We are in the middle of our top 50 Run on the best photo tips of all time.  You will begin to notice that as we move closer and closer to our number 1 tip, they will begin to lean more toward composition and lighting specs that will require you to perform at a higher level of proficiency in order to get the shot that you want and not the one everyone else can do. Put these into practice and you will begin to see a marked improvement in your work. As will your viewers.

#29 - Be Bold
Use the dramatic times of the day to your advantage. When is the Drama? Generally when the sun is low in the sky, but it can also be at High noon. Look for the storm, look for the color, look for the strong light, casting shadows long and strong. These are the Drama times. They are a “Wow” factor and exactly what you are looking for to capture your viewer and not let them go.

#28 - Balance Elements
When you place a subject in your scene you have to be aware of the other items in that scene or lack of items in that scene. Balance isn’t reserved for the playground and the teeter tauter. Balance in an image means front to back, side to side, light to dark, foreground, middle and background, subject to surroundings. When you balance an image, your viewer is captivated by the elements of the image, keeping their attention.

#27 - Framing
When we think of an image and we think of framing, we tend to begin asking, wood or metal. But we aren’t talking about how you will display your image. We are instead talking about the “framing” of your subject within the scene.  When you capture your subject inside of a natural frame that is compositionally positioned within the image, you again are helping your image capture and keep its viewers.

#26 - Move In Close
There is a story that we tell in our classes of a student focusing on color as a subject, who turned in a wonderful photograph of a park. The greens of the grass and trees were amazing. When we as a class guessed that his color choice was green, we were astounded to learn that the color he had chosen was RED. When we asked him how that could be, he simply replied, “there is a cardinal in that tree there”.
Get close enough to cover your subject but stay far enough away to allow your subject to breathe.

#25 - Plain Backgrounds….. Aren’t Boring.
The Kiss principal of photography applies here. Simple backgrounds have the ability to help the viewer focus on the subject. While a plain background can be …… well plain, it can still have character, mood and direction and it all has to do with how it is lit.

#24 - Get Down!
Ok your subjects have a size; you need to get to that size when you shoot them. We are not just referring to people; you could be shooting a car, building or flower. Your view will be the view of everyone that sees your image. Make it the view that best flatters your subject.

#23 - If your subject moves, move with them
Panning as your subject moves can totally enhance your image, panning helps show motion in a motionless 2 dimensional image. It adds a flow to your work and creates action where there was none before. Slow down your shutter and have fun with the panning motion. It can make something stagnant, come to life.

#22 - Tic Tac Toe
Ok I just had to call this something other than the rule of thirds. This is likely one of the best known compositional tool in a photographer’s tool kit. By dividing your image into 3 sections (vertical and horizontal) (get it, Tic Tac Toe) you can place specific parts of your scene in these locations to create a more pleasing image. The things you put there are namely foreground, middle ground, and background. Keep your Horizon line out of the center of the image as much as possible.

#21 - How Deep Is Your Image
Ever since the first cave dweller decided to paint their world on a cave wall, man…. and women artists have tried to show depth in their images. We have to face the fact that we are dealing with a 2D medium that looks best when it is fooling your viewer into believing it is 3 dimensional. Add depth to your images to enhance your images.

#20 - Vertical, Horizontal and Everything In Between
If you pretend for a moment that your camera is attached to the world with a rotating pin mounted in the center of your lens. If you could rotate your camera 360 degrees around your subjects, wouldn’t you? Of course you would so do it.

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