Today I'm continuing my series for photographers on tips for finding great shooting locations. Click below to get caught up on the series up to this point!
Part 1: Make it Personal
Part 2: Light Trumps Background
As I mentioned in Part 2, my main source of inspiration for picking spots while shooting an engagement session or portraits during a wedding is light. I look for great light and let that direct my choices. Light is always my first concern, but often other things that help guide me are inspirational found objects and the opportunity to employ compositional elements.
Using inspiring objects to help guide location choices is a "no duh" for photographers -- everyone does this. But I thought I'd mention it for the sake of being thorough :). Here are a couple of examples of images I created that were inspired by found objects:
Part 1: Make it Personal
Part 2: Light Trumps Background
As I mentioned in Part 2, my main source of inspiration for picking spots while shooting an engagement session or portraits during a wedding is light. I look for great light and let that direct my choices. Light is always my first concern, but often other things that help guide me are inspirational found objects and the opportunity to employ compositional elements.
Using inspiring objects to help guide location choices is a "no duh" for photographers -- everyone does this. But I thought I'd mention it for the sake of being thorough :). Here are a couple of examples of images I created that were inspired by found objects:
Shadows aren't objects per-se but they can function as such. I saw the shadow of this tree on the wall and it inspired me to create this image:
In addition to discovering inspiration through found objects, I try to look for and use compositional elements in my images. There are countless compositional elements to choose from but I thought I'd share examples of a few common ones I like to use.
First -- Lines. Lines can be found everywhere. And they can be used in multiple ways in your images. Here's an example of using lines to lead your eye to the subject:
First -- Lines. Lines can be found everywhere. And they can be used in multiple ways in your images. Here's an example of using lines to lead your eye to the subject:
Lines can also be used to frame your subject:
I love to use this next alley. It's the strongest example I've found for leading lines:
The image on the left above also utilizes my second compositional element: reflection. There are so many reflective surfaces -- you just have to be on the look-out for them if you want to incorporate them into your images. When you're out shooting, puddles or lakes are often the easiest to find:
This next image was shot during and engagement shoot with the groom's motorcycle. It's shiny parts caught my attention and led me to this:
And these images were created using the reflection in wall art at a night club:
One of my favorite compositional elements is something I call "sandwiching." It combines the use of a shallow depth of field and foreground elements. Oftentimes a shallow depth of field is used to isolate a subject from the background of an image. But if you as a photographer move so that there are foreground elements between you and the subject, you can create a sandwiching effect which serves to put your subject in a three dimensional space and also create a sense of intimacy. When you're out on a portrait shoot, sandwiching can be as easy as squatting down or moving so that there is some vegetation between you and the subject:
With a shallow depth of field, this practice adds additional interest to images:
This image isn't a portrait, but I shot it during a wedding when a bride was getting ready. It's my favorite image I've shot that incorporates the use of sandwiching because the foreground element really contributes to telling the story:
And finally, another compositional element that you can be on the look-out for when choosing locations is the opportunity to change your shooting perspective. Oftentimes we shoot our subject from a horizontal perspective at eye-level. But if you have the opportunity to get above or below your subject, this change of perspective can really serve your images. These photos show a typical angle at a location in a ball park:
And this image was shot in the exact same location, but from a more interesting perspective. The couple stayed in the same exact spot; I just moved:
When choosing locations during a shoot, make sure to first look for good light. But beyond that, looking for inspirational found objects and opportunities to employ compositional elements can be great ways to further guide you.
Stay tuned! Next week I'll be continuing this series by talking about what to do to keep yourself fresh and creative when you are asked to shoot in the same location time and time again. If you found this tip helpful, click here to find out about other resources I offer photographers!
*Edited to add: Click here to go to part 4 of the series.
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Equipment used for above photos:
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 50mm 1.2 lens
Canon 24mm 1.4 lens
Canon 70-200 2.8 lens
Stay tuned! Next week I'll be continuing this series by talking about what to do to keep yourself fresh and creative when you are asked to shoot in the same location time and time again. If you found this tip helpful, click here to find out about other resources I offer photographers!
*Edited to add: Click here to go to part 4 of the series.
--------------------------
Equipment used for above photos:
Canon 5D Mark II
Canon 50mm 1.2 lens
Canon 24mm 1.4 lens
Canon 70-200 2.8 lens
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