New Location

It’s time.  After one year on WordPress, we are moving on up.  So I moved from one area of Houston to another.  And now I’m going to move from one area of the internet to another.  So this site is officially moving to www.limehrinfar.com/photo-tips.  Catch you on the flip side!

Photo Tips from Pey-Jing: Tip #24 Form

Form is another element of art.  Form is, simply put, three-dimensional.  When photographing, the idea is to capture a three-dimensional subject and output it two-dimensionally.  However, a great photographer makes their two-dimensional artwork look three-dimensional.  Take Ansel Adams, for instance.  Below, in his photograph Banner Peak and Thousand Island Lake, the mountains in his photographs don’t look flat, but seem to have the illusion of form.  A well-shot photograph will give the illusion of form even though it’s output is two-dimensional.

“How is this done?,” you may ask.  Light is the key.  Always observe the light carefully when photographing.  If you are taking a portrait, analyze how the light plays on your subject, how it wraps around your subject.  If you are taking a landscape, be aware of where the sun is and how it is illuminating your scene.  The more conscious you are of the light, the better your photographs will be.

Shwetha

A few weeks back, I had the privilege of photographing Shwetha.  She has a very unique look to her that I really love and we had a nice time at the water wall in Houston near the Galleria just trying out different ideas.  Here are some of the images that resulted from the shoot.

Photo Tips from Pey-Jing: Tip #23 Shape

This week, we will move on to shape.  Shape is two-dimensional.  It has height and it has width.  It is space enclosed by line.

There are two characteristics of shape.  Shape can be geometric or organic.  Geometric shapes include squares, rectangles, circles, and diamonds and are usually man-made.  Organic shapes are irregular or asymmetrical and are usually found in nature.  Like lines, repeated shapes make patterns as well.

When photographing or composing, shape can be a key element to your artwork.  So look for shapes in your environment.  You may find many interesting shapes to photograph!

Photo Tips from Pey-Jing: Tip #22 Line

When people go out to photograph, they may not know it, but they are subconsciously thinking about the elements of art.  The elements of art are essentially the building blocks of an artwork.  They include seven elements, which are line, shape, form, color, texture, space, and value.

We will begin this week by talking about line.  Line is a continuous point moving  in space with an identifiable path.  It is one-dimensional and can define the edges of shapes and forms.  Different lines have different characteristics and communicate varying things to the viewer.

Horizontal lines can show repose and calmness.  In landscapes, they can also give the sense of space. Vertical lines can give a sense of height and enhanced proportions.

The combination of horizontal and vertical lines suggest stability and reliability.  Structures, such as buildings and chests, with 90-degree angles suggest permanence.

Diagonal lines communicate a feeling of movement.  They can also be used to show perspective.  They can also lead the eye to a certain point or subject.  Curved lines convey energy and can also lead the eye.  Zig zag lines also convey energy, but in a more unstable way.

Repeated lines can create patterns and make for some interesting compositions.  Next time you are out with your camera, try looking for different kind of lines and see how they can affect the composition of your photographs.