How to Take Compelling Photographs

Do you admire good photographs, but feel that those you take are dull, lifeless, and lack panache? Do you wish you could take better pictures, but don’t know how to go about it? The key to taking compelling photos is easier than you think.

1. Step 1

   

   Eucalyptus Bark

   Change Your World View

   Most people experience the world from head level, and most amateur photographers simply lift the camera to their eyes and shoot. If you want to take more compelling photographs, try capturing the world from a new perspective. Climb a tree; crouch low to the ground; tilt your camera at unusual angles; move very close to your subject—or very far away.

   Camera placement extracts emotional responses from the viewer. Close-ups suggest intimacy, while distance suggests isolation. Moving your subject off-center allows more of the surrounding area to become visible, anchoring it in its environment. Photograph the world differently than people normally see it, and your audience will say: “Wow! that’s unusual!”

2. Step 2

   

   Ancient Rocker

   Strive for Balance

   Maintaining balance in your photographs means controlling the distribution of mass within the frame. This includes properly positioning subjects, areas of light and dark, or even color. You can’t always move your subjects themselves, but you can change your position (or the camera’s) until a pleasing composition is achieved. Think of a painting in a picture frame: the placement is not at all random or haphazard. The artist (and the photographer) must consider all sides of the frame: top, bottom, left and right—and make the composition live within it.

3. Step 3

   

   Natural Causes

   Seek Contrast

   There are many forms of contrast: light vs. shadow, large vs. small, vivid vs. gray, rough vs. smooth, action vs. inaction, happy vs. sad, tall vs. short, sharp vs. rounded, graceful vs. clumsy, fat vs. thin, shiny vs. dull…the list is nearly endless. It was said of the great photographer Ansel Adams that he would try in his photographs to span the full range of values—from jet back to pure white—and all the grays in between. Strive for many forms of contrast in your photos; it will get them noticed!

4. Step 4

   

   Industrial Sunset

   Photograph Light and Color, not Subjects

   When you venture out on a photo expedition, look for beautiful formations of light and color, rather than subjects. If you think of the world abstractly in this manner, you’ll be amazed by how liberating if feels, and how compelling your photos become.

   Any subject can make an interesting photograph, so long as it is lit properly. Unless you are a professional photographer using studio lighting, you may not have much control over how your subjects are lit. But don’t let this stop you. You do have control over what time of day your subjects are photographed, and from what angle. Serious nature photographers have been known to stake out a favored spot for hours—even days—in order to get just the right shot. Some compelling photographs are happy accidents—being at the right place at the right time—but many are the result of arduous planning.

5. Step 5

   

   Bird on a Wire

   Learn to See

   Taking compelling photographs is all about seeing—not clicking the shutter. Wherever you are—even when you don’t have your camera with you—get in the habit of studying your surroundings. Train yourself to constantly take pictures—with your mind.

   It may sound silly, but try shooting 50 photographs in your bathroom, or other confined space. You will soon begin to notice nuances that never occurred to you before: the crack on the tile; the dripping faucet; the pale blue light through the window. It’s great practice and the longer you’re there, the more you’ll see.

6. Step 6

   

   Doing Their Job

   Tell a Story

   Can a photograph tell a story? You bet! Think of photographs you have seen of soldiers raising the flag on Iwo Jima during World War II, or the Apollo 11 moon landing, or the first atomic bomb explosion. They all tell powerful stories, and have left indelible imprints on our minds. But you don’t have to shoot an historic event to form a narrative. A mother cradling her newborn infant tells a wonderful tale of nurturing and love; a puppy sleeping with a kitten speaks of friendship and trust. When you search for subjects, consider its narrative aspects. Ask yourself: what does this picture say about itself, others, and the world around it?

7. Step 7

   

   Mother Nature

   Nature is Always Aesthetic, and our Best Teacher

   Whenever you have “photographer’s block,” look to nature for answers. A day spent photographing flowers in a botanical garden will provide you with a limitless still-life compositions, while a walk on a beach or lakeside will unveil countless panoramic vistas. And don’t forget that animals make great subjects, too. Try visiting the zoo, or a horse ranch, or a bird sanctuary.

8. Step 8

   

   Rooftop in Arles

   Go Digital!

   Digital photography is less expensive than film, and allows you do impressive things with your photos that were not possible even a few years ago. It used to be that you needed an entire darkroom in order to dodge, burn, or create special effects. Not any more. Today’s digital photos can be easily altered and improved using widely available image-editing software—right on your home computer.

   Taking compelling photographs isn’t magic; it just requires a little planning—and a little thinking—before the shutter is clicked. Happy shooting!