by Mary Denman
Twitter: @MaryDenman
Instagram:@MaryFDenman
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Mary Denman photo tip
Have you ever taken a photo, expecting it to be a great shot, but when you see it later, you realize that it just didn’t have the effect you wanted?
Don’t worry, it happens to all of us!
Sometimes, this is the result of taking a picture that doesn’t have a clear subject or point to it. I know. I’ve been there.
So today, let’s see how to learn from our mistakes and take cleaner shots that are more powerful!
In this first photo, you can see my daughter with her silver lab and my cavalier puppy.
Mary Denman: cluttered photo
It’s cute, but there’s just not a clear focal point. The partial shot of the lamp and mirror is distracting. So are the blankets and half of my son. The picture is supposed to be about my daughter and our puppies being side by side.
How do you correct a problem like this?
TIP 1: CROP THE PICTURE ONCE IT’S ON THE COMPUTER.
Mary Denman: girl & puppies
Doesn’t this look so much better?
If you’ll notice, I took a landscape shot, but then cropped it to portrait framing to draw your attention where I wanted it.
While you can crop on the computer, you can also look at the back of your camera and recompose a shot right away to make it stronger.
Mary Denman: pink rose 1
I have pointed out the bright blobs of color in the background with arrows. They really stand out, don’t they? They draw your eye around the photo instead of letting it focus on the main subject.
I noticed this in my camera and moved to take another shot of the same rose.
Mary Denman: pink rose 2
Isn’t this a lot better?
While there is still bright color in the background, it can easily be handled by cropping if I want to isolate the rose even more.
TIP 2: MOVE AND RECOMPOSE YOUR PHOTO AT THE TIME TO ISOLATE YOUR SUBJECT. Don’t depend on doing all your cropping on the computer.
Mary Denman: pink rose 3
I cropped the shot a little more once I had it on my computer to show you how recomposing and cropping are great tools to understand.
These may seem like very simple tips, but they are effective in improving your photography skills and photos.
Learn how to go behind your lens right after you take a shot and see if it communicates what you want. If not, and if you have the time, compose another picture and move around to get a better angle.
Then, crop once it’s on your computer if you need to.
Just make sure that you have a clear subject for your viewer to appreciate. Get rid of the clutter and make your subject shine!
Hope these tips help!
Mary
TWEET THIS: #PhotoTip: Have a Clear Subject or Point to Your Photos @RealMojo68 @MaryDenman #photography
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Mary Denman, photo by Peter Hurley
Mary Denman is a photographer who also writes and loves to teach. As a freelance writer, Mary has had articles published in various forms ranging from Focus on the Family publications to magazines to devotions to op-ed pieces. She’s a member of several professional writing organizations including ACFW, My Book Therapy, and Word Weavers.
As a professional photographer, Mary has had photos published in both print literature and online. Her shots have been used by businesses and by fellow authors alike.
Her philosophy is to catch a moment that reflects God’s beauty and creativity, whether in nature, in life or in the face of her subjects. Mary blends the mediums of writing and photography on her blog. www.marydenman.blogspot.com.
So good, Mary! I’ve bookmarked this post for future reference as I’d love to up my game on images for my blog. Thanks!
Wonderful. Thank you, Cathy. Yes, I’m thankful for these tips as well.
Molly Jo Realy recently posted..NOLA Update: September 25, 2017
Very helpful Molly Jo and Mary!
Thank you Beckie!
Molly Jo Realy recently posted..NOLA Update: September 25, 2017
Good recommendations!
William Kendall recently posted..The Quiet Path
Aren’t they?
Molly Jo Realy recently posted..NOLA Update: September 25, 2017
Great points!
Yes, they are. Thanks for stopping in and commenting!
Molly Jo Realy recently posted..NOLA Update: September 25, 2017