Photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.
Elliott Erwitt
1. Framing
Framing your photo correctly can make it so much more pleasing on the eye. Firstly, pick your subject – this could be a person, river, animal, building, tree, or… anything! Your subject should dominate the photo and everything else within the frame should be there to showcase it.
Remember, make sure everything in your frame is there because you want it there.
Your smartphone can help you with framing properly if you turn on your camera grid.
- iPhone – go to settings > camera > grid
- Samsung – launch camera app > settings > grid lines
If you’re not sure how to do this on your phone, Google is helpful 😉
2. Details
Look for interesting details in your surroundings, like symmetry, patterns, colours, shadows or reflections. Capturing small details that people may otherwise miss can give a new perspective on a place. For example, maybe you’ve noticed some flowers growing through the concrete or a spider’s web glinting in the sunlight. Keep your eyes peeled! 👀
3. Light
Try to avoid using the flash. Find ways to use the natural light to make your photo stand out. The sunrise would be perfect, but gloomy clouds can also look great too! If you’re taking a photo of someone, it’s best to avoid the sunlight behind them as it’ll make them look like a silhouette.
4. Perspective
Why not try taking some photos at interesting and unexpected angles to make them more memorable? For example, you could face your camera up, take a photo downwards from a height, or even lay on the ground to get a unique perspective!
5. Share!
Share your Dawn Walk photos straight to social media with the #DawnWalk and tag us:
Images: Samaritans staff