Composition - Simplify!

baldmountain

While reading this please keep in mind I'm a total amateur and looking for guidance. One of the things I've noticed with a lot of the photos I really like is how simple they are. They have little or no background elements. Even shots outdoors. So I went on a little photo safari in my backyard to experiment. A shot like this is rubbish. It's a cluttered snapshot.



This is the same fallen tree. It's more interesting, and I think a better shot, but still too cluttered with background.



This one is better but the background shadow of the tree is distracting and detracts from the shot.



The plain background in this shot makes the shot work better than if there had been a lot of the normal house/cage/pearch junk normally in these kinds of pictures.



What do you think?

dlplumer

Good Parrot portrait, and I agree with your point.

eL eSs Vee

Well said and demonstratecd. I'd say you've got it. :photo

anonymouscuban

These are basic concepts of composition. However, it's amazing how something so basic can make such a dramatic difference in taking better photos.

I learned these concepts in art classes I took in High School and College, but I didn't start applying them to my photography until I began using photography as an outlet for creativity. Before, all my shots really had that "snap shot" feel, well, because that's what they were. Now, I look at potential images as if I am "painting" the photo. I try to pay attention to what I want to be the focus of the image and then compose around it.

Basic... I know... but critical.