Photography is fun when you treat it like visual experimentation!
Working the scene
Tip:
When you see an interesting scene, ‘work the scene’ by photographing the scene from different angles, perspectives, and experiment with different framing.
For example I saw these pipes, and took a series of pictures. These are three photos I was considering:
![Processed with VSCO with a6 preset](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-05-03.55.57-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C1600)
![Processed with VSCO with a6 preset](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-05-03.55.56-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C1600)
![Processed with VSCO with a6 preset](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-05-03.55.58-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900)
Now the question is this:
“Which is the best?”
Now, you cannot ascertain for certain which photo is the ‘best’. The better question is:
Which photo do I prefer the most?
Visualize the shapes
The first thing you can do is visualize the shapes. I shot these pictures on a phone, and processed them afterwards with the VSCO ‘distortia’ preset– which better helps us see the lines. This is one comparison:
Another comparison:
Another angle:
Ultimately I preferred the diagonal composition– because I found the composition to be more dynamic, with more interesting angles.
![Processed with VSCO with a6 preset](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-05-03.55.58-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900)
Clean background
![Processed with VSCO with a6 preset](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-05-03.56.01-3.jpg?resize=1200%2C900)
![Processed with VSCO with d2 preset](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-05-03.56.01-4.jpg?resize=1200%2C900)
Keep your pictures simple. If you want to do a nice composition, don’t show any other superfluous elements in the background. Just focus on the simple shapes.
Multiple-subject pictures
Add negative space between your subjects:
![Processed with VSCO with a6 preset](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-05-03.56.01-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900)
You can better see the human separation with the VSCO distoria preset applied:
![Processed with VSCO with d2 preset](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-05-03.56.01-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C900)
Now with my own overlays:
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/segment-1-1000x750.jpg?resize=1000%2C750)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/segment-2-1000x750.jpg?resize=1000%2C750)
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/segment-3-1000x750.jpg?resize=1000%2C750)
Lessons
Treat yourself like a visual scientist. You make pictures for fun, as visual experimentation.
Use weird presets, experiment with novel compositions, and just ‘f*ck around’ with your camera! The more you experiment, the more likely you are to discover some interesting innovations and ideas in your photography.
Never stop experimenting,
ERIC