Digital Photography - Learning to See

What compels you to stop and shoot a digitalsomething in the sky, then the area above the
photograph or series of digital photos? I oftenhorizon would get two thirds of the room in the
wonder what draws me to a scene? Why did Iviewfinder. If your subject were below the
stop here instead of a mile back or a mile furtherhorizon, then that object would get the two
down the road?thirds.
Once I stop for a scene, I have to decide how IFraming a scene consists of using something,
am going to digitally photograph it. Will I use anatural or manmade, to surround a subject or at
telephoto lens, wide-angle or close-up? Eachleast come in from one or both sides and the top.
creates its own perspective digitally.Framing allows you to use one object to look
Which lens I choose will determine what I amthrough at another. When doing this, the most
trying to say photographically. If I want to isolatecommon mistake photographers make is not
a subject with very little of the surrounding area,getting close enough to the subject. If you are
I will use my 70-200 mm zoom telephoto. If Inot close enough to your subject, the subject
want to include some of the surrounding area,gets lost in the framing. The second most
then I will choose my 17-85 mm wide-angle zoom.common mistake is having cluttered edges of the
If I want a perspective similar to what the humanframe. In other words, having unwanted items
eye sees, then I will set my wide-angle zoom lensintruding in from the edges of the photo. Always
to 50mm. Finally, if I want to come in really closecheck for this before snapping the shutter.
on an object in the scene, then I would use myAnother choice you have to make is whether you
90mm close-up lens.are going to shoot the scene horizontally or
Once I have selected my lens, then I have tovertically. Most scenes are best shot vertically if
decide where I will place the subject in thethe subject is vertical, such as trees, waterfalls,
viewfinder. I know it will not be right smack dab inetc. However, if the subject runs horizontally, then
the middle.that is the best way to shoot it. Horizontal
But, by using the Golden Grid Rule of Thirds as itsubjects include mountains, deserts, clouds and
is sometimes called, I would place the subject onseascapes.
one of the intersecting points created when ITwo of the last choices you have to make are
visually drew vertical and horizontal imaginary linesshutter speed and the aperture. If your subject is
in my viewfinder.stationary, then the shutter speed is not much of
Next, I will determine how I want to light thean issue. However, if you intend to show motion
subject. If I want to accent the texture, I willby either freezing it, blurring it or by panning, then
side-light it. If I want to de-emphasize texture,shutter speed is definitely a consideration.
then I will front-light it. Finally, if my subject isOn the other hand, if you are concerned with
translucent or if I want a silhouette, then I willhow much depth-of-field you will have, then your
back-light my subject. If I want to show howinterest will be in which aperture to use.
large my subject is or how far away it is fromNow you have all the considerations and decisions
where I am standing, then I will put something ofthat must be made, once you are stopped after
a known size in the foreground off to the side.being drawn to a scene. If you systematically go
Watch the horizon. When shooting horizons, don'tthrough all these items, your resulting photograph
have the horizon centered in the photo. Give thewill show what drew your interest to this subject.
area you want to emphasize the most room inLastly, do not be afraid to experiment and break
the photo. So, if your subject were the sky oraway from tradition. Happy shooting!