Pics Can Talk

It’s near impossible to say you can go through images which you have just downloaded from your digital camera and every picture is good enough not to require the slightest adjustments. Professional photographers are notorious for taking large quantity of shots and then using just a few perfect ones and more often than never, ending with slight touches of adjustments here and there.

For this purpose, some basic photo adjusting skill and a good eye for a potentially good picture are required. As we have looked at correcting your images in terms of contrast, brightness and toning adjustments in previous issues, this month we will look at compositional adjustments.

CROPPING

Cropping is a method of adjustment which you could be using less as you gradually become better at composing your picture at the point of taking your photograph. This means you should gradually master the skill of knowing what should go in or out of your picture at the point of pressing the shutter button.

Cropping adjustments help to result in defining compositional rules, such as the Rules of Thirds. Another important use of cropping is really to reduce the amount of clutter or empty space in a picture to give it more “focus” in directing the viewer’s eyes towards the main focal point of your image.

BEFORE

Although the image above is perfectly fine as a snapshot of your subjects in their surrounding, it can be improved as a portrait by cropping out distracting elements surrounding the focal point of your image.

AFTER

By cropping out the distracting plants on the right side of the picture and the empty space on the left side of your subject, you have effectively brought the focus strongly on your subjects.

BEFORE

This image of our Prime Minister’s office was taken perfectly symmetrical but suffers from poor composition. The empty space at the bottom of the picture does not contribute in any way to the aesthetics of the picture.

AFTER

Cropping away the empty space greatly improves the composition of the image. Stronger emphasis is given to the centre of the building. Leaving behind a small part of the path helps to lead the eye of the viewer into the picture.

PERSPECTIVE CORRECTION

The problem of distorted perspective is most common in architectural photography. This happens when you are taking a picture of a building from a low angle. Exaggerated perspectives are sometimes done on purpose (this is done by using a wide angle lens and shooting from very near the structure).

The perspective of this building was purposely exaggerated to accentuate the grand façade of the building.

However, if the distortion is slight but clear enough to be noticeable, the building may seem to be leaning backwards. If the edges of the building are close to the edge of your image, the distortion would be emphasized more in relation.

Some digital cameras come with a built-in perspective correction feature. It is still better to correct perspectives on your computer which allows for a better control of the correction and final image quality.

BEFORE

The distorted perspective of this image shows this building, especially the clock tower on the right, leaning backwards.

AFTER

After perspective adjustment, the entire building should look perfectly upright. This creates a more pleasing final composition.

CORRECTING YOUR HORIZON

Holding your camera straight and perfectly horizontal is seldom an issue if you have both feet planted on a flat surface and two hands to correctly hold your camera. If the situation you are in is contrary to the above or if you are so intently focused on your subject that you fail to shoot a perfectly horizontal horizon; your picture may seem to slope to one side. Your viewer’s attention to detail may be quite acute to notice such imperfections.

BEFORE

In this picture, although the line of the horizon is not clearly seen, the sloped horizon is evident from looking at the slanted structures in the picture.

AFTER

Adjust the horizon level of your picture using the structures in your picture as a guide. In this example, the minaret of the mosque serves this purpose)

Note: It’s also quite acceptable at times to shoot with unique angles to give your picture a sense of motion and dynamism. No harm in being creative and trying this out.

Interesting Fact

Lines in an image sometimes create interesting optical illusions. At times, you may not even realize the first time you look at an image. Take note of this the next time you come across similar images.

Take some time to look through your images and see how each of these can be improved by making the above compositional adjustments. You would be surprised as some of these adjustments are minor but makes for a great improvement in the final outcome of your image.