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Creativity – it matters what is behind the camera
Cameras can' t walk
Moving a few steps creates a completely different picture | Very basic things are the same in these two pictures - they were taken from the same subject with the same camera and practically at the same time within a minute. The difference lies in a different position: first further to the left with an oblique view of the decaying house and then further to the right, directly in front of the door that can only be seen in a small way in the left picture. There was a hedge there, which I found disturbing at first. But it turned out to be favourable to give the subject something enchanted with branches running through the picture out of focus. The slightly distorted view fits the subject and is more interesting than the one over the fence in the left photo.
And the camera? Doesn't matter much, the pictures could have been taken with any camera that can zoom in a little between wide-angle and normal focal length. Mastering the camera operation, on the other hand, was more important, because the automatic camera wanted to focus on the branches in the foreground and an intervention was necessary to get the door in the background in focus.
The camera is the tool of the trade for taking photographs; those who have mastered it are better able to exploit and realise their ideas for pictures. But the alternative viewpoint is more important, all the technical tricks of camera settings cannot change the left picture as much as changing the perspective.
About cameras and cooking pots
When the famous photographer Helmut Newton was in a restaurant, the chef approached him: ”I admire your photos, you must have a very good camera.“ After the meal, Newton replied to the chef: ”The food was excellent, you must have great pots.“ This was well parried and ironically wonderfully to the point – it all depends on what you do with the camera or the cooking pots.
The creative aspect at digital-photography.com
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From the beginning of 2022, more articles on image composition will appear and gradually become the main focus. You can sign up now to receive an email when new articles appear.
For now the choice is:
BeginnerPracticeA good image begins in your mindAt the beginning of image composition is an idea or vision, the answer to the question "What do I want to say with my image?" It helps you to decide what belongs into your picture and what does not. It gives your image composition a direction and helps you to create consciously instead of shooting randomly.
BeginnerPracticeThe nearly finished Berlin PalaceA walk around a tourist attraction, several different image messages from the same subject. To illustrate how different thoughts behind the image message lead to very different photos.
AdvancedPracticeMultiple exposure in greenAn example of creative techniques, a star-shaped plant is effectfully presented with multiple exposures, isolated in front of a white background with simple means. A technique that you can easily use in your own similar photos.10.01.2022
BeginnerPracticeAutumn colours on the roadsideAn example for the steps to a consciously designed photo – with a simple subject that stood inconspicuously at the edge of a very ordinary street, waiting to be discovered there.- BeginnerPracticePoints of view in a holiday resortA simple example for the effect of different points of view. Three photos in a holiday resort, only a few steps between them.
