Simple photos are the best photos:
1. Minus exposure compensation
Photograph your subject close to a direct light source, then shoot at -1 or -2 exposure-compensation. This will darken the shadows in the scene, and better highlight your subjects and the mood of the scene.
In the above photo, you can see the warm glow from the jukebox. The man’s face contours are highlighted by the light source of the jukebox.
You can also do this when shooting on your phone. Here Cindy is by a window, and the light on her is epic. I lowered the exposure while shooting on an Android phone, to create the image.
When processed with VSCO’s “Distoria” filter, you can see the highlight of the light on her (highlight in green, shadows are red).
2. Use the flash
Shoot with a flash, especially if your camera has a flash integrated into it. It doesn’t need to be big; the best flash is the smallest flash.
Using a flash will add energy, immediacy, and power to your photo.
3. Light and dark
It is best for your subject to to be bright, and your background dark. This will help you isolate your subject in the scene, and allow them to pop out from the scene:
4. Hand gestures
Hand gestures reveal emotion. Emotional photos are more memorable and impactful. Thus, photograph more hand gestures in your photos; either the subject’s face and hand, or just the hands:
5. Embrace beautiful mistakes
The magic of photography is harnessing the random, chaotic, and elements of chance to make a beautiful photo. I wouldn’t want to have 100% control of making an image without an element of chance. Chance, randomness, and unintended effects are what make photography exciting, fun, and magical.
The more you shoot and experiment, the more likely you are to create a beautiful mistake. Harness this.
Conclusion: Never stop shooting
Simple ideas for your photography:
- Never stop shooting
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Shoot authentic photos
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Shoot a lot
Harness these three things, and you’ll master photography for yourself!
ERIC