Given any field, just about anything can be
learned. Every success can be achieved if we follow the right path and one of
the main ingredients is working hard. In this article I will discuss 7
important points that you need to pay attention to in order to produce your own
masterpiece.
KNOWLEDGE
To produce a great photo you must have the
necessary knowledge, there is no two ways about it. The more knowledgeable you
are, the more likely that the photo you produce will be great. You can learn
from many ways- reading books, magazines and informative websites. We can
attend workshops or learn directly from an experienced photographer.
There is absolutely no excuse for not
learning as there are many ways to learn. Pick one which is suitable with your
budget, time and preference. The important thing is that we need to understand
the basic theory of photography first. Do not attempt to take random snapshots
wishing that you might be lucky. Theory can explain why a photo turns out the
way it is. A great photo can be designed, not happen accidentally. Therefore we
need to have the know-how of producing great images.
Once you have learned, do not neglect
practice. Only through practice we can understand the accuracy and effectiveness
of the things we have learned and henceforth streamlining it according to our
preference. Through practice we will stumble upon new problems which would
bring us back to the study desk to increase our understanding further.
Remember, a knowledge which is yet to be put to practice is yet to complete.
SUBJECT
In the early stage we normally photograph
various subjects in various techniques. This is common in the learning process
as we need to understand the fundamentals of photography in general. Also in
this stage we might still seeking for subjects which are interesting. After you
have understood the basic principles we ought to streamline our subjects and
take random shots no more.
Getting great photos requires us to
photograph something that interests us. For example, if you enjoy outdoor
activity such as jungle trekking, perhaps you are more inclined into nature
photography. To be even more specific you may be more interested in insect
macro, birds or landscape.
It is important that we have a keen
interest in the subject that we shoot. When we are interested in a particular
subject, we tend to learn more about it. With a wide understanding of it, we
can produce better photos. It is simply because by then we are able to see so
many stories which can be told about the subject. By being knowledgeable we can
convey such stories better.
For example if you have an interest in the
natural history of a certain bird, we tend to figure out its habitat, behavior,
diet and other life aspects of the bird. We would also know when, where, which
angle and which technique should be employed to produce a stunning image of the
bird.
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| The photographer of this image specializes in spider photography. With a keen interest and such level of specialization on the subject, he mastered not only the techniques but also became an expert in the subject of choice. He can identify various species of spiders, understands their behavior, habitat and other information on spider. Such deep understanding of the subject allows him to produce remarkable photos of spiders which otherwise cannot be achieved by other photographers. (Photo by Amir Ridhwan) |
Avoid photographing a subject based on the
interest of others when you are not keen on it yourself. Without a keen
interest, we would not be passionate. Without passion we would not go the extra
mile to produce the best image. Without passion too, the process of creating a
magnificent photo becomes a burden and this takes the joy out of it.
ADVANTAGE
Apart from photographing a subject we are
fond of, it is best that we select a subject which has an advantage and
convenient to work on. For example, if you are keen into architecture
photography, it is best if you have some academic background on architecture or
reside in an area with an abundance of interesting structures. It would be difficult to obtain a good architecture photo if you are
isolated away from where your subjects are. This is because in order to obtain
good photos you need to keep working on your subjects until you are comfortably
adept.
To take another example, if you live near the national park, which is renowned for its astounding nature, you will be in a prime
position to shoot beautiful landscape and wildlife photos. But if you live near the national park yet only interested in photographing F1 motor sport, you are not
harnessing the capital advantage which lies in front of your nose.
Take a moment to ponder. In your current
situation, what would be the advantages that you have and how to harness them
to full usage to produce interesting images?
PREPARATION
A good photo rarely comes from random and
lucky shots. A good photo is produced
from a well planned preparation. What I mean from preparation here is to have a
collection of knowledge, skills and research into the subject of choice. Apart
from that, other preparations are just as important such as building ideas,
getting a nice location, trying new techniques for specific photo and such.
Planning is essential. Those who fail to
plan might as well plan to fail. We cannot simply bring a camera and wander
aimlessly to the town, hoping to get a good photo. We need to have a specific
plan such as what to shoot, where to do it and which technique to employ while
anticipating what are the possible challenges that we might face so we can plan
ahead to overcome them.
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| To capture scenery, apart from commonly known knowledge, we probably should need to learn specific techniques and tools in order to produce stunning photos. This image was captured using an infrared camera to obtain a unique effect such that the scene gives a surreal depiction of the subject.(Photo by Affandi Abd Hamid) |
It is not uncommon that the planning process or pre-production takes longer time than the actual photography session. It is more desirable that we are well prepared, although it consumes a lot of time, as long as the effort yields outstanding images.
It is undeniable that sometime we captured
stunning photos by a stroke of luck, or it just happened to be our fortunate
day. Sometimes we have to rely on luck to get good photos. But remember that
luck is only valuable when you are well prepared. Imagine that one day you are
driving through a place that looks so beautiful and, as fortunate you might be,
the sun is setting among a dramatic formation of clouds. You are probably lucky
to witness such a mesmerizing scene but you are not lucky as a photographer is
you camera is left at home. Even if you have a camera with you, would you be
well equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to immortalize that
moment? So get yourself prepared so that when luck strikes, it will be yours.
