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There are many photography lessons that I have learned over the years (and more that I have yet to learn). But I remember one with special affection, I even remember who gave it to me and when. And it is because she marked a before and after in my photographs. These began to take on a meaning that they lacked, as much as I wanted to believe that I was good at this… It is about the fact of including the human element in photography.
There are several reasons to include this element, and that is what today’s article is about. Because, if you’re just starting out, it’s a more valuable lesson than you think. My way of thanking someone for providing me with this information is to share it with you. I hope it serves you as much as it did me, and that when you finish reading this article, your way of thinking has changed, even if only a little bit, and you are encouraged to include that human factor in your photographs.
1. Human element to show the scale
When you convert a 3D scene to a 2D format that is miniscule in size compared to the stage, the size information is lost along the way. You are in the place, you can touch, move from one side to another, look up, down, know how far away everything is, how tall or wide the building in front of you is, how huge the lake is in front of you, or how high is the mountain you just climbed and the effort you have made to climb it (in fact you are still with your tongue out 😉 ). But the person who sees the photograph that you capture of that space does not have that information, they do not know how tall the building is, or if it is a rocky mound or a large mountain.
For this you need a reference, an element known in size, needs you to show it the scale. Including a human figure is a way of saying to your brain, “hey! here is a reference, look how big this place is compared to this person.” Yes, an animal can also serve you, but what happens if you don’t have it at hand? And no, a tree in a landscape is not worth it, because it is just as much a bush as a 4 meter one 😉
2. As a center of interest
As much as the scene in front of you seems wonderful, or even the most beautiful landscape you’ve ever seen, there may be something missing when you translate it into a photograph. Imagine, the place is spectacular, the light is perfect but something is wrong… The gaze does not know where to land, it turns around the image until it gets bored, what’s more, since it does not know where to stop, it goes to something else-butterfly. It’s a risk which can sometimes run, if you have it clear, but including a center of interest in a photograph is a safe value. A flower, a little bird may serve you in a landscape, but what if none of that serves you? What if there is nothing like it in sight? How about including a person? Even you, if no one is around 😉
3. The human element in photography to convey an emotion…
A human figure will indisputably help you to convey an emotion, a feeling. The attitude of the person you include will infect the viewer. And what is photography if not emotion? You can really like a setting, and you can even arouse emotions through its colors, how the light falls, whether it is a more deserted, icy, warm place, etc. However, with a human figure with a clear attitude, the emotion is assured. What’s more, in the same setting or landscape, you can manage to convey completely different sensations depending on the posture of the figure. Is it going to be the same to include a person jumping as one lying down in the middle of a valley? Life is a matter of attitude, photography too 😉
4. …or tell a story
There are many times that we have told you about the importance of telling a story through photography. An image that tells a story will catch the viewer, it will make them want to stay read photography, to discover in his imagination what happens next, what is the beginning and the end of that story. A photograph that tells a good story will always be a thousand times better than a technically perfect but completely empty photograph.
Including a human figure (or several), is one of the premises to follow to tell it. You can also use objects that remind you of human presenceobjects that speak of people, that insinuate that they are there, very close, that they are part of the narrative.
When you doubt what is wrong with your photography, try to try with a human element, you will see how everything changes 😉
5. Human element to provide dynamism
When you find yourself before a landscape or, above all, before an architectural element, what you frame is usually static, immobile, unless water is included in a version that flows, such as a sea of waves or a river (a still puddle or a lake as still as a rock is worthless), everything will transmit stillness, stillness. Including a human figure in movement will help you (in addition to the previous points) to provide a dose of dynamism. It will endow the image with a contrast between mobile and immobile. In this way the image gains in interest, don’t you think?
After reading this, I have a question: do you always have to include the human element in your photographs? You probably don’t need me to answer you, but if you want to know my opinion, it’s that no, it’s not always necessary to include the human figure, of course. It is one more resource that you have in your hand and that you must learn to use to get the best of you, of your photos. I put this resource at your disposal, as someone once did with me, now it’s up to you to decide when is the best time to do it, when your photography needs it.
If you found it useful or interesting, I ask you to please share it on your social networks. This way I will know if the topics that I propose are to your liking ;). Thanks for getting here, see you soon!