2020 Photo Challenge #2

January’s theme / technique: Composition and Framing

Composition and Framing is dictated by the camera and lens equipment as well as where you can and cannot stand whilst viewing the subject. Challenge yourself by using a prime lens or not using the zoom on your lens on your lens so you have to physically move to take the shot. Often the more creative images come about from taking the time to move around a subject. We’ll explore some of these techniques over the coming months, but for now consider these tips:.

    1. Horizontal vs vertical – which looks better? Why?
    2. Missing parts of people or objects irritate the viewer and create an incomplete image. It distracts the eye. So watch the edges of your image.
    3. Rule of thirds
    4. Look for frames – These come in two types, natural or man-made. Natural would be an opening in trees or a rock formation with a hole in it. Man-made frames are doorways, windows or arches. All of these help contain the subject or scene in a form that is very pleasing to the eye.
    5. Watch your background. Make sure that there is nothing there that would detract from your subject. Things like chimneys or lamp-posts growing out of heads and other subjects diverting the eye from the main subject. You want balance by not going in too close but including enough of the environment of the subject or object to contextualise it.
This week's assignment - Move in closer to your subject, but not too close. Lead the viewer towards the subject.

This second image of the Godrevy Lighthouse is taken from Gwithian beach which runs into Godrevy beach at low tide. At this time the tide was coming in so the sand was receding. Again I have positioned the subject of the photo in the top third and used the waves to draw your eye towards it. I liked the addition of the tiny pops of contrasting colours (red and green) and of course it is always important to get your horizon horizontal. There is nothing worse than a sloping horizon or badly aligned lines. We always look for balance in everything we do, including photography,

[Olympus E-M10 Camera with a 45mm prime lens, F.stop f/5]

If you would like to join in with the 2020 photo challenge then please take a look at my 2020 Photo Challenge page. No complicated rules, just a camera required 🙂

    • Create your own post with some information about how you composed the shot.
    • Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
    • Add the tag #2020PhotoChallenge so everyone can find your entry easily in the WP Reader
    • Get your post(s) in by the end of the month, as the new theme comes out on the first Sunday in February

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

16 thoughts on “2020 Photo Challenge #2”

  1. Oooh, I’ve got to get my act together on this one. Can I get unpacked first, and download my photos? Surely I can delete a lot? 485 is a bit excessive. Bring back Kodak Brownies and 12 shots for the entire holiday!

  2. This reminds me of how artists used to paint scenes, restricted by the size of a portable canvas. Very nice, Jude. 🙂
    Best wishes, Pete.

        2. Well, she’s very elegant and all that but you do have a lot of photos of her. You need to get out and about more but I suspect you’re enjoying playing at home for the moment. 🙂 🙂

        5. I do know her, used to follow her but she stopped blogging, though I did get a comment from her recently. I’ll check out the link. Thanks 😊

  4. Hi there Jude !
    Jo has just pointed out to me that Godrevy Lighthouse was featuring in a new challenge you’ve set in motion . What a great idea ! It’s such a great subject I’m not surprised you’ve chosen it to illuminate the merits and pitfalls of ‘Composition’ in photography . So much to think about at the time when we click Lol
    I love your tide line leading to a pop of colour and then onto the lighthouse itself . A gorgeous day for Cornwall by the looks of it too 😉

  5. Well balanced composition Jude and those 3 people were very obliging in the right spot AND wearing red and green, well seen… Poppy “popped” into my comments recently too, maybe she is going to make a comeback, this challenge could tempt her

    2. Nice to see Poppy again, now she is a proper photographer, and artist. I can see the two of you have much in common looking at her lovely art work.

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