Although all the Photographic Fundamentals are important, this crucial one has been saved until the end because this is where you take your final look through your camera and expose the film. It is with these final decisions that you achieve all the other Fundamentals.
Landscape & Portrait
Your camera will work equally well held horizontal or vertical. A
horizontal image is also called "Landscape" and the vertical image is called
"Portrait." Which should you use? Depends . . . on all the other
Fundamentals. You may only be able to achieve the rule of thirds in a Landscape
format. Or you might chop off a good Leading Line if you select the Portrait format.
In some settings, you may find a strong image in both formats. In such cases,
you should take at least one photo in each orientation.
| EXAMPLES | |
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This photograph was done in the horizontal (Landscape) format. This allowed the best Balance, Rule of Thirds, and showed a strategic amount of the sky (any more sky would have been basically the same color and not added additional strength to the image). |
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This photograph was almost identical in setting, but the addition of the fisherman gave the scene a vertical feeling. The Portrait format was used. |
Left, Right, Up, Down (Perspective)
An accomplished photographer will look at his subject from different angles.
The selection of Perspective can make a big difference to a photograph. A
photograph of a person or pet is usually best done near their eye level - shooting from
well above or well below can create some interesting effects, but you might want to save
this as a more advanced technique.
| EXAMPLE | |
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This photograph had a carefully chosen Perspective. Instead of a total side view or top view, the camera was raised just enough to show the top of the rose. This created a feeling of depth and worked well with diffuse, but directed light, to give the impression that the rose was suspended in air. |
Get Close
In general, you should get as close to your subject as practical. This
does two very important things. First, it makes your subject fill more of your
photo, bringing out many more details. Secondly, the closer you get, the less other
stuff is included in your scene. In most cases, this other "stuff" is
visual clutter, and in not strengthening your subject, generally weakens your photo.
Finally, remember that photographers can Get Close in different ways. There
is physical closeness where you get closer to the subject or bring the subject closer to
you - and there is optical closeness where you use a telephoto lens.
| EXAMPLE | |
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This photo was a combination of physical and optical closeness. I used a short telephoto lens then moved physically as close as I could. By getting close, I eliminated the trees, bushes, and people who were in the area - and was able to show many of the fine details in the young owl's face. |
