COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37 461

S e s s i o n s 3 3 t h r o u g h 3 7

COLORREVIEW:

Three Keys to Good Composition: Balance, Viewpoint and Dominant Point of Interest

In earlier sessions you learned about the Rule of Thirds as one of those compositiontools you can use to instantly improve your photographs.

There are times, however, when you’ll want to purposefully and deliberately break the Rule of Thirds.

This woman sittingalone in a crowd ofpeople would not (and could not) tellthe same story hadthe Rule of Thirdsbeen applied to this shot.

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462 COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37

Framing

Notice how the French doors provide aframe for the image that not only makesthe photograph more unique but also givesthe image a sense of place. You know thecouple is standing on a balcony in Paris.They’re not on a beach, or overlooking TheStrip in Vegas. The Framing in this shotallows the photographer to tell a story.

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Leading Lines

This is a great example of multiple compositiontechniques combined in one photograph. Here, thephotographer has used all the details, from theDiagonals of the pier to the softer water line on the side, to lead us right to the subject of thephoto. She’s also used the Rule of Thirds and astrong Framing composition on the right. Sh

elly

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Notice how the building on the right balances theman on the left. And the man is placed on thefirst thirds line.

Our subject — the monks — is located on athirds line and the long contrasting shadowlines lead into the image. The whole thing isbalanced and held together on the left by thethicker, darker, “heavier” shadow.

Balance

Combing balance with the Rule of Thirds…

COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37 463

Three is a strong number inphotography. Notice how the fries and even the straw are strategicallyplaced to provide balance.

Whose viewpoint might thisbe? See how the unusualvantage point offers storyopportunities?

This viewpoint places us in thescene. From this vantage point weinstantly know we are on a cruiseship. Had the photographer taken this shot from a differentperspective we might not know.

Here is a sunset shot — onethat incorporates a DominantPoint of Interest, the Rule of Thirds, Balance and anunusual vantage point.

The use of apposing colors — blue and orange — are directopposites on the color wheel, very complimentary. See how withthe predominate color of this image being blue — the orangefish stands out and then the tip of the snorkel and the orangetone of the man’s face draw your attention around the frame(essentially they are three separate objects.)

Using Color and Numbers to Create a Sense of Balance

Viewpoint

464 COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37

Speed Up Your Learning Curve — 13 TemplatesDesert Scenes

Beaches

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Allowing your camera to averagethe scene to 18% gray won’tcapture the brilliant colors anddramatic light that desertscenes offer.

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Alwayshave an

eye out forinteresting

patterns— natural

ormanmade.

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There are moreopportunities at the beach than just the

sea and sand.

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nto

This photo is the perfectexample of the interestingpatterns and textures youcan find in the desert.

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COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37 465

Night Photography

Mist and Fog

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Bright objects at night can come out quitestunning if you bring the proper equipment anduse a little patience.

Lori

Allen

Lori Allen, Director of AWAI’s Travel Division,took this picture at our very first travelphotography workshop in Paris with a digitalpoint-and-shoot camera. This isn’t the bestcamera for night photography, but as you cansee, it worked for her in this instance. If sheenlarges the image, however, she’ll notice a lotof photo grain. So… she got a picture she canbe proud of. It’s just not saleable to anyoneexcept maybe a web editor. Pictures usedonline don’t have to be nearly as high-qualityas those that are printed on paper.

Shooting at twilight is the best time for nightphotography. All the lights are on, but theambient light is a little easier to shoot in.

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The heavymist overthe lakeevokes asense ofpeacefulness in thisimage.

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rryAgain, the

mist helpsmake thisshot.

A foggymorning can turnsomethingmundane, like a building, intosomethingextraordinary.

466 COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37

Photographing Snow

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A bright splash of color adds interest to yoursnow photos.

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The trick to good snow photographs is makingsure your snow comes out true white.

Rain

Rainy daysoffer unusual

reflectionthat add

interest tophotographs.

Colors canalso appear

moresaturated

on a rainy day.

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This rain-soaked scene differs dramaticallyfrom the everyday look of a street.

Photographing Sunsets and Sunrises

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This sunset (which has brilliant colors) issaleable because of the couple.

You canuse

yourselfas a

model ifyou havea tripod.

COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37 467

Photographing Landscapes

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Notice how the horizon sits at the lower thirdof the picture. The major mountain peaksobey the Rule of Thirds, too.

Notice how both rocks in the foreground and themountain in the background are in sharp focus.

Photographing Pets

Getting inclose canmake a hugedifference to your petphotographs.

There are threekeys to petphotography.Get in close,keep yourcamera level withthe animal’s face,and be patient.Your patience will be rewarded.

Waterfalls

A waterfallusing afaster

shutterspeed (1/60)

stops themotion andgives more

detail in thewhite areas

of the water.

A waterfallshot with

a slowershutter

speed (1/15seen here)

conveys themovement of

the water.

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y Al

lenWaterfalls are everywhere. This shot wastaken by one of our workshop attendees inThe Bahamas at the famous Atlantis Resort.

468 COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37

Street Photography

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Candid photos like this one arethe type of images editors andstock agencies love.

Shooting close in to yoursubjects adds detail andintimacy to your shots.

Notice the focus in thispicture is on the eyes,although it is thecolorful outfit thatmakes it so interesting.

Sports

Rob

Fried

man

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ner

Using a telephoto lens lets you get up-closeshots without interfering with the action.

Set yourshutter asfast asyou canget it tostop theaction andcapturegreat (andsaleable)images likethis one.

Photographing Fireworks

Notice howsharp the

streams oflight are —

you need a tripod

to capturethis effect.

Notice thevertical

angle andhow thefirework

bloom fills the frame.

COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37 469

Adjusting for Distortions and Perspective

Notice how the building feels like it might just keel overbackwards… this is a dangerwhenever you tilt yourcamera up to photograph tall buildings.

Shooting at a distance or from an angle will help to preventdistortion, too.

With a little adjustment inPhotoshop, you can save afalling building shot and turn it into something saleable.

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470 COLOR REVIEW: Sessions 33 through 37

This concludes the Full

COLOR REVIEWfor Sessions 33 through 37.

Working with Stock Photo Agencies

This is an example ofthe kinds of imagesthat stock agencies like to receive. As thewoman is clearlyidentifiable, a modelrelease was neededbefore sending this to an agency.

People. People. People. We can’t say it enough— people are what sellmost photos. Withoutthe couples walking onthe beach, this would

be a useless shot.

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