How many of us have taken pictures that tell a story or intrigue the viewer? Well, no worries for those who didn’t raise their hands. Three simple tricks that I’ll be sharing for next few minutes would enable you to become a better photographer. Professionals use these tricks to make their “pictures pop.” Who knows, your pictures might be worthy to publish in some of the hottest magazines and you may be featured as the best photographer of the year :-).
Trick #1: Position your subject using the "Rule of thirds" – move your subject off center. Partition your picture into thirds and move your subject from the middle partition to either the left or right/ top or bottom. Moving your focal point incorporates more of the surroundings in an interactive way. And, don't feel like you must have your entire subject in the picture. Sometimes what you don't show is as important as what you do show.
Trick #2: Leverage Lighting – Shoot during the magical hours: an hour after sunrise or an hour before sundown where the shadows are long and colors are vibrant. Incorporate reflections and shadows to give your shots extra dimension. You can also, bring out colors using polarization. If your camera does not have polarization, shoot through your sunglasses!
Trick #3: Incorporate vertical lines – A wall edge, doorways, stairs, trees, a waterfall, a sidewalk or road leading away, all add perspective and draw the viewer in. Incorporate where possible. At the edge of your photo, these lines will help to "frame" your subject.
Now I am going to show a “pop star” picture that pops! The subject is moved off the center; lighting, though artificial, is used to create shadows that give additional dimension; and staircase is used to frame the subject.
People say a good picture is worth a thousand words. Following these tips on offsetting your subject, lighting and vertical lines will transform your pictures from snapshots to stories. Be a director, don't take pictures; make them!
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