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.

Continue reading 2020 Photo Challenge #2

Moonlight

The new January Squares challenge, hosted as ever by Becky, the Queen of Squares, is all about ____light. In this often dull month light of any kind is what we all need to lift our spirits as we wait impatiently for spring to begin.

Moonlight


Monday’s waxing gibbous moon taken with my phone at 16:14. Waxing means that it is getting bigger. Gibbous refers to the shape, which is less than the full circle of a Full Moon, but larger than the semicircle shape of the Moon at Third Quarter. With some exceptions, the Waxing Gibbous Moon rises during the day, after noon.

moonlight (noun) = the light of the moon.

January Squares | Day Eleven

Backlight

The new January Squares challenge, hosted as ever by Becky, the Queen of Squares, is all about ____light. In this often dull month light of any kind is what we all need to lift our spirits as we wait impatiently for spring to begin. Click on the link to find out more.

Backlight

Japanese Maple Leaves: the Latin name, Acer palmatum, comes from the word palmatum (palm), referring to the hand-like shape of the leaves as noticed by Swedish doctor and botanist Carl Peter Thunberg in the 18th century.

backlight (verb) = illuminate from behind.

January Squares | Day Ten

Under the Lamplight

The new January Squares challenge, hosted as ever by Becky, the Queen of Squares, is all about ____light. In this often dull month light of any kind is what we all need to lift our spirits as we wait impatiently for spring to begin. Click on the link to find out more.

Chocolate delights at Borough Market, London

delight (noun) = great pleasure.
lamplight (noun) = the light cast from a lamp.

January Squares | Day Nine

Brake-light

The new January Squares challenge, hosted as ever by Becky, the Queen of Squares,  is all about ____light. In this often dull month light of any kind is what we all need to lift our spirits as we wait impatiently for spring to begin. Click on the link to find out more.

brake-light(s)

My first hyphenated light: This is not a pleasing composition (ironic as my photo challenge this month is all about composition) but this car photo-bombed the shot I was composing as it pulled up at the traffic-lights in front of me the other day and rather than bin it as I normally would, I thought, now here’s another ___light for Becky. There are even spotlights under the guttering on that pub, but they didn’t show up enough for a photo of their own. All this and sunlight too!

brake-lights (noun) = Illuminated brake-lights indicate your car is slowing down or has stopped, giving other cars — in daylight, dim light or darkness — plenty of time to stop so they don’t crash into you.

January Squares | Day Eight