Basic Composition and Camera Angles
Friday, June 13, 2008 @ 07:42
One of the biggest mistakes new photographers make is when they try to set up their subject within the camera's frame. No matter what type of camera they are using, a fancy SLR set-up or even a simple "point and shoot" camera, the proper composition of an individual shot will always be directly related to the angle at which the photograph is shot.
Only when proper attention is paid to composition and camera angle will the resulting photo draw the viewer's eye, adding meaning to the image, or a planned sense of mood, or movement, or dynamism to the scene the photographer wishes to create.
If you want your viewer to focus on a particular element of the shot, you must place the subject in a specific area of the frame. You can position the subject higher within the frame in order to convey an imposing presence to the viewer. On the other hand, you might place the subject lower in the shot, which will make it appear more submissive and even mysterious to the viewer's eye.
By playing with composition and camera angles, you can create a variety of effects and add a certain mystique to your images. When you draw your viewer's eye to a certain part of the photo by playing with these elements, you create a certain mood or feeling in the resulting shot. What feeling you wish to convey is up to you and only by experimenting can you begin to learn what works and what doesn't. So don't be afraid to experiment and see what different results you can achieve. You might very well surprise yourself.
