I got a rare opportunity to photograph a newborn, only 10 days old! So many people wait to have their baby’s portraits done until 3 months or so, and they miss out on this lovely opportunity. Thanks to the S family for welcoming me into your home.
There are many elements of composition to be considered when creating an image. Be it a painting, a sculpture, or a photograph, these elements are important to keep in mind. If you are looking for ways to improve your photography at home, composition might be one of the simplest places to start. It doesn’t cost anything in terms of new equipment or fancy software; just a few moments of thinking about what you want your finished piece to look like and creating that image from the beginning. To start you thinking about what is involved in composing a piece of artwork, here are some elements of composition:
Center of interest: The place you want your viewer to rest his/her eyes.
Subject placement: The area of the frame where the main subject is placed.
Simplicity: The idea of keeping out extra information that does not enhance the image or add to its impact.
Viewpoint and camera angle: The physical place from which a photograph is taken in relation to its subject.
Balance: The placement of different objects within an image that allows for a frame to be evenly (or unevenly) utilized.
Shapes and lines: The use of shapes and lines can help draw the viewer’s eye to certain areas of an image.
Pattern: Repeating elements in an image, or across a set of images.
Volume: How much or how little you use certain visual cues: color, pattern, size, etc.
Lighting: The quality, angle, and strength with which light falls across the subject and the background.
Texture: The visual communication of how something might feel to the touch.
Tone: The use of different hues to control the mood of an image.
Contrast: The degree to which middle-tones are used in an image.
Framing: The decision to include or exclude particular elements in an image, and where each element is placed.
Foreground: The area between the subject and the camera.
Background: The area behind and beyond the subject (farther from the camera).
Perspective: The literal and figurative place from which the artist created the image.
The list is long, and in some ways the elements overlap. But each can be considered with every click of the shutter. Every image has composition. Whether or not it was intentional plays a big part in the quality of your work. To start the ball rolling, what elements of composition can you recognize in the image above, and what does it say about the child who is featured?
Some elements I utilized intentionally for this child’s portrait include: perspective, camera angle, texture, lighting, and simplicity. What other elements are utilized, and what do they say to you? These are things to think about with every image you see – and every image you create. When you become more intentional with your photography, the quality of your work increases by leaps and bounds.
My artistic training is rooted in theatre. I am a thespian at heart; a three-dimensional storyteller. One of the things I love about theatre and photography is that they both dig in and truly explore the ins and outs that make a person who s/he is. Photography brings me in touch with so many real-life characters, and each portrait session is a chance to study them and deliver my interpretation.
Here is Cam, about 6 months old. If you look at these images closely enough, you’ll start to notice the soul that resides in his little growing body. He’s like an old friend: inquisitive, good natured, and full of humor.
We tend to think of babies as cute and cuddly, almost the way we see our pets. They are adorable – don’t get me wrong – but so often we’re taken aback by the human qualities within them. Why? They’re human, after all!
[singlepic id="198" w="320" h="252" mode="" float="left" ]Cam’s inquisitive nature has already emerged – it sparkles in his eyes. It’s obvious that his discoveries bring him joy, and energize his drive to learn more. This is human nature at its best!
In each of these photographs you see a flash of a cute baby boy. With the entire image collection, however, you know Cam without having to meet him. He’s had wonderful adventures in his young life, and he has loved every one of them. Yes, he will change over time. He’ll grow, he’ll learn, and he’ll flourish. But for now, this is his story. It has been told.
Time keeps ticking, and children keep growing. I just love watching how they change almost into different people over time. It’s just amazing. Photographs can tell the story of your life. Beauty, wonder, and joy all wrapped up in an image without any need for explanation. Simply being. Words can cause trouble, or lack the meaning you wish to convey. I hope that families will continue to put a few dollars aside for high-quality photographs. There is no substitute. I know I will.
© Copyright 2010 | Lara Grauer Photography