FOCUS
Before going out to shoot, it is best to
properly define your intention. Concentrate your thoughts and observation to
get what you plan for. Avoid being random or too greedy to shoot various
subjects unplanned unless they are really interesting.
Work your way properly to get what you have
planned. It is not a waste if you disregard other subjects by being focused on
only one. In fact, it is better that you come out with one spectacular photo
than having 10 of mediocre quality.
Other than putting you mind on a subject,
you should also keep an eye on the equipment you are using. This means you
should consider only the tools that are relevant with what you are planning to
work on. It is not necessary to being your entire arsenal just in case
something unexpected shows up. The more equipment you bring or the more choice
of lenses you have, the more your focus tend to be distracted. As we busy
ourselves pondering which lens or accessory to use, our concentration to the
main subject will easily lost. Furthermore, encumbrance will take its toll on
our energy especially when we have to do a lot of walking during a photo shoot.
VISION
Before shoot a good photo, we need to have
an eye that can “see”, not just the ordinary vision but the unique
“photographer’s eye” that can translate what being viewed into an interesting
photo. This is commonly called the Art of Seeing. To achieve the special eye
that can see beyond ordinary vision requires knowledge and training.
Before an image is recorded, look, think
and ask yourself- is this subject that I am about to shoot worth to be
photographed? Is the subject interesting enough? What is it that you actually
want to show or what story you mean to tell to the people who will look at it
later? If a subject is really interesting, you will easily get excited with it.
Otherwise do not waste your time you photograph it as it will not be fruitful.
After a subject has been identified, get an
interesting composition to capture the photo. An interesting subject with a bad
composition will make the photo dull. Before releasing the shutter, take a
while to decide if the image is better being recorded in horizontal or
vertical. Would it give more impact if being recorded in 2:3 format or 1:2?
There are other aspects which need to be considered such as background, front
ground, the type of lens suitable, depth of field and the effect of shutter
speed.
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| An example of an image in 2:3 aspect ratio which is the format used in most DSLR cameras.( Photo by Hasnuddin Abu Samah) |
Another thing that needs to be considered before a photo is taken is that there should be 3 interesting elements in the image. Usually photos which have only one interesting element are not strong enough to be spectacular. An example of 3 elements I am saying here is: firstly the subject itself is interesting. Secondly the lighting is interesting. Thirdly the background is also interesting. Another example: probably the first factor is an interesting expression by the subject. Secondly the technique used (such as using the slow shutter technique). Thirdly the color combination in the whole photo is interesting. It doesn’t matter what technique or the object, make sure there are 3 interesting elements in the photo.
TIME
To get a great photo, we know we need
suitable equipment, enough knowledge and a high degree of skill. Apart from
that there is another factor which is hardly being mentioned which is our
willingness to invest our time to practice and to work on getting a wonderful
photo. Usually people who have a lot of money have less time and vice
versa. Accordingly those with deep
pockets can afford expensive equipment but they lack time to practice, and the
same is true likewise. Each condition comes with its own pro and con. Whether
you like it or not, you need to find time to take photo. Whatever disadvantage
we have, we need to find a way to overcome it.
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| A sample photo with 1:2 aspect ratio also known as panoramic format. This format originated from 120 medium format camera with an image size of 6x12cm. This photo was taken using a DSLR camera which then being cropped using Adobe Photoshop to make into a panorama. (Photo by Hasnuddin Abu Samah) |
If you think about it, there is no secret on how to become a great photographer. What you need to do is to continue practice and work hard to get the photo you have been dreaming of. The more time we spend on taking photos, the higher the chance that we will soon achieve a good outcome. Regardless of what we do, anything that is being done repeatedly for a long period of time will hone us to become skillful in it. This is even more obvious if we concentrate on a specific field.
Just imagine that now don't know how to cook. If you learn the basics and practice cooking 5 times a day every day,
how long do you think it will take for you to eventually be able to cook? Probably just in 2 to 3 days only! The way is simple but not
everyone is willing to do it. Henceforth, shove away excuses and work on
getting great photographs if that is what you are really aiming to achieve.
We often get mesmerized looking at the
works of professional photographers. Their works are so spectacular that at
times we think that we will never achieve such standard. Even more, sometimes
negative thoughts suggest excuses such as the professionals were born talented,
blessed with state-of-the-art equipment, highly educated and so forth. But the
truth is they are mortal beings like us. They don’t have any mystical power and
they don’t take the shorter route. Have we ever ponder, how long or how hard
they worked to rise up to that level? Did we wonder, for every 10 masterpiece
they produced, how many hundred, if not thousand, photos that turned up as
failures? Did we ask, to get one spectacular photo, how long it took them and
how many times they returned to the same location to get the under the optimal
lighting and at the right moment?
Original article from fototeacher.com/blog by Hasnuddin Abu Samah. Translated by Amir Ridhwan
To read more article in Bahasa Melayu, please visit - http://hellofotografi.blogspot.com/
To read more article in Bahasa Melayu, please visit - http://hellofotografi.blogspot.com/
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