Project 52, Week 22, Contrast

This week we concentrate on contrasts - the obvious differences between elements in the scene.  Any element may have a corresponding contrasting element. 

Just a few obvious examples:

• Colors - dandelion yellow against spring green grass
• Lights and shadows/low lights highlight - light shining through a window into a dark room
• Sizes - a baby's hand on top of daddy's hand
• Shapes - a round ball next to a baseball bat.
• Textures - Grandma's wrinkled hand against granddaughter's smooth cheek
• Objects/subjects - a gun lying on top of a Bible
• Positions - a horizontal bench surrounded by vertical trees
• Tones - Girl in blue dress in blue boat on blue water; black/white photos

Things to consider:

• Often contrast is used to discuss colors and tones, but as seen in the above examples, contrast in  this week's project covers more than color.
• Use contrast to draw attention to your subject. (a red rose in the middle of brown mud)
• Use contrast to 'tell the story'. (For example: a baby's hand on top of daddy's hand)
• To be most effective, contrasts should be found naturally in the environment.  They should not look (too) contrived.
• Two or three subjects with a large contrast in size may be difficult to get into the frame.  Be creative.

Although the following paragraphs reference black and white photography, high, normal, and low contrast labels also apply to color photographs.

"In black-and-white photography, contrast is considered either high, normal, or low. A high-contrast scene or photograph consists primarily of white and black with few or no middle gray tones. A black sailor in a white uniform against a light background is an example of a high-contrast (contrasty) scene. Most scenes you photograph have normal contrast. There will probably be elements within the scene that are very light or white, some that are very dark or black, and many tones or colors that reproduce as various tones of gray.

A low-contrast (flat) scene has colors or tones in which highlights and shadows have very little difference in densities. In other words, all colors or tones within the scene are very similar in appearance. A white sailor in a white uniform against a light background is an example of a scene with low contrast.

In black-and-white photography, high contrast conveys a sense of hardness and is characteristic of strength and power. Low contrast conveys a sense of softness and is characteristic of gentleness and mildness."  NAVY training course

Suggested Readings and Examples:

Contrast:

1. Photographic Composition, Part 1: Contrast by Doug Wilson  from ImagePhotog; 3.5 minutes lecture type Youtube video
2. Photography Rules of Composition - Visual Weight from Ultimate Photo Tips
3. Complementary Contrast and Quantity Contrast from Graphics.com; medium size article with lots of illustrative photos, mainly on color values, but also gives examples of other contrasting elements
4. Photo Technique, by Alex Wild from Myrmecos Blog; Bug/insect photos, Photo 6 shows a contrast in color, photo 7 shows a contrast in texture
5. Contrast Sonora Newborn Photographer.html from jodi mockabee photography; 3 photographs of same baby and man - the artist, Jodi Mockabee, says "Everyone loves the contrast between old and young; it photographs so beautifully because such contrast evokes emotions in each of us ... Tattoos have a hardness about them and babies are so naturally soft.  Tattoos tell a story and the newborn ha yet to start their own.  The contrast between these two is so great, yet the bond between them is greater."

Color/Tone Contrasts:

1. Color, Contrast, and Composition by Bryan Peterson from AdoramaTV; 3 minute Youtube video
2. Using Flash for Contrast and Creating Contrast with a Flash by Bryan Peterson from AdoramaTV; 3 - 3.5 minute Youtube videos explaining how to make the background black using a flash
3. 40 Beautiful Examples of Black and White Photography from Web Design Ledger; 40 pictures illustrating contrasts in tones
4. Mastering Composition: Tonal Contrast by Andrew Gibson from MasteringPhoto.com; examples of tonal contrast for the same photo in color and b/w
5. Composition: Contrast and Simplicity an assignment for Mr. Darling's Grade 11 TGJ class ; 2 photos (actually one picture is for Simplicity but it also shows contrasting colors and textures.)
6. Contrast - Photography Composition Techniques by Rhonda Callow from Bright Hub
7. Color Wheel,Classifications, Emotional Effects, and Color Theory/ from PELFUSION
8. Underwater Photography Composition Tips: Think About Your Background from Aquaviews; 6 underwater photos of good contrast with 2 pictures of poor contrast.

Project 52, Week 21, Fill the Frame

This week is about eliminating distracting elements in the environment by "filling the frame" with the main subject.  (Think of the frame as the edges of the scene or photograph.) 

