14th March 2023
I am Raghav Aggarwal, focused on bringing the latest trends in digital photography to aspiring photographers and hobbyists. I work to build a team of experienced photographers dedicated to sharing their practical knowledge with young talent, helping them turn their passion for photography into a career.
The fundamental mistake any hobbyist or amateur photographer makes while learning photography is overestimating the working of the exposure triangle. The impact of aperture, shutter speed, or ISO is undoubtedly significant. However, a sharp image is only one of the things that make any photography look good. There are other elements of photography that play different roles in creating a good photograph. There are 12 elements of photography that must be considered as they have a significant impact on any photograph. In this blog, let's delve deeper to discuss what they are and how they transform pictures.
Definitely the most important element to talk about. The foundation of photography is to learn how to work with lighting. Even a great, sharp image falls short with poor lighting. When it comes to photography, there are many types of artificial light with techniques to use in order to get a good picture. The five essential lights considered are short, broad, split, butterfly, and Rembrandt. Also, the intensity, angle, and quality of light impact the photography by giving it a soft or harsh touch. For example, you may not get a good picture of the landscape during the afternoon as you may get in the morning because the sun will be on top and harsh. This can affect the sharpness of the image, giving it harsh shadows which might not look good. Moreover, the lighting of any image helps set its atmosphere, which can further enhance the photography.
A poor placement of light is followed by harsh shadows, which can mess up any photo. With that said, while taking care of lighting, it is also important to look after shadows in photography. A shadow in photography is significant because it highlights the subject and adds depth to images. Most often, people consider photographs with a lot of shadows as underexposed. However, that is not always the case. They, like light, are also helpful in creating tension, mood, or tone in the atmosphere. Furthermore, they are responsible for creating contrast between dark and light places, making a picture look visually striking.
Another most important element of photography is composition. Composition refers to the framing of visual elements in photography. There are various techniques of composition in photography, to name a few: rule of one-third, leading lines, golden spiral, and balancing image. An unbalanced composition may look disoriented and disturbing to viewers. And therefore, getting a good composition is so necessary as it can help get the right point of view. It can lead the eyes of viewers to let them see what you exactly want to show. Moreover, it can add depth to the photo by avoiding distraction, and it can even add detail to a flat image.
What is the primary factor that sets the mood of your picture? Yes, that's the colour. Colour is the most visible and appealing factor in any photography. Every photograph comes with its own set of emotions to portray. These emotions are set apart with a shade of colour as each shade speaks of different emotions. To tactfully use colour in photography, it is recommended that the photographer understand colour theories and harmonies to understand the working of it. The warmer tone represents energy and cheerfulness. A cool tone represents calmness or melancholy. Considering this element can also help with setting an ideal white balance, which can expressively change the atmosphere of the photo.
With depth, what we want to convey is to consider focus or depth of field as an element. Depth of field refers to images that look sharp within a range of distance. In simple terms, it relates to focusing and de-focusing a subject on the basis of its priority. There are many factors that affect the depth of the field, which eventually affects the photo. Depth in photos also matters as it gives dimension to images, making them look exciting and professional. They add a touch of richness to storytelling and enhance even the flattest of images.
Also Read: - Use of photography in advertising
Lines in photography are not similar to lines in mathematics. Here, lines refer to anything that distinguishes the contract between two things in the picture. For example, while clicking a landscape, there may be mountains and clouds around the shore of the sea. Here, you can consider clouds as a line as they create a distinction between the mountains down and the sky. Lines in photography can also be used under the concept of leading lines, where a line is leading the view. For example, considering fences, pathways, and roads as a line which leads to the subject giving depth to an image.
Texture refers to the feel or appearance of any surface or substance. In photography, one will not be able to feel any texture of the surface through touch but can feel it through the eye. And that's why it's important for any photograph to show textures, as it can help viewers to feel the setting and atmosphere of the picture. For example, seeing sand in photography may not help you understand the texture of sand. However, taking a picture of sand with the face of the beach can give you a feeling that your feet are immersed in the sand, while you gaze at the sea. A picture without texture may feel like it is taken away too far or have poor lighting. Therefore, texture is needed in a picture to make it look appealing and to understand the role of light and shadows.
Space is an element that is often overlooked, but it is so vital to click a good photograph. In photography, there are two types of space: positive and negative. Positive space refers to space covered by the subject, and negative space refers to the subject which is unoccupied and left. Space in photography is important because it gives a balanced composition, leads the viewer's eye, and gives a sense of direction the subject is heading or seeing. It is also an important aspect as it helps in clicking a wide shot and showing a wider perspective.
The angle of an image is a great way to show perspective in storytelling. For instance, a low angle is used to show someone superior, and a higher angle is used to show the vulnerability of a subject in a picture. Taking a portrait at eye level establishes neutrality. Moreover, angle opens a room to experiment in photography by letting you know what works best for certain kinds of shoots. Not only does it convey emotion or enhance storytelling, but it also let you know more about the perspective in photography.
Contrast is essential because it can create an effect in a photograph. Various types of contrast are helpful in creating mood and atmosphere in any picture. Contrast in any image not only creates a balance between subject and background but also helps in highlighting the subject. For example, if a person is wearing green colour, a background with the same colour may not highlight the subject, giving it a flat look.
This element of photography helps in giving outline and structure to any image. They are important as they can help create a composition for any image. Shapes are two-dimensional, and forms are three-dimensional. A mixture of both adds depth to any image and enhances the photo if it is encompassed with shadows and lights. Shapes and forms are also something that can feel pleasing to a viewer's eyes.
Tone refers to the intensity of light. The tone in a photograph is the intensity of light, which varies from dark to bright. The intensity of the tone conveys emotions. For example, a warm tone signifies cheerfulness and happiness, whereas a cool tone signifies calmness or melancholy. They also affect a person's skin complexion.
