When you enter the world of photography, at first you think that you do not take such bad photos, your people encourage you, tell you that your images are very good and you really think so. But you begin to delve a little deeper, to get to know the work of others, to see all the accessories that are used… you fall apart and think that you will never achieve photographs as spectacular as the ones you see others take. That if you don’t have a good team yet, that you don’t travel enough to get exotic photos, that if what you have around you doesn’t inspire you or deserve to be photographed…
Do you feel identified with what I am telling you?
If so, keep reading, because I’m going to show you that you don’t need to have the best equipment on the market, or a studio, or an assistant, or go around the world to achieve your best image, maybe you haven’t noticed , but your best photo is very close and closer than you think.
Many times we get obsessed thinking that to achieve a spectacular photograph we need, for example, to go to an idyllic place, with a wonderful sunset, with a tripod, two or three lenses and a lot of accessories. Well, nothing is further from reality, look at these two photographs, don’t you think they are wonderful? Well, you don’t even have to leave home to convey the tenderness and beauty that these two images convey.
Both photographs shine for their simplicity, for the beauty of the details, for the light, the composition, the blur. Nothing more. I’m sure you can control those tools to spare. And if you still don’t control them, here are tips and tricks for baby photography. what are you waiting for to practice? Oh… yeah, don’t you have a baby at home? That excuse doesn’t work for me!
You have a pet? Well look at these two images, are they impressive?
They do seem that way to me. If you look closely, the impact of the first image is due to the fact that the author has not only captured the expression of the animal, but has also gotten close enough to eliminate everything that is left over and bothers. The look of this feline and its fur are superfluous, nothing more is needed, it seems that you can touch it, caress it… And the only thing it has done is get closer, get up to its eye level and make a good frame. In the second photo, he has also removed the background, but using blur. Don’t forget that less is more. Eliminating all distractions your image gains dramatically. (Here are some tips for success photographing animals and pets.)
That you don’t have a pet either? But surely you have a friend or family member, or even a neighbor with hands. This is easier, right? Well, now tell me, what prevents you from achieving photographs as beautiful as these…?
If you look closely, in both there is a clear harmony in the colors. It is a very important detail to take care of. Sometimes we spoil an image due to the contrast of colors, or patterns that we have in front of us. The solution can be very simple, move us or make the subject move towards a more harmonious background. If what bothers you is the clothes, you don’t need to ask him to change either… 😉 Change the object in his hands, it will be easier for you! If you are interested in the subject of hand photography, take a look at this post.
Assuming you have someone willing to be your model (your pet will do too), I’m going to give you a trick to get wonderful portraits without having to set up a studio. There is a way to achieve an emotional impact on the viewer: work in high key and low key. Here are two clear examples:
If you don’t know how to achieve this effect, don’t worry, read this post by Mario that explains it step by step and in a very simple way.
Well, okay, you’re alone or alone and you don’t have a pet either… but you’re dying to get the camera out and practice. Of course, without going outside, it’s cold or you just don’t feel like it. You are not the first, it has happened to me too 😛 Take a walk around the house and look for an object that you like, a white cardboard or a plain background and stand near the window. You will get images like these with a standard lens (18-55mm in both cases).
You can make all these images at home, on a normal day, in a daily gesture, however, everyday moments do not only occur in the heat of the home, every day we go out to the street and take the subway, or the train, or simply we walk down the street. Look around you and look for the details that catch your attention, the scenes that surprise you or simply let your imagination run wild. The following image is taken on a subway tape. Such a simple idea and such an everyday moment but with a spectacular result.
This image is also taken in the subway. Just a good frame and black and white does the rest. How many times have you come across a similar picture? Maybe in your city there is no subway, but there are escalators in more places! Think of a shopping mall, for example.
And if you live in a small city, where there are no escalators… surely there are those of a lifetime… Have you ever tried to look up (or down)? Or maybe laziness gets the better of you and you always take the elevator… Then dozens of images like this one will have escaped you!
I hope that these photos have convinced you that it is not so difficult to find the time or place to take a wonderful snapshot and that you are already preparing your camera, if so… I’m glad!
Now I ask you two favors, the first, share 😉 and the second… show us those photos!