Digital Photography Comparisons

As I mentioned in a previous post, I am a very visual person, so photography is something I really enjoy. I love taking pictures and am always carrying my little digital camera with me in case the opportunity arises. Since I have never been able to take any kind of class, I was very excited to get some tips from Clemson's photographer Pat Wright.

I have been in Europe for about six months now, so I have had ample opportunity to take many many photos. One thing I like so much about a photograph is that it instantly takes me back to the moment I took it. So many details are recalled through that one shot...where I was, what it looked like, who I was with, what we were doing...even what I was thinking!

Here are some good and bad examples of how to follow Pat Wright’s tips and my rationality behind the shots.

Compariston #1: flash vs. natural light

 

As mentioned in the video, you have to know when to use certain settings on your camera. I took this first picture on the way home from Christmas eve dinner. My family and I were walking across the Seine towards our apartment in the Marais and the back side of Notre Dame was lit up so beautifully. My first picture still had the flash on from when we were inside at dinner. As you can see, the picture is a fuzzy gray and the flash picked up some raindrops, which kind of interfere with the picture. I quickly realized my error and turned off the flash and I think the second picture came out much nicer.

Comparison #2: using different angles

 

These next pictures were taken at the Nasch Market in Vienna. My Austrian friend recommended it for breakfast, so I was wandering around the stands one morning when I came across this group of school children ogling the candy booth. I thought they were cute, so I wanted a picture. The first one was taken straight on. I like that the merchant is smiling at them, but the facial expression of the boy on the left is not my favorite. I kept walking and took another picture from a side angle that I like a lot better. I think it has more depth, showing a little more of the outdoor market scene and how many kids there actually were. I also like how the little girl in the corner is standing on her tippy toes to get a look at the candy.

Compariston #3: near vs. far

 

When I was in Prague, I took the Sandeman’s New Prague castle tour and I totally recommend it. We went to places I would never have found alone and heard a bunch of interesting stories. One of the things we saw was this dripstone grotto wall at the Wallenstein palace and garden. I took two pictures of it. One is from far away with people and trees in it for scale. The other is a close-up detailed shot of the faces hidden among the bumps and lumps. You should go see it yourself to hear the story behind it! Prague has been my favorite city in Europe other than Paris, so far.

Comparison # 4: horizontal vs. vertical

 

These pictures aren’t really of anything in particular...I guess I was just recognizing the pattern of the lamp posts and I liked how they looked. The setting for these photos is above the famous Musee du Louvre. I like the vertical frame for this picture for a few reasons. First, I think there is too much extra “noise” going on in the horizontal picture. The vertical frame makes the subjects of the lamp posts much more obvious, therefore creating depth in the photo. Secondly, the vertical frame doesn’t cut off the roof of the building like in the horizontal one. And lastly...I just think it looks better.

Photography is very subjective so you may all have totally different opinions than me. I’d love to hear some feedback!