PhotograClare » composition

Autumn Fields

Clare Topping — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:10:47 +0000

I took this picture because it represents a different season, but is in one of my favourite spots; the Country Park. I had taken a similar shot in the Summer, when the fields were bright yellow and full of rape seed, and I had recently entered it into a competition, although the composition and the existence of the pylons were criticised. In both shots it was the s-curve across the field that I liked, however, without the vivid yellow of the rape field I noticed the line of trees evenly spaced across the back of the field which were glowing in the sun, showing off their autumn colours. I think from a compositional point of view I have stuck to the rules – the horizon is on the top third, there is interest in the middle and the trees at the bottom reflect those in the centre of the picture. My only concern is that there is too much foreground. I have posted another crop on Flickr which has reduced this – I am not sure which I like more.

I took this picture with my compact (Canon S90), ISO80, 1/500secs at 15mm (almost). In Lightroom I changed the camera calibration to Landscape, a tip I recently picked up from a vodcast which made the blues and greens more vivid.

S-Curves

Clare Topping — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 14:50:33 +0000

If, like me, you have read the occasional article regarding composition, you will have heard about S-Curves – there is a particularly good article over at Photocrati. Basically, the s-curve is what it claims to be, an element, often a path, road or watercourse which wanders horizontally from side to side, leading your eye vertically through the picture.

Well, this is one of the photos I took last weekend on a walk to the country park. The S of the fence shadows follows the S shape of the path, with a weaker element of the fence also contributing. The main problem with this photo however, is that all the lines lead to…. a road. And, unfortunately a sign, right across the road from the end of the shadows. Unfortunately, I cannot think of anything that would be suitable to be sitting across the road. So, the question is, should I crop the photo?

This is possibly better, but still, not a great shot, the depth of field is not enough to be sharp from front to back, and, although there is a little more pattern to the shadows in the foreground, I am not sure there is enough foreground interest to carry the picture. Also, the shape and curve of the fence are now lost.

Possibly 5/10 (by my standards) – the idea was there, but more interest was needed.

Camera settings were ISO200, f/10, 1/100 secs with a handheld EOS 400D fitted with 100mm macro lens.

Garden Photography

Clare Topping — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:28:26 +0000

Yellow Rose in a Country Garden

This weekend I went on a Garden Photography Workshop at Barnsdale Gardens. I didn’t really know what to expect from either the course or the gardens. The day also clouded over somewhat and the light was a little flat. I know I need to improve both my composition and technique, but I think that this is a matter of practice and looking at my photos and other people’s and deciding what works, what doesn’t and why.

I did take a few things away from the course, two of them are illustrated in the above photo. Firstly, a picture of a flower does not have to be a stunning close up macro or portrait shot, if it is put into context, a more distant shot can be just as effective, this rose was in front of a set of table and chairs. Unfortunately I can’t take all of the credit as the instructor did point the shot out to us.

Secondly, taking garden photos doesn’t always require a small aperture and large depth of field. This photo was taken (ISO 100) with my 100mm macro lens, handheld at 1/400secs (the sun came out for a moment) and an amazingly large aperture of f/3.2.