Take Better Digital Pictures.

"Composition and The Subject."

Why do you like to take photographs?

Do you start out with the end result in mind or love to record a spontaneous moment?

Perhaps you're precise and diligent in paying attention to detail.

Very possibly a variety of subjects appeal to you.

Whatever your reason and with some time and practice your photos will begin to emerge with a special, unique to you, look and feel.

Everyone starts somewhere.

There are many digital photo basics involved in learning how to take better digital pictures.

Composition of your subject is certainly one important aspect.

In the other example do you feel your eye has somewhere to go?

This is referred to as a leading line. This is also about what is your subject and where do you place it?

Leading line means the eye gets to wander through the whole picture.

Many aspects come in to play when one thinks of composition; the challenge being sometimes one doesn't think about it at all!

It can be so easy to place the subject smack dab in the middle especially if you're feeling rushed to get the photo. Other times the subject gets jammed off to one side, like the damselfly.

Sometimes the subject is so small it's hard to tell what it is beyond, "I was there and have a photo!" There are times, however, when the preserved memory is very important, no matter how small the subject and composition takes a back seat.

What can you do?

Do you actually know what your subject is; in other words have you really thought this through?

If you want to take better digital pictures paying attention to the subject is important.

What is the subject? This is a great question to consider before each click of the shutter.

In your photos is it easy to determine what the subject is or by attempting to include everything does the picture appear cluttered?

Have you actually focused attention on the subject?

Are you successful in keeping distractions to a minimum, eliminated or working with them creatively?

The above photos are good examples of attempting to get the big picture and the subject smack in the middle.

In the left photo it's obvious there's a person and some ducks but what, exactly, is the story? In the right photo it's a bit challenging to know what's happening unless you were there.

There is an owl getting situated on the arm of the left person.

How to improve the above two pictures?

Move in closer to the subject. If using a zoom, instead of zooming, move your feet. Being closer to the subject will keep the "width" to the scene.

If the person and ducks are the feature reduce the scenery and strengthen the subject by, again, moving in closer.

The right photo, above, is a great example of the people smack in the middle and too far away. A zoom could be better here because keeping distance from the subject owl will cause less stress to the bird.

Did you notice how there is room to move through the picture because the subject isn't blocking the middle; especially the right photo?

By now it's evident a most important element is being really clear about the subject.

A good starting point is for you to kow what you want your subject to be and for this to be obvious to your viewer as well. If you can keep this in mind for every shot you will begin to look at things differently.

What is your message and have you isolated a major subject of interest?

As you think about how to take better digital pictures it becomes evident you can begin with a large scene and work with it, doesn't it?

When you view these photos do you know what the subject is? It's pretty clear isn't it?

Did you notice how the wagon wheels "lead" to the left?

A subject may also be a group of things or people.

Perhaps you have a photo of a friend or family member playing with a new puppy or a group of friends. Is the subject obvious?

There are many techniques to help portray the real essence in a photo but for now the focus is to help you expand your thinking regarding the subject.

Expanding this thinking will help you take better digital pictures.

How to focus the viewer on the subject?

One way is to have your subject "fill the frame." The two photos above do this.

In other words, place your subject(s) near the front of the picture. Remember the top photo of the person with the ducks where it's hard to know if the ducks or the person feeding the ducks is the main subject?

It's often tempting to want "the whole scene" but as you have now seen closing in on the subject or the story does make a difference. There's not anything wrong with taking big scene pictures, if that's what you want.

Just remember to ask yourself, "what is the subject and what's the mood I want to portray?"

Would you agree there is quite a change from the first picture with the person and the owl?

In the second picture at least we can see the person and the owl although they could be pulled in even closer.

No doubt about the last picture subject being the owl!

Even getting in this habit alone, of asking the question, will help you take better digital pictures.

Want to see additional examples?

For more tips please visit composition for digital photography


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