Photography Tips

For some people, aspect ratio setting on a digital camera got a very little attention. One reason, the lack of understanding about it. Then what is the aspect ratio? Aspect ratio is the ratio of the width and height of an photo.

Currently there are 6 aspect ratio known in the world of photography such as below:

1:1
This square-shaped aspect ratio has a proportional count of width and height. Now this kind of aspect ratio is again used by many photo applications on the smartphone after Instagram popularized it. But before popular by Instagram, 1:1 aspect ratio is the standard size of a Hasselblad camera which has a size of 6x6cm.

5:4
Aspect ratio 5:4 commonly used in large format cameras and camera that use film in the form of sheets. Most sizes resulting image has a size of 8 × 10 inches.

4:3
Media TV and video broadcasting generally use this aspect ratio with size or resolution of 640 × 480 pixels. Small sensor camera and a pocket camera that carries a CCD sensor systems generally use this aspect ratio. Not only that, a camera with sensor size of four third or 4/3 cameras and Micro Four Third (MFT) is also widely use this format. On a medium format camera, 4:3 aspect ratio is also known in the medium format camera “645” refers to the actual size of the image dimensions 6 × 4.5cm.

3:2
This aspect ratio is gaining popularity and used when Oskar Barnack converting negative film to 90 degrees and doubled the width of the frame resulting a full frame negative film 24x36mm, same as the film used in 35mm format camera. Almost all of today’s large sensor DSLR using the 3:2 format.

16:9
16:9 is not a real aspect ratio or commonly used in digital cameras. But that doesn’t mean this aspect ratio can’t be used. Some photographers use it to give a cinematic feel to the photo.

2.35/2.40: 1
This is the most wide aspect ratio and is very rarely used in the world of photography. This is because there is currently no digital camera that supports this aspect ratio. Because it has a very wide size, if in-crop to a 4:3 aspect ratio, then half of your image will be wasted. The aspect ratio can be found on the film in cinema.

Knowingly or not, actually aspect ratio greatly affects the composition of a photograph. By understanding aspect ratio then you will be able to more easily produce images with better composition. Use a different aspect ratio affects the images with different compositions as well. To facilitate your understanding relating to the composition aspect ratio, consider the following simple image simulation that illustrates the composition of elements in a photograph that depicted with circle images.

For an example, this simulation is using aspect ratio 3:2. On the composition above, the large red circle is the main subject.

In this first picture, you can see the images will be on a subject that is a big red circle because it leaves a lot of empty space around it. Then look at the second picture above. Smaller pink circles inserted into the frame and acts as a second subject. In the second picture, the frame still leaves an empty space to the right of the main subjects that still looks less balanced composition.

In the third picture, the frame is filled again with some red circle tinted younger. These circles are placed around the main subject (large red circle) and pink circles as the second subject. The result still looks a little less balanced because there are still plenty of free space.

Well on the fourth picture, the frame is filled with a smaller circles and fill the empty space around it. That way the composition looks to be a full and balanced. If added again a blue circle next to the main subject, the blue circle will not interfere the main subject and the role of the blue and other small pink circles remains limited as a frame filler.

The above simulation was made in order to help you easily understand subject placement and setting composition within a frame. Of course this is just a theory, and the best way to understand it is to shoot as much as possible with respect to the composition.

The rules of composition in photography in general is hold on rule 3/4 or better known as “The Rule Of Third”. But actually to produce a photograph with good composition, you can bypass the restrictions and rules. So try to experiment and take a lot of photos, compare them before and after you understand the theory of composition related to the aspect ratio. Good luck!

A holiday is always fun, forget your daily stress and enjoy the days without any load, and one thing is certain for the photographer is to bring their gear. However, bringing a DSLR camera is little bit troublesome especially for those who have a large DSLR plus lenses and accessories. A well packing is needed. Here are some packing tips for your DSLR, lenses, and other camera accessories.

