Photo Retouch

Normally, a photograph is composed of one or more subjects (not necessarily human) in the foreground, and everything else in the background. The subjects and the environment around them are the tools with which the observer will build his assumptions about where the photo was taken, what happened then, and what message it tries to convey, if any. Close-ups, on the other hand, may provide some sort of ambiguity, which will keep any observer guessing.

From a scenic point of view, taking a photograph of a subject filling a small area in your frame may leave you with many empty spaces that if not effectively used, will render your photo boring. In this case, filling the frame with your subject is simple and effective, as this makes it the only center of interest.

Sometimes it is even better to include nothing but your subject. For example, consider this situation in which you are photographing a wild animal at the zoo. The most common composition is one that consists of an animal, a cage, and maybe spectators. Getting rid of all the element except for the animal itself, may make the photograph look as if it was taken in the wild. Another common use of close-ups is to make the observer use his imagination to come up with different stories from a single photograph . A photo of legs of a man and a woman standing in front of each other can tell many things. The focus here is on the action being performed, rather than who is performing it.

Of all types of close-up photographs, portraits are the most famous. Sure you can take a great portrait with your subject in an interesting environment, but you can also get a very nice one too with just focusing on him. A portrait in which your subject fills the whole frame gives some sort of a personalized feeling. Getting even closer to just include the face – sometimes with eye contact – can bring a feeling of amicability, as if you were staying face to face with the subject. Close-ups on other body parts produce great photos too; they may create an abstract feel, or emphasize a certain action.

Even with still life, close-ups work great. Getting close to object show new details that are not obvious when photographing from a distance. This kind of photography is usually used in stock and product photography.

A frame can be filled by walking towards your subject, zooming on it, or by cropping a photograph. Cropping allows you to cut any part you want from any photograph, making it flexible to carefully choose your composition, but you have to know that the image size will be smaller than the original.

As you can see, close-ups open a new door for your creative expression using photography. So use your imagination, and make your audience use theirs.

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A compact digital camera usually appeals to those who are interested in taking good photographs with no trouble. It is easy to use that all you need to do is just point to your subject and click the button. But did you know that your camera maybe capable of doing more? If not, you should.

Knowing your camera’s features very well will lead you to make better decisions about what settings to use in different situations. Maybe you should first check the automatic settings as they will quickly give you a better control on your photographs. They are sufficient in most conditions, however, being able to manually adjust your photos will generally yield better results . That’s why manual setting are usually more preferred. The more manual controls you have, the better your ability to adjust your photos as desired will be.

It is always recommended to take all your photos at the maximum resolution using the highest quality available, especially when you plan printing these photos. Prints usually require high resolution, and any compromise in the photo’s quality is not a good thing. This will lead to an increased usage of the storage space, which means that you will have to take care of the storage and backup issues.

Nearly every compact camera sports an autofocus feature these days. Conventionally, autofocus is set by pressing and holding the shutter button half way down. The camera will perform the analysis and try to automatically set focus on the subject. That’s why pressing and holding the button should be done while aiming at the subject and then the camera can be moved (while still holding) to get the desired composition. Pressing down the other half will capture the image.

One of the main drawbacks of photographing in low light situations is the difficulty to get a decent photo without a tripod. The reason is that the camera will try to compensate for the low light with long exposure. Most compact digital cameras will not produce very clear images in low lighting even when a tripod is used, so it is always advisable to improve the lighting if possible.

Not all features are valuable though. Compact cameras are usually not very capable of producing good photos at very high ISOs which should only be used when photographing objects moving at high speeds. The built-in flash should be avoided except for open areas or very dark places. Its strong, non diffused, near the lens frontal light will make sure that your photos look awkward. That’s why external light sources are usually preferred. As for the digital zoom, it should be neglected altogether.

Obviously, one needs to understand some basic photography concepts in order to get the best out of his camera . No matter how difficult it may sounds, you should know that this is the shortest path towards improving your photographing skills.

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Composing a good photograph isn’t just done by framing your subjects inside the viewfinder. It is a process similar to painting in which you try to convey a message or strike an emotion. A strong composition is the product of a thoughtful study of the environment around you, its lines, shapes, and the patterns they form.

Understanding the effect lines can have on a photo will allow you to turn an ordinary composition into something extraordinary. They can grab the attention of the eye into a certain direction, they can add depth to the photo, and they can form interesting patterns.

While you may not notice, lines are abundant in our surroundings. Horizons are the most common of all horizontal lines that if placed on the top third will emphasize the landscape, while when place on the bottom third, more emphasis will be on the sky. While adding lines to you composition, you should not forget about the Rule of Thirds, and try keep the horizontal lines perpendicular to the edges of your photo. It is worth noting that horizontal lines usually look better in landscape orientation .

If you look around, you’ll probably notice that vertical lines are even more abundant. It is a natural fact that nearly everything tends to grow vertically which is why vertical lines usually reflect growth and power. As with horizontal lines, the vertical lines should be perpendicular with the edges of the photograph because an inclined vertical line may harm your photo significantly. Also remember that this type of lines is usually more convenient to vertical photos.