There are three ways to "fill the frame"

1. Use a telephoto or zoom lens.
2. Get closer to your subject.
3. Crop the photo in post-production

Things to consider:

• It is one of the quickest and easiest ways to simplify  your photograph.
• Consider the Rule of Thirds  when composing your photo.  For example: when composing portraits to fill the frame, the eyes should be along/near the upper horizontal line with one eye at the intersection of a vertical and horizontal line. 
• "Filling the frame" isn't just for portraits of people and pets.
• It doesn't necessarily mean completely filling the frame with the subject's head.  Sometimes you will want to include supporting elements.  Sometimes the face isn't the most interesting part of the subject.
• Avoid the "I can't see the tree for the forest" syndrome.  For example, a photo of some building may look like an ordinary, every day scene, but by zooming in on an interesting architectural element, filling the frame with that element, and excluding the ordinary, you can get that "Wow!" shot. 
• Don't take a close-up just to be taking a close-up.  Sometimes a wide angle view tells the story better.  For example, "I can't see the forest for the tree"  - are you concentrating so hard on one element that you're missing the real story in the whole scene?
• Watch the enviroment when stepping closer or stepping back.  That next step might be a long way down if you're standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon.

Suggested Readings and Examples:

1. Fill the Frame 1.5 minute Youtube video by playthattv
2. Fill the Frame from Family Travel Photos; short article with good examples geared toward the typical family photographer.
3. Fill the Frame by Peter K Burian from BetterPhotoJim; short article with good tips
4. Filling the Frame from Fodors.com/Travel Photography; very short article with three examples
5. Portrait Tip: Don't Fill the Frame by Darren Rouse from Digital Photography School; short article for those who don't want to follow the rules

Project 52, Week 20, Framing

Framing, this week, means to compose the photo so that the focal point is "inside" a natural frame that you find in the environment around your subject.  The frame can be in front of, behind, or to the side of the main subject.  It doesn't have to surround your subject like a "picture frame", but can be around 1 or 2 sides or even just in one corner.

Framing draws attention to the focal point.  It can also be part of the story, creating a different mood.  For example, a photo of a bird framed by the bars of a cage evokes different feelings than one with the same bird in the middle of a tree.

Things to Consider:

• Framing adds depth and dimension by creating layers in the scene.
• Framing shouldn't look too contrived or over-used.  Some photographers feel that using tree branches has been overdone, others feel this is one of the most natural framing materials you can use.
• Just about anything can be used as a frame: trees, doorways, windows, people, rocks, driftwood, fences, playground equipment, flowers, gates, tunnels, clouds, light, shadows, - get the picture? (pun intended)
• Don't forget to move around to get the best angle and find the best frame. 

Suggested Readings and Examples:

1. Framing Your Subjectby Rhonda Callow from Bright Hub, informative short article with good examples
2. Framing by Nate Kay from Photography Blogger; 20 examples of framing (Do you think some of the frames break the "too contrived" rule?")
3. Framing Your Shots - Photography Composition Technique and Frame Your Images by Darrin Rouse from Digital Photography School, short articles 
4. Basic Photography: Framing, 3 minute YouTube video from playthattv 
5. Framing Your Shots - Photography Composition Tips from School of Digital Photography

Framing can also refer to the entire scene and the placement of the elements in the scene. Remember that scene in that TV show where the movie director made a "frame" with the thumb and forefinger of each hand and pretended to be viewing the scene from different angles to see how it would look through the camera lens? When you move around, up and down, left and right, and across the street  zooming in and out, to find different angles of view/viewpoints, you are "framing" your subject through your camera lens.   The "frame" defines the boundaries of the scene and determines which elements in the environment are available for the composition.  View a 4 minute Youtube video, Photography Composition and Framing, which lightly touches on this subject with tips by Charles Cramer from Marc Silber

Project 52, Week 19, Background

If you hadn't noticed before, this week should surely bring to light that many of the elements of composition are overlapping.  For example, you can't consider Simplicity without looking at the Background, which is this week's topic.  We also considered the Backgroud when we concentrated on Depth and Dimension.

The Background is the area behind the main subject, the area farthest from the camera.  Sometimes it is the subject of the photograph.  It's one of the most important compositional elements because it's always there even if you can't see it in the final composition.

Things to consider:

• Most important - The background should compliment the subject, not compete with it.
• Sometimes a contrasting background supports the subject better than a coordinating one.
• The background should not be cluttered.  Unless you want it to be.
• The background may be blurred (remember depth of field) or sharp.
• Maybe you want to fill the frame with the subject and eliminate the background altogether.
• Maybe you want the background to tower over the subject to add perspective or mood.
• Don't focus (pun) so hard on the subject that you forget to check the background.  Is that a tree growing out of her head?  Is that guy back there picking his nose?  Is that bush just plain ugly or what?

Suggested Readings and Pictorial Examples:

1. Backgrounds by Jim Zuckerman from MAC-ON-CAMPUS
2. Don't Forget to Do a Background Check by Rhonda Callow from Bright Hub
3. Composition from CyberCollege (not specifically on still photography or backgrounds but several pertinent tidbits with good examples)
4. Background and Foreground from Steve's Digicam
5. Less Can Be More  from Kathleen Clemons Photographpy
6. Controlling the Background by Tony Northrup from Northrup Photography  (Note that this isn't a tutorial on lighting.)