| A real-life scene has a natural depth. Without | | | | Rivers and streams, stretching into the distance, |
| depth, a photograph, particularly of a landscape, | | | | can be used to serve the same function with the |
| can look flat and boring. What can be done about | | | | added advantage of sparkling with light and |
| it? | | | | reflecting a blue sky. |
| Photoshop is now one of the major computer | | | | Whether the photograph is framed to give a |
| programmes around. The basis of it all, however, | | | | vertical picture (portrait format) or horizontal |
| is the photographic image. | | | | picture (landscape format) will always be dictated |
| Very often the quality of the original image can | | | | by purely visual considerations. Just what is |
| get overlooked or can be considered unimportant. | | | | visually most effective in any particular situation |
| We hear sentences like: "Oh that'll do - we'll fix it | | | | will determine whether we should take a |
| later in Photoshop". | | | | landscape or portrait format photograph. |
| Perhaps they can, but starting off with a better | | | | Street scenes are another popular subject in this |
| photograph in the first place can save a lot of | | | | category. Streets in villages, old market towns or |
| trouble later. | | | | the endless variety of town scenes in other |
| Well begun is half done. | | | | countries provide a continuous source of interest. |
| The point here is that better photography makes | | | | Looking down a street automatically gives the |
| later work in Photoshop easier. | | | | picture a certain depth. Finding a suitable item for |
| Here is the first of a series of tips to improve | | | | the foreground can help this along. This might be |
| basic photography. | | | | such things as a quaint shop front, a market stall, |
| Landscapes are one of the most continually | | | | the wing of a car or a person. |
| photographed subjects. Impressed by an | | | | In this way, the photograph will have a strong |
| attractive scene, most people quickly pick up the | | | | foreground and the street will carry the eye into |
| camera and snap. Unfortunately, the results are all | | | | the picture. But watch out for any rubbish lying |
| to often disappointing. | | | | around. In real life, a couple of bin bags can go |
| The real scene has the direct experience of the | | | | unnoticed in the general stimulus of a new |
| sun's warmth, the breeze and general | | | | environment, but they will shout out at you when |
| atmosphere. The photograph obviously misses | | | | you see the printed photograph. |
| these features. The real scene also has a depth | | | | So have a strong foreground, as well as the |
| and the eye moves around the landscape, seeing | | | | distance, and if possible have subject matter in |
| objects close by and far away, and so the big tip | | | | the foreground, the middle-distance and the far |
| is to deliberately put some depth into the | | | | distance. |
| photograph. When depth is put into a photograph, | | | | Looking through an archway or standing by a tree |
| it can greatly improve the impact of the image. | | | | so that the branches frame the picture will give a |
| This can make a great difference to the | | | | strong foreground and serve to give the |
| effectiveness of the picture. | | | | photograph a good impression of the depth there |
| A few moments used to select the right | | | | will be in the actual scene. Other objects can be |
| viewpoint can be well spent so it's best to avoid | | | | found in the country to have a similar effect, such |
| shooting too quickly. Look for ways to give the | | | | as flowering shrubs, gates, pieces of farm |
| picture depth with a foreground, mid-ground and | | | | machinery or perhaps a charging bull. |
| distance. This can often be achieved simply by | | | | Tips |
| moving one's position just a few feet. | | | | * Put depth into the photograph |
| Standing near a path, hedge, fence or wall which | | | | * Have a strong foreground |
| stretches away into the distance will carry the | | | | * Don't shoot too quickly |
| eye from the foreground through to the distance, | | | | A reminder then that better photography makes |
| giving the picture the extra dimension of depth. | | | | later work in Photoshop easier. |