Top 10 Photo Skills #3: Get closer!

To really bring out the best in your subject matter one tool to use is to get in close, and then get in closer. By taking an image that is closer than you would normally view something can really draw in people's attention.

One of the cheapest additions you can buy is a macro filter. I purchased a 4x macro filter a couple of years ago and though it may not grab the uber-professional level of detail I have had some great success with thisrge lens addition.


The images:

• Santiago del Estero Zoo, Argentina.
  Using a 70-300mm lense I was able to get this lazing tiger as he gazed out of the bars. The look in his eye is immense.
  
  
• Mendocino, California
  Using the maco filter here and really tightening up on the centre of the flower. The petals are in high detail and the
  colour contrasts are fantastic. I have split this image up into 9 and it displays really well.
  
  
• Stanislaus National Forest, California
  Using the maco filter here and at F2.8 you get this great depth of field close up on the small white flower elements.
  
  
  

Top 10 Photo Skills #2: Framing your pictures

A great way to add interest to your images is to frame your chosen object on the photo. Be it a door, window, tree branches, cave entrance or a whole in the wall. The list really is endless.

This technique is something that I really like to use and have been using it to different results over the past couple of years. On this post you can see examples that I have taken:

• Morro de Sao Paulo, Brazil. This was taken from inside an old fort looking back across the beach to some leaning palms.
  
  
• Inspiration Point, Yosemite, USA. Taken from the car park the branch really adds an additional element to a classic photo.

It is very simple and yet very effective way of making something simple look or the more engaging.

Top 10 Photo Skills #1: Balance/Composition

The balance of an image is one of the most important aspects between an ordinary and exceptional image.

So what is balance:

• Generally an image can be broken up into thirds. The visual rule of thirds says that major points on an image should sit on the vertical and horizontal thirds.
• It is also important to balance the colours of the image to provoke emotion to the scene.
  

Of course since these are the rules an equally striking image can break all of these rules.