cover image by yuriwochi
Photos sometimes offer us a unique perspective on life, preserving moments forever. However, to improve your photography, it's also necessary to balance theory and intuition.
The quality of a photo depends on individual sensibility, but there are theories about composition, color scheme, and exposure that are generally considered to make a good photo. Relying solely on intuition may make it difficult to consistently take good photos.
Image by ek_photofeeling
There is no definitive answer to what makes a 'good photo', and no perfect photo exists, but to take a passing-grade photo, it's important to first learn the theory and be able to explain why a photo is good.
Integrating Theory with Intuition
The next step is to integrate theory with your own intuition. Since photography deals with light, it's important to gain experience by seeing and shooting with your own eyes. Once you've learned the theory, try to explain photos in words. Understanding the theory and explaining it allows you to reverse-engineer the method to recreate a photo. Through this process, you'll be able to capture the images you envision.
Image by morissy
In summary, the following flow is necessary for improving photography:
- Learn the theory of photography
- Practice translating photos into words
- Reverse-engineer the method to recreate photos you find good
- Gain shooting experience to capture the images you envision
By learning the theory, you can explain photos in words, which in turn improves your photography skills.
Practice Translating into Words
The task of translating into words is not difficult. Simply put into words what you can see about several aspects that make up a photo. For example, translate aspects like composition, light, color, and others (intent, focus, timing, etc.) into words.
Let's take a photo of a 'sunset over the sea' as an example,
Using a centered composition, the sun is placed in the middle. The color of the light is a deep orange, beautifully contrasting with the indigo sky.
Image by Shimakou
Next is a photo of a 'delicious-looking coffee'.
The focus is on the coffee in the foreground, with the background blurred, emphasizing the steam and presence of the coffee.
Image by shinbee
Through these examples, you can understand the charm and intent of photos by putting them into words.
Make a Habit of Translating Photos into Words
Translating into words is an essential skill for improving photography. By establishing a small daily habit, you can solidify the basics and see how to translate photos into words. TV commercials and advertisements can also be a reference, so let's enhance your ability to translate photos into words in everyday life.
Enjoy a wonderful camera life.
