Lean Pickings

Lean pickings today.   More haste, less speed.  I met a girl who uses the dark as her backdrop; she shoots at night using a very slow shutter speed of 20 seconds, allowing her to add and remove elements, creating magical scenes.   I hope sharing her approach inspires you to try new techniques yourself.

The little girl was a drive-by shooting, as another friend calls it: quick, sharp, sudden photographs normally made when one’s in the car, driving, and the unexpected pops up. This toddler was waiting for the school bus, and I loved the scowl.

I used the Fibonacci Ratio for cropping with the orchid, hoping the viewers’ eyes would travel from dark into the light.  I’m not a mathematician (36% in Grd 8), but I want you to know that applying Phi can help you create more balanced compositions that feel right.

Fibonacci Ratio is a powerful tool for composing your photographs, and understanding it can help you create more compelling images that stand out from the rule of thirds.

That’s it from me for today.  Finally, here’s a nice quote:  “The photographer has almost as much control over his subject matter as a painter. He can control light and shade, form and space, pattern and texture, motion and mood, everything except composition.

- Andreas Feininger, The Best of Popular Photography by Harvey V. Fondiller

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