Let there be lines

Photo by Eddy Batzdorf

 

Lines are very important in your pictures. Lines attract the attention and lead the viewer into the photo. Or at least give a direction.

Blogger Darren Rowse wrote a few posts about using lines on his Digital Photography School. A good resource for tips and tutorials.

And then there’s the lines that Eddy Batzdorf used in this humorous and great photo. They sure attract your attention, but not to lead you anywhere. Just to surprise you.

So not only use lines to make the composition. Keep playing!

Unlimited creativity with portraits

Photo by Betina la Plante

 

Oh boy, look at this. So many ways to make an original portrait. First it’s the person and their expression. And then it’s the props you use in the composition. And I’m not even talking about the exposure, lighting , shutter speed, focal length, etc.

Betina la Plante‘s portrait reminds me of the creative pictures in pictures from DearPhotograph.com

 

Related posts:

Funny people in sad portraits
Showerportraits
Framing faces

 

Be a night owl

Photo: Marcel Borgstijn

Go out at night and leave your flash at home. Bring your tripod and go crazy.

Create your own project

Triptychs of Strangers

Photo by Adde Adesokan

 

It’s easy nowadays to find interesting photoprojects on various websites. You can get inspired by watching projects done by other photographers.

This creative project ‘Triptychs Of Strangers’ is done by Adde Adesokan. Click on the photos to see the complete project on Flickr.

 

Triptych of Strangers

Project by Adde Adesokan

 

And remember: Don’t copy, be inspired!

 

Related post:
Using symmetry

 

Which story do you mean?

Photo: Marcel Borgstijn

 

Let the viewers make up their own story…

 

 

Control the light

Afbeelding

Photo: Oliver Fritsch

Photography is all about controlling the light. Use it to shoot what you have in mind. Play with the light, indoors and outdoors, natural and studio light.

It will take some time to learn to control light, but once you’ve got it tackled, oh boy,  it’s hard to NOT play with light!

Related posts:
Creative use of light
The model, the stretch and the light

Play with light

Photo: Bogdan Pedovich

 

Photography is all about writing with light, right?

So, why don’t write with light inside a photo? It will take some  practise to find the right settings, but there is nothing wrong with playing… in fact;

Keep playing!

There’s always an opportunity

Photo: Guy Prives

Finally the concert of your favourite band (and this one – Dream Theater – definitely is mine) starts and you’re not in the right position. Excuse me, not in the perfect position! There is no right position, there is always an opportunity to shoot a great photo. Isn’t this image refreshing, compared to all these sweaty close ups of rockstars you see all around you?

Guy Prives did the right thing to shoot this creative, well exposed image.

Always be aware of opportunities!
And keep playing!

Play with selective sharpness

Photo: Marianna di Ferdinando

 

A simple way to guide the viewers eye to the main subject can be the use of selective sharpness. In this photo by Marianna de Ferdinando she also post processed the photo a bit, which works quite well in this image.

Keep playing!

 

Related post:
Know your equipment 

Portraits, the extraordinary way

Photo: John Wilhelm

Spice up your portraits. Try something new, something crazy.

There is already too much mediocrity. Keep playing!

Don’t copy. Be inspired by this photo by John Wilhelm.

 

Related posts:
Eyes. It’s always the eyes
Focus on the eyes
Framing  faces II

Quote #10

 

Create your own magical forest

Photo: Dan Christian Lavric

 

Remember the fairy tales of Hans Christian Andersen? Or even better those of the brothers Grimm? The stories where a dark, magical forest plays an important role? See it, got the picture?

You can create such a magical forest just by finding the right trees, maybe some water for a reflection and make a HDR photo like Dan Christian Lavric did.

Newbie for HDR Photography? All you need to know can be found at Stuck in Customs.