First of all, artistic skills cannot be taught,
so do not get disappointed too fast. You have to learn how to "see"
things rather than just watch or copy. If you take a photo and then
give it to 10 people you will get 10 different interpretations and
approaches meaning 10 pictures!
If you ask a photographer how to photograph
things, he will certainly describe you the technical details, but he
will fail to make you feel the same he felt when he released the
shutter. These things are rather felt than taught.
Technical data is
supposed to be easy (?) to learn, everything else is the difficult
part. Every person "sees" different things in a scene. He is drawn to
and composes different frames in his mind. This is the beauty of
photography. In fact one of the exercises that is famous among the
study groups is to take 100 clicks (photos) locked in a bathroom. Yes
you heard me 100 different photos in a single 2x1 room. This is an
opportunity to learn how to "see".
Every photo has to have what is called
"balance". Balance is the order of things inside the frame. Where the
eye begins its journey and where it end its quest. After that, the mind
tries to decide if it likes the picture or not. If it does, the
decision comes fast. If not, the search continues until it finally gets
disappointed. Both decisions take a couple of seconds and they all
depend on balance of color and composition. If it is a smooth
transition, we like it. If it is disrupted by distracting objects or
things inside the frame, we don't. As a general rule simple things
carry strong emotions.
Light plays its part with the objects in the
frame. We can all see dark or light places and we can compensate our
eyes for them in real world. But when using a camera things can change
dramatically. You see, imagine light divided into 8 parts (or stops).
Our eyes can see the whole 8 stops, but cameras can only see 5. Your
decision is to select which 5 to record. So much for exposure! If you
want to artificially "increase" the stop range there are several
techniques such as Dynamic Range Increase (DRI), or High Dynamic Range
(HDR) which can sometimes alter the colors so badly that the image does
not appear real.
layout
There are several different ways to layout the
elements in a photograph. Filling the frame is one of them, but the
most important is the "rule of thirds" from which the "golden mean"
derives. The main purpose is to provide a path for the viewer's eyes to
follow throughout the photograph.
General suggestions
Find a clear center of interest, something that
captures your eye and avoid distracting shadows or elements. Keep things
simple and straight.
Fill the frame
Robert Capa, a WWII photojournalist said it
best "If you're pictures are not good enough, they you're probably not
close enough."
Say it clearly
Try to avoid anything that would distract people from your main subject. Focus on the subject.
Search for captivating objects
Look for repetition or patterns, diagonals and lines which are always interesting. Scan for contrasting colors and shapes.
Depth of field
Use the aperture to create depth. Make objects
in front and behind your subject a little out of focus. This will
isolate the subject from the background and focus attention on the
subject.
Light elements
Most people look at the lighter portions of a
photograph first, then the dark areas. Focus on the bright areas
having texture.
Diagonal Lines
Vertical and horizontal lines are not appealing,
diagonals are. Psychologists say that instincts go back to our caveman
days. Diagonal images are visually more interesting than vertical and
horizontal.
Lines
Vertical lines are all about power, strength, and height.
Horizontal lines emphasize stability and width.
Diagonal lines express dynamic energy.
Curving lines express sensuality.
