There are different opinions about what makes a good photo. Many assume it is a single ingredient; they are wrong. If we want to develop our art, it is by combining seven elements that we have hope of improvement.
I have yet to meet a successful photographer who doesn’t want to improve. As a result, we writers often create articles on aspects of photography to help us get better. Inevitably, someone will read it and misunderstand the intent of an article. With steam emitting from under the collar, they will grumble and deny that it has nothing to do with taking a good photo and that something else is the only component of a good photo.
However, these articles are rarely prescriptive and what they suggest is a single ingredient that, when combined with other factors, will help us do our job better.
If you think that one aspect of photography is unimportant, or another is more important than everything else, then of course, you are entitled to that opinion. But it may not be true for other photographers. The beauty of any work of art is that we can approach its creation in different and unique ways, and apply our unique subjective judgments when viewing it. Here are seven key areas that set our image apart.
Choose the right camera
I will start with what is probably the most controversial topic. I’ve heard a lot of people screaming that it doesn’t matter which camera you use. “The best camera is the one you take with you!” Meanwhile, others will jump around and insist that unless you shoot with a full frame camera (insert brand here), you’re not a serious photographer. Both are extremes, and both are incorrect.
Most camera brands are quite different. All of them are different in your hand and the menus are different. The images they create are also not the same.
There are two questions you should ask yourself when choosing a camera, and there are no right or wrong answers to these questions. First, do you want to take pictures like the ones most people take? If so, your choice is likely to be one of the larger brands, as they will allow you to do so more easily. It’s an understandable path to want to follow.
However, if uniqueness is your thing, shooting with one of the less popular styles is more likely to be a better choice for you. Camera like people from OM system, Fujifilm, Pentax, lightAnd leica all have unique visual qualities unlike the larger brands.
Second, is there a camera model that gives you features not found elsewhere? For example, one of the reasons I chose the OM System is that I find its computational features particularly useful; No other camera allows me to watch the long exposure slowly develop on the Live View screen. Also, the device’s smaller size and weight as well as the crop factor are huge advantages for me. Meanwhile, Fujifilm users tend to emulate different film styles. You may have other priorities, and perhaps those preferences are met by a different type of camera.
Choose the lens you will use
One of the questions I get asked the most in seminars is which lens to use for different situations. The answer I gave is to use the answer that gives you the results you want to achieve. There are obvious options, such as choosing a long lens for bird photography. However, that’s not the only way to go.
Some lenses are generally not suitable for certain jobs; I usually don’t use a 25mm lens to shoot birds as they will appear very small in the frame. However, that is not always the case, as in the photo above. The type of lens you choose will affect the appearance of the photos you take, and it’s up to you to decide which focal length achieves the image you want best.
Of all the fields of photography I’ve been in, the one with the most authoritarian attitude about what kind of lens you should use is street photography. According to the gatekeepers of that genre, if you shoot at the wrong focus, you will be condemned to burn in the flames of the underworld. Of course, it’s opium. If you want to use something different, use it.
Many beginner photographers are bound to the limited range of focal lengths that come with standard kit lenses, so take the pictures that work best with that lens. Photography often works best when using extreme focal lengths, so expanding your gear to include other focal lengths will help you get better photos.
Master the camera settings
Successful photographers present the world in ways most people don’t see. Part of being able to do that is having control over exposure, focus, and depth of field, along with the ability to show or stop motion. That requires mastering the camera’s controls.
Cameras are technical, and understanding f-numbers and shutter speeds isn’t intuitive. How to precisely control depth of field using aperture and closeness to your subject, and understand how focal length, cropping, and how big you display your photos will change the look of your photos. , all need to learn. Once learned, you can effectively apply those settings to achieve the desired effect.
Get familiar with the layout
Composition is another important factor. It’s about the placement of objects in the frame. It’s not the be-all and end-all of photography, but it is something that can make or break a photograph. It can work with the subject to add balance or tension to the photo. Great compositional choices often go unnoticed by viewers.
There are dozens of composition rules. Many teachers get angry at the word “rule” because it sounds rigid and is therefore always shunned. However, it is also an unnecessarily restrictive approach. I think the word is used in the sense of “as a rule”, which means it often works, but not always.
Make the most of light
How well your subject is lit is an important aspect of your photography. Color, angle, direction, and intensity all change the feel of a photo. Exploring how light works on your subject of choice and figuring out what looks good and what doesn’t, is an important aspect of improving your photography.
That might involve choosing the time of day, setting up the flash in the studio, the subject’s position relative to the lamp post at night, etc.
Find a story
With each photo, you are telling a story to the viewer. The story can be literal (this is a person alone on the beach) or one of many metaphorical interpretations (loneliness or the joy of solitude).
It’s important to remember that the story of a photograph will not be the same as the story the viewer reads. Recently, someone asked me what I thought of their photo. So I gave them a long explanation of what I thought it represented. Then they say, “Thanks! I hadn’t thought of that.” Likewise, because no one else has your life experience or intelligence, you can create a photo with a specific meaning and the viewer won’t see it.
A week ago, I saw a street photographer’s work depicting a group of far-right protesters holding xenophobic-themed placards. The following week, it was anti-war protesters. In each case, both he and his photos were verbally attacked because the viewer thought he was supporting the subject of the photos. But he was just telling the story of the protests. I believe that in both cases, as an artist, he succeeded because the great art of telling stories that evoke emotions.
Extend your creative style
Do you want to be the next David Bailey or Ansel Adams? Let go of that intention; they did and a lot of people copied them and had less success. Still, it’s great to learn from other photographers and discover how they work.
No creative work is completely unique. All are derivatives, built on what came before. For example, if you take any of the Beatles’ albums, their music is a mixture of many different styles and influences. That is creativity. Expanding your creativity means finding different techniques and approaches, and combining them in new and exciting ways. Sometimes, you’ll find the equivalent of “A Day in the Life,” or maybe “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” but that will be your photo, not yours. Pale copy in someone else’s style.
Style is also about continuity. All the similarities between the subject, lighting, equipment, camera and lens settings, image processing, lighting, composition, and display method will all help you find your subject. me.
Your style doesn’t have to be universal. Recently, I posted the following photos on Instagram. Taken a few seconds apart, they show the same scene, but one is long exposed and the other is taken with a fast shutter. Most like the version I don’t. However, it is important for me to stay true to myself by shooting the way I want, and not to succumb to public opinion.
There’s no rule that you have to stick with one style, although it’s perfectly fine if you do. Many top photographers continue to do the same thing throughout their careers, while others change direction several times.
How to improve your photography
Whatever genre or subject you shoot, these are essentials for us to choose or master. Perhaps there are additional elements that you think are necessary for a good photo. Or, do you consider one of them more or less important to your photography? Or do you balance them all equally? Maybe you disagree with me completely on any of them? It would be good to discuss your opinion in the comments.
