A problem that a lot of my students have is visualizing and placing a subject in certain areas of convergence.
What happens is they try to place a subject in one of the areas and they don’t quite make it and they end up with a portrait that is almost there, but not quite. Let’s look at our first example.
The upper horizontal line runs through the subject’s forehead rather than through her eyes. So when I say the point of view is slightly off, I am referring to where the viewer will be lead to look. In this case, it’s her forehead. As a photographer, we want our viewers to look into the souls of our subject’s, into the eyes.

Here’s an example where the subject’s eyes are placed in the area of convergence. The point of view of this image is exactly where we want our viewers to look.

See the difference?

Here’s another example that has a point of view that causes our viewers to be drawn exactly where we want.

To the eyes!

Tell your story by where you place your subject and where the viewer is asked to look.
This technique puts you in charge and gives you another tool to tell your visual story.
Not with words, but with images.
Be inspired!

My photography classes have tired of me proclaiming that most of their images are center-weighted.

But today we will talk about breaking the rules of composition!

That doesn’t mean that we throw all the rules out the window,  breaking rules can lead to some great and interesting images, but you will be surprised how many rules are still there to help us.

Let’s take a look at this image.

I made this a few years back at Glacier Point in Yosemite. It has one of the most spectacular views as the Yosemite Valley is below and the majestic Half Dome and the various waterfalls are clearly seen further up from the valley.

My youngest son is a dreamer. He’s witty and fun and sees things just differently most. I admire that and have tried to nurture those qualities  rather than try to make him conform to the norm.

I was photographing something else, when I turned to see him running along the rocks with his arms outstretched like he was flying. He was lost in his own reality for a few moments. I placed him against the clouds and left room for him to run within the frame and I decided to center-weight him. It seemed the best way to capture my son the dreamer before he has to turn into a man and do all the things society wants us to be.

I wanted to document for all time that boy that can fly among the clouds and revel to be young and free.

Technically, even though he is center-weighted in the frame, there are still quite a few compositional rules in place. The top of the clouds creates a secondary horizon that leaves about 1/3rd sky in tact. The actual horizon is about 1/10th of the frame, so the clouds and sky are emphasized. Finally, my son’s head is on the top horizontal of the tic-tac-toe grid. All of these elements add up to an image that breaks conventional thinking for composing images, but creates an amazing image that is one of my favorites.

My challenge to you is to make some images that break the rules and still come up with strong story-telling photos.

Be inspired!

A quick look at breaking the rules.

Anyone who has taken my classes, knows that I’m not a big fan of center-focusing subjects.

It’s usually just not a great image. Our eyes aren’t very interested in viewing an image that is center-focused and so this type of an image isn’t viewed for long, in most cases.

I’m a firm believer in compositions that adhere to the rule of thirds. The images that follow these simple compositional rules generally make for interesting images that viewers will look at.

I call them rule breakers.

Symmetry sometimes does make for very interesting images.

For example, this shot of the Eiffel Tower photographed through a art project entitled, “Peace,” that was on display at the far end of the lawn opposite the Seine.

Here’s a couple of things to keep in mind when making a center focused/center weighted image.

Though the main subject is dead center, the horizon is still in a traditional 1/3rd land 2/3rds sky composition. That helps to build an image that still has interest for the viewer, while being non-traditional in some ways.

The next time you go out to photograph a subject, try to add a few center weighted images into the mix. But, remember to continue to keep some traditional elements in the photograph.

Be inspired!

I taught a private lesson today and it made me re-visit the photography basics. Fundamentals are needed in every regime. Sports teams athletes drill the fundamentals almost on a daily basis. So, why shouldn’t photographers?

Let’s take a look at composition.

In the first image I’ve carved the canvas into thirds(give or take)both vertically and horizontally. Unfortunately, most photographers place their subjects dead center and composition takes a back seat. But, remember that a viewers eyes are drawn to the areas where the lines converge. So, look at the composition of the next two images. The subject’s head is placed in the upper left area of convergence in the 2nd image. The viewer’s eyes naturally are led to the subject’s face. The slight tilting also creates a diagonal that leads the eye from the bottom right area back up to the face, too.

The third image places the subject’s right eye in the upper right area of convergence. It’s a much more interesting composition than the dead on composition of most photographers.

Don’t forget to capture moments along with great composition and lighting(future blogs).

In the fourth image I composed with the subject’s head in the upper left area of convergence with the subject’s body in the left vertical third. It’s my oldest son and I threatened to reveal a horribly embarrassing story. The threat worked and he gave a reaction that I was looking for. I have pretty good lighting, good strong composition and a nice moment. Voila, a strong photo!

Finally, I have a simple photo of the full moon. I just placed the moon in the upper right area of convergence and the result is a strong composition rather than a center-weighted image that isn’t quite there. Enjoy!