Part 3 of 6
SIMPLIFICATION
This article continues our second outdoor journey in the “Learning to see” series. In the third part of his hike through East Belgium Chris Eyre-Walker talks about experiences that feel better afterwards than in the moment. And how off-putting weather can actually change the whole feeling and power of your photographs.
How to find rhythm in nature?
“Harsh kind of beauty”
OM SYSTEM OM-5
M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm F1.4 PRO
N 50° 31’ 46”
E 6° 05’ 52”
Focal length: 20 mm
Shutter speed: 1/80 s
F-Stop F2.8
ISO 400
Drawn by curiosity, I veer off the trail toward a renowned destination. As expected, I find myself trudging through water and mud, already soaked to the bone. After what feels like an eternity, I arrive at a collection of ancient, twisted trees emerging from the landscape, each one a testament to the passage of time. Here, amidst the weathered wilderness, I embrace the solitude, finding solace in the harsh elements and my own thoughts. With darkness approaching, I capture a photo to immortalize this unlikely beauty before continuing toward my destination. As I press on, I leave behind the desolate landscape, grateful for the warmth and comfort awaiting me at camp. Perhaps this desolation is meant to be embraced, a reminder of nature’s resilience and beauty in the face of solitude.
Lesson 3: see how it was done
What to avoid?
I got to my detour destination late in the evening which meant that getting to camp happened even later. But seeing the dead trees against the gloomy sky was worth it as were the photos. So don’t only aim to photograph at daylight.
Simplification
“When you can’t remove anything more from your photograph without changing its story, you’ve found its essence.”
- Clean Sky
contrasts well with the dark subject - Character
the trees bend towards / away from each other - Isolation
clear view of the subjects against the sky - Rule of Thirds
balances out the composition - Clean Foreground
makes an otherwise busy foreground less distracting
How did I see the photograph?
While hiking in a forest, I often encounter unique trees that draw my attention. Curious, I approach to admire them, considering their standout features and the quality of light in their surroundings. Finding the perfect composition can be challenging; even after noticing something remarkable, capturing it effectively requires careful framing. I typically step back to include both the subject and its environment, ensuring it stands out against the backdrop.
Things to consider:
Simplify until you can’t
Art can often be found in simplicity. To improve your compositions, consider which elements add to your photograph’s impact and which detract from it. Don’t be afraid to leave out unnecessary details, as this can make your visual stories clearer.
Identify the core
When taking a photograph, it is important to identify the central element or elements that drew your attention to the scene. These should remain the focus of your composition. Frame your shot in a way that guides attention to what truly matters.
Use negative space
When capturing a scene, use minimalistic compositions with the fewest elements to convey a powerful, focused message. If you can’t remove more objects from your image, you are probably close to the minimum.
Embrace minimalism
Before clicking the shutter, check the edges of your frame for any distracting elements. Adjust your composition to eliminate or minimize these distractions. Remember that the eye usually gravitates to the brightest parts of your image, so minimize bright areas at the edges.
Count your subjects
This tip can sound weird, but in visual arts it’s common to hear about the “Rule of odds” that states that an odd number of elements in a composition is more appealing and can creates a better sense of balance than an even number. Look at my photograph above and think if showing four trees instead of five would have changed it. Experiment with your own subjects.
When there a so many beautiful and distinctly graphic trees around, how do you choose which ones to include in your shot? Try to count them.
Make the effort
In my previous article I gave you a permission to just be, to stop your mind from looking for something to photograph all the time. To remind you that taking photos is not a game you should somehow complete.
But in certain situations making an extra effort, pushing yourself just a tad more, is worth it. Not just for the photographs, but the feeling of accomplishment and even success.
The main photo in this article certainly is both of those things to me. Something that felt enticing but tedious in the moment, but oh so rewarding afterwards.