by Jason France
With any given subject, a photographer could capture an image of it literally a million different ways. And chances are pretty good that no two photographers would capture the exact same image. Photography is an art form and should be treated as such. It’s OK to improvise. It’s OK to try new shooting techniques. To me there is no right or wrong when it comes to shooting an image. But capturing an image is only part of the equation.
What makes a truly interesting photograph? Subject matter, lighting, visual impact, technical execution, composition, crop, and angle can all help create a stunning image. But what really separates a good image from a great image? Why does an award-winning photo…umm...win awards? Can a novice create a “great” image?
Today’s high-tech, digital equipment makes everyone a better photographer. But it takes more than a good camera to shoot a great image. Think of your camera as a tool. Can you replace a shock absorber on your car with a crowbar? Maybe. But without the right tools, the job is more difficult. Sure, a 24 megapixel Canon professional digital camera can capture a great image. But I have also seen great photographs taken with camera phones, $90 point-and-shoot digitals and Holga plastic film cameras. So it’s not solely the camera.
The thing to remember here is that as long as you have a camera (the tool), you can capture a great image with a little thought and practice. And don’t be afraid to use it! Memory cards are cheap, so fire away. But in order to see progress with your photography skills, you have to take the time to learn your particular camera’s settings. Having a $5,000 camera does you no good if you don’t know how to change the white balance setting or the ISO. Make sure you shoot on your camera’s highest quality setting also. You can always shrink a photo in Photoshop or iPhoto but you can’t go the other way.
0 comments:
Post a Comment