Photography workshops abroad for intermediate level photographers
Taking time to get the right shot. Camilla arrived for two days of photography workshops abroad and I was impressed with her approach. She took her time to think through what she wanted from each set-up, no easy thing to do in a busy market. By no means a beginner she had a complete understanding of exposure control and this of course gives the confidence to focus on composition and subject. Her gallery of photos shows a good range of photography covering many different subjects, something we offer here on location in Essaouira.
What makes a good Photo? 5 images examined.
‘Man with a green hat’
Colour harmony. Colours in photography are harder to work with than traditional black and white photography in some ways. They can work against each other and weaken the overall, powerfully simplicity, of a good photograph. This above image has a pin sharp central subject and well as a limited depth of field to off set the man from the background but it’s his green hat that makes it stand out. Wait in the street for the right colour. Yes, that’s often what it takes.
‘girl and boys’
One-off outstanding images that speak for themselves are difficult to create. Sometimes photos that would work well as part of a photo essay or with text are more likely the target to get as part of a day’s photo shooting. Inclusion of the girl in this case creates a narrative as well as a visual dynamic perhaps connoting, to use some semiotics, the female outsider looking into the boys’ world.
‘pushcart’
It seems obvious but only with practice can a photographer begin to think about intuitively placing subjects off centre. Using this compositional device increases the power of context and brings in our innate interest in ‘compositional balance’, something that we pick up on when reviewing images at the end of each day.
‘girl with a key’
Where to put the point of focus is always an interesting proposition. Often to be decided quickly it helps to think about where the small detail or object is in the scene and then to put the focal point on that. Naturally an out of focus key ring would be harder to decipher. Of course it’s also interesting that the furthest subject is sharp so our interest moves beyond the obvious first subject.
It’s all about the stride. Street photography hinges on the dynamic of the subject both within the frame and also the shape that is formed within that. A bent leg can often minimise the impact of a good photo but a purposeful stride alerts to the direction of movement and plays with the empty space.
Our photography workshops abroad can be tailored to suit more advanced photographers arriving for weekend breaks. Details available here.