Photography goes far beyond simply taking photographs; photography can also be used as an incredibly powerful medium for storytelling, conveying emotions and telling a tale in one frame. Today we’ll dive deep into storytelling for photographers; breaking down its fundamentals while providing practical tips to begin your storytelling journey.
Understanding Storytelling in Photography By Mike Erskine
Composition: Framing your shot can have a dramatic effect on its storytelling power, so consider using the rule of thirds, leading lines and symmetry as guides for viewers’ eyes to follow when framing it. For additional advice regarding composition rules please see this free guide available online here.
Emotion: Emotion is at the core of any great story. A properly-composed photo should elicit feelings in viewers ranging from joy, sadness and awe – this guide on adding emotions to photography provides an excellent starting point!
Timing: Capturing the ideal moment is of paramount importance; sometimes capturing that unforgettable shot requires being at just the right spot and time.
Photo By Malu Laker The Tools You Need
Camera: Don’t need an elaborate camera to tell a great tale! Many smartphones now contain powerful cameras that make them great tools for beginners looking to take great photographs with their smartphone cameras. Learn how to take effective photographs using these tips and tricks here.
Lenses: Explore various lenses to find one that perfectly embodies your photos’ perspective. A wide-angle lens captures more of a scene while telephoto lenses help focus in on specific details. Author Mark Schenker offers his actionable tips on selecting the appropriate lens for any task here.
Editing Software: Utilizing simple photo editing tools like Adobe Lightroom, Snapseed or VSCO can add depth to your images for storytelling purposes.
Crop and Straighten: When cropping and straightening a photo for scrapbooking or wall art display, think of it like trimming something for scrapbooking or fixing any wonky angles around it to make the story of the photo stronger. By cutting away extraneous elements around it and fixing wonky angles you can make your photo appear neater while strengthening its storytelling power.
Color and Tone: Color can make or break a photo’s impact; for an energetic feel, bright and lively colors work best, whereas to evoke nostalgia more subdued hues can work just as effectively. Check out author Jo Plumridge’s guide which shares her knowledge on color theory as it relates to photography.
Contrast and Sharpness: Enhancing contrast is like amplifying the difference between dark and light in your photo, helping your subject stand out more effectively. Sharpening an image adds sharpness and makes your photograph crisp and defined – both qualities will help tell a compelling narrative story! In this article, you’ll gain guidance on how to adjust its sharpness and how this impacts it overall.
Photo By Artem Kniaz of Finish Line in Moscow.