Krystian Kozerawski Photoblog

Some of the readers of my blog asked me to give them some tips how to take good and attractive photos. Some people thing that if they buy good SLR camera then automatically all of the photos will be good at least. Of course the quality of the photo (usually taken in full automatic mode) are better than photos taken with low cost compact camera (with much worse lens and smaller ccd) or camera of your mobile phone, but it doesn’t mean that the photo will be attractive and interesting.

One of the most important factors that creates so called good photo is composition of the picture. The basics of the composition is The Rule of Thirds. Human brain and eyes don’t like to look at the picture showing object in the middle of it. Our brain always moves our eyes out of the centre searching for something interesting in the top left and right or bottom left and right part of the picture. Artists discovered such areas when you divide the picture with horizontal and vertical lines.

It doesn’t mean that the object must be placed in such areas. Sometimes central placement is the only one relevant. Sometimes the other factors decide. It is you to decide.

What about the objects that occupy most of the photo and we want to show them with details? The rule of third is valid as well. It is better to place catchy elements (parts) of the object in the hot areas. Whole object on the photo plays role of background and its elements details play starring role. Sometimes it is better to show only detail of the object than the whole of it.

Sometimes the object on the photo is not the same thing we were going to picture. Remember about the shadows. The object on the photo is the thing we were going to picture and the shadows that it cast.

The other important element of the composition is the space. When the object on the photo occupies most of it, leave some space on the sides (according to the Rule of Third, if it is possible leave more space on one side of the object and less on another). If there is not enough space between the borders of the photo and object picture won’t be attractive. Try imagine yourself being closed in to small chest or living in the very small room. You need air and space, the same as for the objects on the photos.

Camera and its shadow create one object on the photo.

Another important element of the composition of the photos showing landscapes is the horizontal line of horizon. Avoid taking pictures when trees, buildings and people are not vertical. Of course it doesn’t mean that if you are taking photos of the mountains you have to make slopes horizontal. It is just to remember that objects on the photo are placed vertical usually.

You don’t need to stick to those rules all the time. It is up to you and your taste to decide when they are relevant and when they are not. It is just good to remember about them while taking photos doesn’t matter if it is Nikon D300 some compact camera or camera in your Nokia, Sony Ericsson or Motorola.