How Photography skills improve when you examine the photography of experts

Most days I look at the works of other photographers. I find Reuters always has a good range of photos with popular themes.

Use the following link to see some of these and from there follow the works of others via the links provided.

http://www.photographytips.com.au/best-photos-for-u/

Sometimes I give photography tips to help you along, other times I just put up one photo with a link to take you to the rest of the slideshow on that topic. By this means you can have a really good look at what makes particular photos so special and in turn you can get some ideas for improving your own photographs, it also keeps you up to date via pictures and as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. Some of my viewers simply like looking at the photos for no other reason than the pleasure and interest they provide.

This group may well include you but if you really want to improve your own photography you must set about providing yourself with the necessary skills to do so and you will find lots of posts there and some more detailed hubs here under the group - photography.

Sometimes it is the subject matter of the photo which creates the interest, e.g. famous people such as Bush, sports photos, fashion, war ( would you believe) and religion (even for the non-believer).

Other times it is very much the skill of the particular photographer and the one lot does not exclude the other.

When you see the occasional extra special shot you will know it and the subject matter of those can be quite simple but the photographer captures that special image, that unique moment, that explosion of emotion, that special atmosphere or even ambience alone and here, in many ways we can gain insight from great art.

You can become an expert in the appreciation of photography in a very short period of time, becoming the expert photographer takes rather more time and a lot of practice. Always remember that experts discard most of their photos so if much of your own photography does not come up to standard you need not feel alone.

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU LOOK AT PHOTOS ?

Initially you need do nothing more than look, you’ll soon know if you like what you see or not.

The first thing a photo needs to do is APPEAL

If it does not appeal you are unlikely to be interested in staying to look at it further but when I say Appeal, it does not have to be pretty, it can be quite ugly and appealing none the less.

Ugly sites can hold much of interest and in that way they catch your attention and therefore will appeal.

The next thing you need to do if you’re interested in improving your own work is ask yourself questions.

How has the photographer achieved his effects.

Are there reflections?

Do the shadows add to or diminish the effect?

How has the photographer used the rule of thirds? Of has he ignored this entirely and why?

Is there any natural framing in the photo?

How does the light add to the effects?

What angles has the photographer chosen?

What is his perspective?

Has he chosen any tricks? E.g. a picture reflected in someone’s sunglasses?

If it is a black and white photo has the photographer chosen this for a particular reason?

Is it just that the colours are naturally black and white?

Is there a touch of colour in an otherwise black and white photo which really highlights the appeal of the photo?.

Are there any naturally converging lines?

Is the photo very distinguishably colourful?

Is it a macro shot?

Are there natural patterns e.g. in rock surfaces or in a natural view?

Does it remind you of some of the old painters, impressionists perhaps?

What makes this photo more appealing than another you have seen?

The list can go on and on but you’ll get a better idea from going to the link, close to the beginning which I have provided and then moving on from there.

Meanwhile, I’ll see what I can find on the web for you to further illustrate what I mean.

And never forget, if you want to improve your photography, take your camera with you and take lots of photos.

Have an enjoyable photographic day.