Ever wonder why some photographs look great and others don’t?

Are you constantly looking at other people’s photographs and wishing yours looked just as good?

Do you open the newspaper and ooh and aah over the photos that the pros take on a daily basis?

Well, I can help.

I`ve been a professional photographer and photojournalist for more than 30 years, and I know what goes into making a great looking photograph.

When I was starting out, I was in the same position as you, always looking at photos wondering if I will ever be able to take pictures that my friends and family will admire.

The first step to improving your pictures is knowing what goes into making a photograph ‘look’ good. Now, this may sound strange, but you have to open your eyes and see what’s in front of you!

WHAT? Of course you’re looking at what’s in front of you, since you are pointing a camera at it…!

But, you have to look at EVERYTHING in front of you!

What you are taking a picture of is called the ‘subject’. But, although your subject is the main focus of your photo, there are other elements that the camera will see that you may not.

The human eye tends to have rather selective viewing, focusing on the subject and kind of ignoring everything else. Lots of other stuff is in your peripheral vision, but many people aren’t aware of it, or don’t notice it. So, it’s not really your fault when you see the actual photos and are disappointed that you didn’t see that distracting lamp, stranger, hydro wires or whatever.

Two other important elements in the photo are the foreground and background.

The foreground is what is in front of your subject or closest to you, and likewise, the background is what is behind your subject or furthest from you.

The key to improving your photos IMMEDIATELY is to consciously look around at what is in front and behind your subject and try to eliminate distracting elements.

If you are photographing a person, try moving them a bit to avoid a lamp growing out of their head, or a lamppost and hydro wires outside. Pick a plainer background such as some dense bushes or trees, or a plain wall with no pictures, windows or other objects that will distract your attention away from the subject. If you can’t easily move the subject, move yourself a bit to try and eliminate the distraction.

The same rule applies to the foreground. Look at what’s in front of your subject…a messy table, the corner of a vehicle, litter on the ground, etc. and move to eliminate it. Change your position; move closer (no need to photograph people from 10 paces!), shift one side or another, whatever it takes to improve the look a bit. It usually isn’t difficult. And, most people are very cooperative about moving a bit if you just explain that it will make a much better photo!

If it’s scenery you’re photographing, the same basic rules apply, but the subject and background may well be the same if it’s a panorama. However, you can still easily improve foreground by just moving to eliminate distractions, or including something that adds interest, such as a few nice flowers. If you’re photographing a person overlooking a scenic vista, don’t put them in the centre of the picture, which just serves to bisect the scene, but rather put them to one side or the other, turned slightly inward toward the scenery. Turning the person slightly inward directs attention into the scenery rather than competing with it. The subject person then becomes the foreground with the scenery the background. It’s effective, and gives equal emphasis to both.

In short, just notice all aspects of the photograph you are about to take, and as much as possible, try to eliminate anything unnecessary or distracting.. A few simple corrections can greatly improve your pictures, and you’ll be proud to show off your latest work!