In Search of Compositions
Not so long ago, I was very much drawn to the idea that a photograph would be perfect if and only if it is technically perfect. This would mean that the image would have to be in sharp focus, the light would be right, and no part in the image should be underexposed or blown out. I learned about focus stacking, HDR images, long exposures, panorama, time lapses, and I was very eager to apply these techniques every time I went out with my camera. Unfortunately, while I kept myself busy making my photos technically perfect, I did not pay enough attention to the single most important thing in photography, the composition.
Just after the sunset by a random lake, Seattle
The above shot was taken few years ago from the side of a lake Seattle, I don’t remember the name of the lake, but it doesn’t matter anymore. Excited by the beautiful golden lights right after the sunset, I took out my tripod and 10 stop ND filter, and I took a long exposure shot. I was quite happy with the result at that time. I really liked how the water and the clouds became soft and dreamy, and how the belt of bright orange light touched the horizon. It never occurred to me that something was seriously wrong with the photo, the composition. This photo is missing a subject, like a tree, or a boat, or even a small island on the water body, which would add so much to the picture. Not to mention that the piece of land in the left side of the frame is quite distracting to the viewer’s eyes. The dark clouds on the sky look kind of out of balance and not very intriguing. In a nutshell, the elements in this photo don’t have the right harmony and balance among themselves that would make this photo pleasing.
When people around you change and you stay the same
With time, I learned new techniques in photography and I became better with my camera. The result is the above image, which was taken at a local woodland in Toronto, very close to where I live. I am very happy with this shot for a number of reasons. First, the green leaves are very catchy among all these dead leaves, and they draw the viewer’s eyes right there. Second, this composition is very different from many other photos from the taken during the fall season, because the fall colours are not the main subject here. Third, and most importantly, I have found this composition in a place where most people would walk by without looking at the green leaves. In this photo, I get to tell a story to the viewer which would otherwise be unnoticed and untold.
You don’t have to go to exotic places to take good photos. You can walk around your neighbourhood and you may find a beautiful composition in the most unlikely place.