Techniques
1
Use closest focussing
distance By moving your
lens as close to the subject as
possible and using the longest
focal length, it is possible to
more effectively reduce depth of
field. This is an important step
where there is little subject-
background separation that
could introduce potentially
distracting background detail.
1
Select height align the camera
with the subject, shooting towards it at
approximately 90 degrees. This will make
it easier to control the relative dominance
of foreground and background blur, while
extending depth of field across the subject.
use a tripod or other camera support for
maximum stability at longer focal lengths.
2
Look for contrasts
compose your subject
so that it contrasts with a
background feature in either
tonality or colour. align the
objects so that they compliment
each other in the frame to
create balance, lead the viewer’s
eye into the frame or produce
a recognisable colour theme in
the image.
2
Set wide aperture choose a
medium to wide aperture setting,
depending on your distance from the
subject and the foreground elements. if
you’re using a 70-200mm lens start at
around f5.6, or f2.8 in the 24-70mm range.
if this provides insufficient foreground
diffusion set a lower f-number.
3
Create seamless
backgrounds Move
your camera so that the subject
is placed against a white sky,
or alternatively underexpose
the background to create a
seamless black. if you are
unable to use a physical
seamless background, faking
one in this way can create a
neutral environment.
3
Adjust focal length Zoom in
to isolate the subject and compress
distance to foreground elements. a longer
focal length will expand the apparent size of
the foreground foliage in the frame, helping
to create a colour-wash effect. Try moving
back and using the focal range extremes.
4
Shoot contre-jour
aim your camera so that
you are shooting into the light,
with your subject illuminated
from behind. This creates a
washed-out look that draws
the viewer’s attention away
from background detail by
highlighting the edges of the
subject and emphasising
translucent properties.
4
Compose your shot use your
camera’s composition aids to place
the subject in an engaging location in the
image. in these cases a central position can
sometimes work, although using the rule
of thirds or golden ratio will still provide
superior visual power.
5
Shoot and
adjust Take the
shot, review and then
reshoot while playing
with multiple focal
lengths and shooting
angles. Try to find
variably coloured
foreground flowers
to change the hue of
the colour wash and
alter the coolness or
warmth of the image.
Manage backgrounds
Make use of colour
Improve backgrounds with fewer distractions and complementary assets
Show depth in close environments by shooting
through surrounding vegetation
Above
Maximised potential
shooting through surrounding elements
can introduce some colourful and
energetic images
“Compose your images so that areas of
contrasting colours are in close proximity”
All
images
©^
Peter
fenech
Master CoMposition
1
Useclosestfocussing
distanceBy moving your
lens as close to the subject as
possible and using the longest
focal length, it is possible to
more effectively reduce depth of
field. This is an important step
where there is little subject-
background separation that
could introduce potentially
distracting background detail.
1
Selectheight alignthecamera
withthesubject,shootingtowardsitat
approximately 90 degrees.Thiswillmake
iteasiertocontroltherelativedominance
offoregroundandbackgroundblur,while
extendingdepthoffieldacrossthesubject.
useatripodorothercamerasupportfor
maximumstabilityatlongerfocallengths.
2
Lookforcontrasts
composeyoursubject
sothatitcontrastswitha
backgroundfeatureineither
tonalityorcolour.alignthe
objectssothattheycompliment
eachotherintheframeto
createbalance,leadtheviewer’s
eyeintotheframeorproduce
a recognisablecolourthemein
theimage.
2
Setwideaperturechoosea
mediumtowideaperturesetting,
dependingonyourdistancefromthe
subjectandtheforegroundelements.if
you’reusinga70-200mmlensstartat
aroundf5.6,orf2.8inthe24-70mmrange.
ifthisprovidesinsufficientforeground
diffusionsetalowerf-number.
3
Createseamless
backgroundsMove
yourcamerasothatthesubject
isplacedagainstawhitesky,
oralternativelyunderexpose
thebackgroundtocreatea
seamlessblack.ifyouare
unabletouseaphysical
seamlessbackground,faking
oneinthiswaycancreatea
neutralenvironment.
3
Adjustfocallength Zoomin
toisolatethesubjectandcompress
distancetoforegroundelements.alonger
focallengthwillexpandtheapparentsizeof
theforegroundfoliageintheframe,helping
tocreateacolour-washeffect.Trymoving
backandusingthefocalrangeextremes.
4
Shootcontre-jour
aimyourcamerasothat
youareshootingintothelight,
withyoursubjectilluminated
frombehind.Thiscreatesa
washed-outlookthatdraws
theviewer’sattentionaway
frombackgrounddetailby
highlightingtheedgesofthe
subjectandemphasising
translucentproperties.
4
Compose yourshotuseyour
camera’scompositionaidstoplace
thesubjectinanengaginglocationinthe
image.inthesecasesacentralpositioncan
sometimeswork,althoughusingtherule
ofthirdsorgoldenratiowillstillprovide
superiorvisualpower.
5
Shootand
adjustTake the
shot, review and then
reshoot while playing
with multiple focal
lengths and shooting
angles. Try to find
variably coloured
foreground flowers
to change the hue of
the colour wash and
alter the coolness or
warmth of the image.
Manage backgrounds
Make use of colour
Improvebackgroundswithfewerdistractionsandcomplementaryassets
Show depth in close environments by shooting
through surrounding vegetation
Above
Maximisedpotential
shooting through surrounding elements
can introduce some colourful and
energetic images
“Compose your images so that areas of
contrasting colours are in close proximity”
All
images
©
Peter
fenech
Master CoMposition