The figure to the ground relationship is one of the most important, but often overlooked concepts in photography. Painters have been using it for ages, but with photography, the methodology is a bit different, so it’s not always easy to translate painting tools. A good figure to the ground relationship is considered when the line between [...]
If you are new to photography, you may have heard about something called depth of field, but you are not entirely sure what it means and how to take advantage of it. Depth of field is basically the zone of sharpness in a photograph. In every picture you take, a certain part of it is in [...]
Framing is a basic part of photographic composition that photographers use in every shot. What you include or exclude from the photo will define your frame. But there are ways of framing within the actual image that will emphasize your subject by drawing attention to a specific part of a photograph. A frame within a [...]
Photography literally means ‘writing with light’ – that immediately tells you how important lighting is in photography. Understanding light is a priority in photography. Without that knowledge you will not be able to continuously produce great photos. As it is with everything in life, where there is light, there must be shadow – they go hand [...]
A leading line is used in photography to literally lead the gaze of the viewer from one point of the image to another. Using leading lines to create an illusion of depth is probably one of the simpler composition techniques you can learn, while still being very effective. Leading lines can be found everywhere – [...]
We’ve been talking about principles of composition in photography in a number of posts now, but we haven’t touched the subject of filling the frame. What does filling the frame actually mean? It means exactly what you may assume it means even if you’ve never heard about it. It is one of the principles in photography [...]
Talking about composition in art and photography may seem intimidating, especially if you are new to the photographic practice. It maybe sounds technical, but in this article we are going to explore what is space in art, more specifically what is positive and negative space in photography. Don’t freak out because of the terminology, space composition [...]
Minimalism began as an artistic movement in the US in the 1960s. In visual arts it meant moving from abstract expressionist painting to more simplified, geometric shapes. Minimalists claimed their art was not so much about self expression, but rather a more objective method of creating. Minimalism includes balanced forms, neutral surfaces, repetition, geometry, color, etc. [...]
One of the basic and simpler rules for composing a photograph is the rule of odds. Photographic composition is often left to chance. You see something interesting – you photograph it. There’s a split second of time left for you to make a decision, which is why photographers aren’t as free as painters or designers to [...]
Rhythm is a part of life. Our heart beats in a rhythm, we breathe in a rhythm, sleep; wake up, night follows day, the seasons change. Rhythm is present in different types of art forms: music, dance, poetry, theatre, film. And photography is no exception. Using rhythm to draw attention to certain elements [...]
The most important element of color theory is the color wheel. It is a circular depiction of all the colors in existence, transitioning one from another. A traditional color wheel is made up of primary, secondary and tertiary colors and each color is complementary to the color opposite to it on the wheel. The three primary [...]
In this article we are diving deeper into the fundamentals of color theory by investigating what does color temperature in photography mean. Color is a name for the color impression that occurs when light with a specific wave length reaches the photoreceptors in the retina. These receptors react to specific light waves. Information about a certain [...]
There are a number of different ways of representing the same color, as every color contains dimensions. On the computer screen, the primary colors of light are mixed additively, so they produce white light. These colors are known to us as the RGB color system, which is commonly used in digital cameras and monitors. Graphic designers [...]
Traditionally, photographers do not have the same knowledge about color theory as painters do. But color is an integral part of our world and it is important to understand how different colors can affect our perception and emotions. Some basic knowledge about color theory can give you a better understanding of how to capture it in [...]
A photographer’s ambition when showing their work is usually oriented towards the photographic exhibition. It can be the greatest feeling, having your photos framed and mounted on the walls, all your hard work finally on display for the public to enjoy. But preparing an exhibition is no joke. It can take months, or even years of [...]
Art & Design festivals are becoming increasingly more popular. They can be a great place for practicing your photography skills, because there is always a bunch of things going on. Usually a design festival includes all kinds of exhibitions, classes, workshops, markets and performances to name a few. With all this going on it can be [...]
As a photographer, you will often get a chance to work together with other creative people from different industries. Working with clients can be a challenge, because you are taking picture of a product they are passionate about and they want it done a particular way. There’s no reason to get discouraged, just remember to be [...]
One of the more popular motifs of 19th century photography was most definitely the landscape. Photographs have the power to bring faraway lands into our homes. The first landscape photographers had a great responsibility of faithfully reproducing places that people have never seen before. The world is constantly changing and it is only natural for photography [...]
Everyone feels a little bit under the weather sometimes. Maybe you’re feeling sick or just tired and you aren’t able to push yourself to go out today. But you don’t always have to go outside to take pictures, sometimes the best moments are hidden right in front of your nose. To get started, try out some [...]
The beginning of the surrealist movement and surrealism in photography is connected to Paris in the mid 20’s of the 20th century. Surrealism was a self-proclaimed movement. The surrealist manifesto, published in 1924 by André Breton, announced the priority of the irrational and belief in the truth beyond realism. Surrealism had roots in the Freudian theory [...]