Diagonal lines are even more usable than the previous two types. Just look ahead of you along road or railway lines and you will sense a feeling of depth while your eyes will be set to their point of convergence of the diagonal lines. They also give a feeling of dynamic action. It is usually better to have the diagonal lines away from the photo’s diagonals so as to make it more interesting.

The perspective usually control how the lines exist inside the photo. By utilizing a different angle, a pair of parallel lines can easily become converging lines and lead the eyes into the photograph. This can produce a totally different composition with more depth and more points of interest at the meeting point of the diagonal lines.

While lines may add a certain mood to your photograph, shapes usually provide the meaning. The shape is the first thing that identifies an object and it is usually considered as its 2D outlines.In order to let shapes have a strong impact in your photograph, try to make your object as different as possible from its surroundings in terms of colors or details . A good example for this is silhouette photography where the subjects are dark while the environment is colorful.

Objects may look the same from some angles and that may result ambiguity. Because photographs have two dimensions only, choosing the right perspective is essential to present the object with the shape you want.

Lines and shapes are abundant around us; we just have to remember how to utilize them efficiently.

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Buying a new camera is a thoughtful process in which you should study all available options, their pros and cons, in order to be able to make an a informed decision. There are a lot of factors to take in consideration when buying a compact digital camera including the price range, the features, and the quality.

As an initial step, think about the camera you will buy, how you will use it and what do you want your pictures to look like. When doing so, you will be able to narrow down your search into a specific range of models, so the process will not be difficult anymore.

If what you need is just some photographs of you, your family and your friends, then you may not need too many features and the most basic of cameras will suffice. You will be able to find a lot of cheap basic compact digital cameras. It is still possible to find some good set of basic functions in this range such as autofocusing and white balancing. These features were almost unheard of in the same range a few years ago.

But if you are more of a hobbyist than a snapshooter, maybe it is better to consider a camera with more features so as to cope with your hobby’s needs. Cameras in this range usually have a decent overall quality of the pictures they produce, and they provide the photographer with higher light sensitivity, better zoom options, and more manual settings.

Aspiring photographers with somewhat limited budgets may still be able to produce professional quality photographs using high-end compact cameras . These cameras usually sport optical viewfinders, provide more manual controls for the photographer (manual focus, aperture and shutter speed), they are expected to shoot a wider angle and usually better optical zoom range than the cheaper compact cameras. They also usually provide the ability to take RAW type photos which allows later precise adjustments.

When buying a digital camera, it is important to understand well the features you really need, not those advertised. Maybe you have a video camcorder and you don’t need to record video with your compact digital camera. In this case, you may choose a compact camera with the same price but with no audio or video features as this will usually mean better photographing capabilities. In the case of specifications, emphasis is usually put on the number of megapixels in one photo allowed by the camera. A large number of megapixels is needed for very large prints and it allows more details in the photographs. But bear in mind that this number is in no way an indication of the quality of the image this camera can produce.

To have a good idea about what to expect, it is usually recommended to read online reviews and comparisons regarding the cameras you are considering. Many websites provide samples of photos taken by many different cameras and compare them. Thus, you may know what to expect from the one you are going to buy.

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Ansel Adams is one of the most treasured American exponents the arts. He became famous for his art photography prints of the American West and Yosemite National Park in particular. He was a passionate environmentalist and loved this landscape. To capture vast scenes of mountains, forests and lakes he used a large format camera. He was made a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1966 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1980, which is the highest award that a civilian can receive in the United States. His reproduced works include Moon and Half Dome Yosemite National Park 1960, Oak Tree, Sunset City, California 1932, Mount McKinley and Wonder Lake, Denali National Park, Alaska and Aspens Northern New Mexico.

Henri Cartier Bresson was a French man, known as the ‘father of modern photo-journalism’. He was largely responsible for taking photography out of the studio and into the street for candid shots, rather than formal poses. He began as a painter and was a true artist with a camera. Taking art photography prints of Berlin, Warsaw, Prague, Budapest, and Madrid he travelled extensively in Europe. Japan, China, India and the Soviet Union were also places he visited. Cartier-Bresson helped to form the influential Magnum picture agency for photo-journalism. Ahmedabad, Guejerat, India 1966, Queen Charlotte’s Ball 1959, Sidewalk Café, and the view from Top of Notre Dame are among his prints that are available to buy.

Photo journalist Bill Brandt was a British photographer celebrated for his landscapes, nudes, and his documentation of British life. The Government commissioned him to photograph the underground bomb shelters for civilians during the Blitz in London in World War II. As in Nude 1952, his nude art photography prints are artfully shot in black and white. Rider on Horseback in Hyde Park, a shot from 1940 in London’s famous park, showing a rider on a white horse and a line of trees is amongst Brandt’s work to be featured in Life Magazine,

Known mostly for his pictures of celebrities Robert Mapplethorpe is an American photographer. His reputation was sealed when he photographed Patti Smith for the iconic cover of her debut album, Horses. He also took pictures of Grace Jones, Richaed Gere, Debbie Harry and Andy Warhol. Many of Mapplethorpe’s other art photography prints are of flowers. They often have a luminous sheen when delicately shot with pale colours. 

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