David C Turnley

These are the Daves

PhotographerThe manly man's photographer

August 12, 2018

Top Tips to more Creative Photography

 

Talking Moose
Talking Moose
Creativity is intelligence having fun.


 
 
 
With the advent of digital cameras, (Digital DSLR, creativecompact or Bridge cameras)  smart phones and social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.) photography has become a hobby available at an affordable cost to most people.

However, whether you are a seasoned photographer who can easily work your way around the manual settings of a digital camera, or a smartphone snapper, there is a big difference between a good shot and a truly amazing shot.

 

Talking Moose
One day You Tube, Twitter and Facebook will merge and be called YouTwitFace!


 
 

Most of us are involved in social media to some degree, particularly the younger generation who capture and share snapshots of most aspects of daily life.  Facebook, for example, is loaded with images of people’s new born babies and children, pets, holiday shots – even what they had for dinner.

Most of these images, although some are technically very good, are much the same in composition and style.   How do you stand out from the crowd and develop your creativity?

 

Hector Hector
If a girl has 300 likes and 300 comments on a picture on Facebook, what’s missing?

Megan Megan
Don’t know Hector, do tell.

Hector Hector
Her Clothes.


 
 

Be Prepared

 
Although our first rule may seem like a misnomer to creative photography, it would be a real shame to see a once in a lifetime photo opportunity and end up with a blurred, or over exposed picture. Let’s face it some awesome shots are just about getting lucky and being in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

creativeTo take consistently good photos and capture that elusive, amazing photo you do need to know the technicalities and basic rules of the equipment that you are using.

When you buy your new digital camera, or smartphone, get familiar with all the settings.   Do try and read the instruction manual.   If you, like many of us, find that a bit overwhelming, then go on the internet and learn a little bit at a time.  There are a lot of good websites that explain the settings clearly and simply.

 

Men say that women should come with an instruction manual. What’s the point in that? Have you ever seen a man actually read an instruction manual?
Talking Moose


 
 

Change how you see the World

 
creativeWe all perceive the world according to our own world maps.  If two people looked at the same scene, their perception of the colours, the landscape and the feeling that it inspires would be totally different. However, we all have a fixed idea of what most things are. For example, if I say ‘dandelion‘ most people will produce a fairly similar image in their heads of this flower.

A great photographer understands the world is not always as we see it and  can change the mundane into the extraordinary, often by capturing an aspect of something ordinary that is not seen by others, and showing it. Most people only see what they expect to see, so playing with concepts or capturing a different angle, is a key element to creative photography.

 

Talking Moose
Talking Moose
We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.


 
 

Make Use of Design Software

There are a lot of truly great photo design softwares out there today. (Adobe photoshop,  for example).  Some traditionalists strive to capture the perfect shot that requires no editing.

However, with the wide range of amazing photograph design software out there it is fun to play around with your images. Do spend some time getting familiar with the various effects and functions of some of these programs.

With a little time and practice, you can take a fairly ordinary shot and transform it into something truly imaginative.  Any activity that involves using your creativity, such as photo shopping, only serves to increase and expand it.

 

Dr. Halls Dr. Halls
No two people ever see the same photo.


 
 

Dr. Halls

Think about different Positions

 

Hector Hector
Oooh Errr!

Jessica Jessica
No Hector, it’s not what you’re thinking!


 
 

creativeTo aid you in getting a change of perspective on things, start taking your shot from a totally different view point. Think about getting as low as possible to the ground and shooting your subject upwards. This technique will highlight totally different elements of an object, a person or an animal and can result in some very interesting images.

creativeLikewise, get up really high.  Make use of tall buildings or climb a tree and capture your shot from above.  You can also use an extended tripod, although the obvious disadvantage is that you cannot see through the view finder what image you are going to capture.

Mess around with perspective.  Not only can you place your camera down really low or really high, you can often move around your subject as well.   To begin playing with perspective, you need to have a thing or person in the foreground shot and something else further back, a classic example of this creative technique is the classic shot of a person who appears to be holding the sun.

 

Talking Moose
Talking Moose
You will create what you focus on.


 
 

Feeling in Photography

 
We are all creative on an everyday basis, in that we create our own environments, what we do and how we feel.

To capture real, genuine emotion in photography, you must be able to tap into your own emotions and moods. Use your photography to express your true, authentic self, and this way you will produce much more feeling in your shots.

For example, if you are feeling particularly loved up and light, go out and about with your camera and try to capture scenes and shots that reflect this. Whilst in this mood you will be more attuned to the special glint in a couples eye as they picnic together, more likely to capture a portrait shot that expresses pure delight.

Adversely, if you are angry or hurt, you can use those emotions whilst out snapping. Go for dark, moody shots of winter trees, even go to a place where there are a lot of people and try to capture the facial expressions and body language of somebody in a fierce argument.

Whatever pleases and delights you or angers and irritates you will all be reflected in the world around you – true creativity involves being attuned and present in the moment and capturing and conveying that mood to others.

Don’t shoot what it looks like, shoot what it feels like.
David Alan Harvey

 

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