1. Decide what to bring
Gears that you have to bring is depend on where, how long and how you get there. Bring your own vehicle is easier than public transportation. The longer you are on vacation, the more memory you need.

2. Determine how to bring them while shooting
You can use a regular bag, special bag or hang the camera around your neck. It also depends on how much gear you have, if only one camera and one lens, you do not have to bother with a lot of accessories.

3. Determine how to bring them on a trip
If you have to join a flight and put your gear in the luggage, you need to ensure your gear safety. You can bring it into the cabin if you use a small camera bag.

4. Weigh your bag
Make sure your bag does not exceed the maximum weight allowed by the airline. If it passes the maximum, just hang your camera on your neck.

5. Protect your gear
Make sure your bag has enough safeguards to protect your gear. Or you can also use plastic waterproof camera if you are exposed to fear water.

6. Check your gear condition
Also make sure all of your photography equipment is working well. Check if your battery is not leaking, or your battery charger works well. Make sure to bring the power charger.

When travel photographing, one often looking for unique and iconic background. In fact, we can find an object to be a beautiful foreground so that the photo becomes more dynamic and attractive.

The background is usually a typical building in the city. In photography, the background can serve as reinforcement of the story even one of the main elements in a photograph. For example when traveling to Singapore and took pictures in front of the Merlion statue, then the main actor is absolutely the Merlion.

Well, besides the background, there is also another creative way to reinforce a photograph or beautify the traveling photographs by using foreground. But this technique is not very popular because not all photos need a foreground. In addition, another difficulty that is at the level of execution. Because not all things are good to be foreground.

Even so, the foreground can be a creative solution when the idea of ​​photographing being clogged. As a result, by placing the right foreground, the photo becomes more dynamic and attractive. Not surprisingly, the foreground is the norm done in traveling photographs, journalist, portrait, commercial and wedding. To obtain an interesting and unique foreground there are several steps that should be noted such as below:

1. Containing elements of aesthetics
Usually foreground is done for aesthetic reason. Its mean the subject feels \’bland\’ because there is no strong support background. Or there are no interesting and unique background around the object. By creating a foreground, the composition will be solid and dynamic. Therefore, when confronted with a subject that feels flat when photographed, try to find something that could be a foreground so that the photo will be more attractive.

2. Strengthen the main subject
Not just a matter of aesthetics, foreground usually done to strengthen the main subject. For example the main subject is calling by phone, then we can insert another people who are playing gadgets so that story even stronger.

3. It takes keen observation to choose Foreground
While at a tourist destination, do an observations immediately whether there are some things that can be utilized to be a foreground for example statues, flowers, or glasses. Even if possible, another throng of tourists could be an interesting foreground to be used.

4. Choosing the right technique
After determining the main subject and the supporter foreground, the foreground can be created with a bokeh technique or stay focused. This choice depends on the needs of the story to be delivered. If only aesthetic reasons, foreground can be blurred. Meanwhile, if the foreground help strengthen the story, it wouldn\’t need to use an outrageous bokeh.

5. Computer processing, why not?
Foreground done on the computer such as giving bokeh light effects in a model photo to give the impression of glamour. But its rarely done because it requires technical skills. But if you want, it can be done.

Cropping a photo is often done to remove the ugly part of the picture, or the unnecessary parts. However, cropping can be done to bring the subject of and strengthening the core of the story in the photo to make it more dramatic, more straightforward, more attractive, more provocative, deeper and more focused.

The most popular examples is the iconic photo of Che Guevara by Alberto Korda. At that time, Korda photographed Guevara and its star beret with his friend. Then the photo was cropped to be Che Guevara headshoot . This photo of Che Guevara was then circulated widely, printed on shirts, murals and various media to millions of times.

Well, the traveling photos can also be treated in a similar way. Even when done properly, the ordinary photos looks into extraordinary. Here are some ways how to do photo cropping.

