Ten Simple Photography Tips on Composition - Camera and Phone Camera
Learn to imagine what it will look like
Look at it on the screen, or viewfinder
Check that what needs to be vertical, is vertical
Re-compose to avoid distractions
Check the light
On a camera, check the depth of field and shutter-speed
If there's something moveable in the way, move it out of the way
If there's a branch in the way, try to bend it out if the way
If you like the composition, take the picture
Try to avoid post-adjustment
In the summer I was on a short trip to Paris. As it was not specifically a photo-trip I decided that rather than haul a 'proper' camera around in the late summer heat, I'd play around with my i-phone, do some i-phone photography, and give a few photography tips.
Whether you'll find these helpful or not depends partly on your skill-level, and whether it's something you're already familiar.
If you're quite new to the game you will possibly get more from it.
I popped into one of the best boulangeries in this part of the city, restricting myself to espresso and pastry, despite the other temptations. The espresso, went down, full of sugar and at scalding point - as I learnt years ago, is the way of the gauloise smoking, unshaven French worker.
The pain au raisin went with me down to the Seine, where I found a bollard upon which to sit and soak up the low angled sunshine, and worked my gastronomic way round the whirl. The crisp outer gave way to softer and finally to the soft, custard centre, then it was gone.
After it was all tucked inside I wandered looking at light and angles and colour. I took some images, and thought I'd share a couple of comments.
Let's look at a couple of Eiffel Tower Photographs:
The upper picture; well the main comment is that the Eiffel Tower really does need to be vertical. I couldn't get that to happen from where I was standing, and the back of the black car on the right is annoying. Both need minor but important changes to get them right.
So the changes to this photograph of the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine as seen in the second picture, simply involved moving backwards a few paces and adjusting the field of view - goodbye back of car, hello amazing bridge structure, and a vertical Eiffel Tower. All done onsite, no post adjustment needed. You'd be amazed at how much time it takes to make amends for something you didn't notice when you took the photograph.
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