“I do not ‘take’ photographs. They are a gift.” ~ an original quote
I see photography as an opportunity to capture an image of something that others might not see. An example is a photo of a wheel rim on my RV from an odd angle and very close up which makes it difficult to determine at first glance what you are viewing. Instead of a straight head-on shot of a wheel rim.
Framing ~ By framing a photograph I mean when I shoot the actual photo. I align my subject in the view finder in such a way as to make the subject more interesting, then I check the foreground, the back ground and anything else that might fall in to frame. I decide where to focus the shot, move left or right to add interest, or hide a possible distraction. Check the lighting then shoot. With digital photography you get to see your results instantly, then shoot again if you want to make changes.
I like to say that I crop my photographs, when I shoot them. Not afterward in the lab.
Often times, I don’t get the shot that I wanted, or thought that I wanted. I might shoot again or I might decide that the shot that I want was just not possible today.
Landscapes and Architecture ~ Inanimate objects such as mountains, lakes, buildings, vehicles, etc. are easier to shoot as you usually have plenty of time to frame and properly prepare your shot. Since the subject is not moving you only have to deal with changes in lighting and any outside influences such as people or some other moving object. In these shots I like to take the unusual angle. Maybe by laying on the ground shooting upward. Or add an element that slightly changes the view to provide a reference point such as a tree or mountain in the foreground of a mountain. A photo of a mountain is just a mountain. A photo of a fence and trees framing the mountain becomes a scenic view.
Photos of flowers are interesting, but by ensuring that there are other flowers out of focus in the background makes for a better scene.
Candid Photos ~ I admit to being awful at portrait photography. However, allow me to mingle in a crowd at a party or public gathering and I can get some interesting and unique candid photographs, especially if the subject matter is a person that I am already familiar with. If the lighting allows and the space is open, I use a telephoto lens to isolate the subject and blur out that background as much as possible. Instead of including the entire subject, I try to frame just a portion of that person such as their face and part of the hairline. Make sure their attention and interest is elsewhere then shoot as many photos as you can while they are distracted. Profiles are fun too as not a lot of folks get to see their profile often.
Wildlife ~ Animals, insects and reptiles are constantly on the move. It’s frequently a matter of survival. I rarely have time enough to frame my shot however with a little practice and some pre-planning you can get the shot you want. For this the boy Scout motto of, “Be Prepared” is a good rule to follow. Be sure that the camera is on, you have previously focused on a distant object and got the lighting set the way you want it. Pay attention to the environment, what’s in the background, is there anything that might be a distraction in your photo. Get as much thought done ahead of time so that when the subject presents itself you can concentrate on your victim and worry less about what might get in the way of a prize winning photo.
Even with fast moving action shots I follow my personal policy of not cropping my photos after the shot. If my subject is a little off frame then I consider that a missed shot.