1. Determine the powerful idea of the photo
Before you make a photo of your holiday destination, make sure you have the story of picture in your mind. In other words, we have estimated, about what will be told with this photo. From that idea, we can set how many people that will be in the photo, 1-2 people or more. Even the angel is also should be planned. For example, whether you need to climb up the tree. With a mature concept, you know which ones should be discarded when cropping process.

2. Compressing images
By using a telephoto lens, you inevitably have to eliminate the other subjects on the left and right lens range. As a result, the photographer will be more easy to control the story conveyed in a photograph. The photo will look more \’solid\’, full and crisp with no empty space to be seen.

3. Use a lens with large aperture
A lens with large aperture such as f / 1.8 or f / 1.2 can be used to crop the story in a photo. Photographer just stay focused on the focal point of the story, then the outside area will disappear automatically by bokeh.

4. Cropping with light effects
Cropping subject around the main object can also be done with light effects. Example by providing flash only on the face of the object so that the surrounding area will be darker. Another example is looking for the object in the sunlight that falls from between the leaves through the fog in the morning. When you watch dance performances, stage photographs with good lighting can also be used to crop the photo to be more dramatic.

5. Cropping lines and consequently
In the photograph that contain elements of line, it should be noted whether the line should be cropped or not. Therefore, the line was very controlling the reader\’s imagination. For example the sea photographs, the horizon line can be omitted to tell you that the ocean is not infinite. While by keeping the horizon line, the impression you want to be told that the area of ​​the ocean is limited.

Statue is often become a landmark of a region and nearly matching a monument and the other iconic city marker. For example the Liberty statue in New York, the Sphinx in Egypt, Merlion in Singapore, Buddha in Bangkok and Angkor Wat, to the statue of Garuda Wisnu Kencana in Bali.

Not only with a super large of size, the smaller statues are also quite popular. Who does not know Manekken Piss statue in Brussels Belgium, or Pietta sculpture by Michelangelo. Travelers are really love to photograph these statues.

Need some special tricks to shoot a statue when traveling to a region so that the result will be cool and satisfying.

1. Find and focus the camera on the statue’s eyes
Why eyes? Because the language of the eyes can represent the atmosphere of mysticism and the overall aura of the statue. Capture the emotion that radiates through the eyes or face of the statue.

2. See the body language / gestures of the statue
Gesture or body language of the statue is not made in vain by the sculptor. Each gesture represents the spirit of the age curve, ideas, stories, and also the technical accuracy of the artist.

If you don’t have much time, let your instincts spontaneously showed the best angle to photograph. The safest technique which is a frontal photograph of the front like in a fashion shoot. Use s small lens aperture such as f/8 or f/9.

3. Find an interesting photography composition
For contemporary sculptures or statues that do not take a moral or fable theme as in classical sculpture, focus the camera to look for interesting photographic composition. Therefore, contemporary sculptures usually are designed in such a way that the color, texture and shape in comfortable viewing. Then the photographer should find an attractive and representative angle. So that the result will be story telling.

To hone your eyes reflex in seeing interesting sides, you are advised to frequently visit the exhibition of installation art. Also various museum that holds many interesting art objects. Seeing the work of other photographers also should be referenced.

4. Large and small statues are equally important
Large or small size of statues are absolutely have the same value for the camera. Both a tall statue like ‘Christ the Redeemer’ in Brazil or relief sculpture in ancient coins in China are have a same width in camera viewfinder/LCD. It’s mean stay focused on the big things but do not underestimate the little things and details.

5. Note the statue surrounding atmosphere
Look around the statue. Is the statue stands alone as in a museum or a part of the urban spatial structure such as the side of the road.

If the statue was standing alone, it is not a lot of obstacles. However, if the statue is part of the identity of the city and are in the public sphere, then the challenge will be quite interesting. Therefore, the photographer should be able to shoot the statue in that city atmosphere. Is the statue become the foreground, background or the center story in a city photograph.