Tom Clark: Digital Photography Composition For Dummies

cropping, 301

dark reflection removal, 296

distortion, 302

lighting, 305-306

perspective, 300-303

pixels, duplicating, 295-296

resizing and repositioning elements, 302-303

rotating images, 301

sharpened image, 306-308

software, 293

spot removal, 296

straightening images, 300

tattoo removal, 297

trying something new through, 319

unwanted elements and flaws, removing,

294-300

primary additive color, 86 primary points, 52 problem background, 146–149 product photography. See also still-life photography

hard lighting, 156

sense of product enhancement, 251

soft lighting, 156

solid background for, 141

sweat beads, 251

texture bubbles, 251 profile, portrait, 217 prop, background, 149 purple, characteristics associated with, 87

quality of light, 155–156, 160

raccoon eyes, 173 rear curtain sync, 271 Recollections: Three Decades of

Photography (Sexton), 236 recycle time, 155 red

characteristics associated with, 87

complementary color, 311 red color channel, 95 reflection

in still-life photography, 250

vignette, 122

reflective material, 161–162 reflector

light modifiers, 161

light source, 155

Rembrandt lighting pattern, 165–166 Remove Distortion tool (Photoshop), 302 repeating elements, 13 repeating patterns, 64–65, 201–202 repetition

reinforcing subject or intended message with, 204-205

rhythm, 200

simple composition, 202

symmetry, 201

vanishing pattern, 200 resizing and repositioning elements,

302-303 rhythm, 200 rim light, 167–168 ring flash, 237

rise and fall technique, 207–208 rotating images, 301 rule of thirds

area of most importance, 71

basic description of, 52, 69

focal point, 105

golden points, 71, 73

horizon line, 71 sense of closure, 76 sense of environment, 74 sense of narrative, 76 subject between center and right third, 74 subject size consideration, 72–74 supporting elements, 72 sweet spots, 70 symmetrical scene, 75 unbalanced relationship, 75 unusual angles, 129 rules of composition background, 68 balance, 82–84 chaotic composition, 80 foreground, 68 leading lines, 79 midground,68 simple composition, 80 space, 76–79 staggering objects, 78-79

S curve, 56

saturation property of color, 86

scale

achieving balance through, 197-199

composition technique, 20

developing sense of, 11 Scrim Jim, 160 seasonal lighting, 174 secondary focal point

distracting elements in, 115-116

leading lines, 115 secondary points, 52–53 selective focus

focal point, 109-113

to reveal specific detail, 110 sequence pattern, 63–64 Sexton, John (Recollections: Three Decades

of Photography), 236 shadow

hard, 155

in landscape photography, 234

Shadows/Highlights tool (Photoshop), 306 shapes

abstract art, 285

allowing space for, 77-78

backlighting for emphasis of, 61

composition technique, 20

distracting backgrounds, 144

emphasizing, 61

in environmental portrait, 220

forms versus, 58-59

as golden point, 54

how to portray, 59-60

outline as representation of, 59

in relationship to each other, 59-60

sense of balance and flow around, 60

in soft composition, 210 sharpened image editing, 306–308 sharpening filters (Photoshop), 307 shift technique, 207 short lighting, 165, 167 shutter release cable, 322 shutter speed

defined, 2, 37

exposure relationship, 39

in low-light conditions, 39

motion blur, 39, 268

night photography, 245

in normal lighting conditions, 39

setting the, 39

slowing down/speeding up, 39

sports photography, 276

for sunny-day shooting, 39 side shots, 277 sidelighting

sunrise and sunset, 171-172

for texture emphasis, 62–63 simple composition

abstract art, 286

black-and-white images for, 100

monochromatic color scheme for, 88

repetition, 202

rules of composition, 80 single subject, shooting multiple ways

backlighting, 334

compositional frame, 332

single subject, shooting multiple ways (continued)

foreground detail, 331

high-angle shot, 325

highlighting the subject, 327

intimate portrait, 330

low-angle shot, 326-327

narrowing in on subject, 329

negative space, finding, 333

showing more scenery, 327 site. See Web site size relationships, 28 slimming effect, 167 soft box, 161

soft composition, 210–211 soft light

forest photography, 244

hard light versus, 156

mixed with high contrast, 160

mixed with low contrast, 160 software, postproduction editing, 293 solid background, 139, 141–142, 151 space

active, 265

basic description of, 76

emphasis in environment, 77

emphasis in subject, 77

focal point, 107-108

headroom, 67

illusion of depth, 78

leading lines allowance, 79

merging elements for, 78

negative, 105

rules of composition, 76-79

showing shape of subject, 77-78

staggered elements, 78–79 specular surface, 171 split lighting pattern, 165–166 sports photography

aerial shots, 277

aperture, 276

climactic moments, 277

depth of field, 276

digital noise, 276

facial expressions, 277

familiarity with sport, 277

ISO setting, 276

lighting, 276

motion blur, minimizing, 277-278

overview, 275

shutter speed, 276

side shots, 277

telephoto lens for, 276 spot metering, 42 spot removal, 296 spotted light source, 154 square format, 191 staggered elements

in dramatic composition, 78-79

group portrait, 226

object size and spatial relationship, 78

sense of distance, 78 star trail, 269 still-life photography

contrast, 250

dramatic composition, 248-249

flowers, 252-255

food,255-257

lighting, 249-250

mimicry, 249

overview, 247

reflective surfaces, 250

seeing objects as fine art, 248

sense of selling objects through, 249–251 stopping down, 113 stops, 37 storytelling, in portrait photography,

215-216

straight photography, 319 straightening images, 300 streaking lights, 268–269 strobe light source, 154–155, 163 studio photography, 47 subject

backgrounds merged with, 145-146

basic description of, 11

centering the, 129

composition representation, 11

elements in scene relating to, 11

placement, in solid background, 141

placing in top or bottom of frame, 130-132

posed portrait, 222

relationships between, 24-26

size, 72-73

subject-based format, 188–190 sun as light source, 154

sunlight

forest photography, 243

landscape photography, 241-242

midday,173-174

morning and evening, 172–173 sunrise and sunset, natural lighting,

171-172 supporting elements

elements standing out, 26

motion-stopping photography, 265

multiple image concepts, 289

relationships between subjects and, 24-26

rule of thirds, 72

as sense of place and identity, 26

side by side elements, 25 sweat beads, 251 sweet spots, rules of thirds, 70 swing technique, 206 symmetry

balance with, 195-196

balance without, 82

repetition, 201

staggering objects, 78-79

tape and pebble system, 322 tattoo removal, 297 telephoto lens

basic description of, 16, 35

curvature, 35

for depth of field, 112

focal length, 35

intimate portrait with, 330

narrowing in on subject with, 329

for sports photography, 276

for wide-open space backgrounds, 138 temperature, 100 texture