Photo Tip #123: Top 5 Pro Photography Tips: Top 5 Things Pro Photographers Do and Why

Juxtaposition
The next time you see a grand mountain or large monument or building you want to shoot, try to think of how you can further the idea of that grand subject with juxtaposition. For example, something into the foreground can help create the feeling or idea you're trying to get across. In a grand landscape scene, try to look for something small in the foreground to place in contrast to the large mountain in the background. Look for something that tells the story of the place, such as a river leading into the scene or boulders that are slowly falling off the face of the mountain and are destined to become pebbles at the bottom of the stream.

Story Telling
We are always looking for the "perfect photo," but one thing many pros do is tell a story through multiple photos. You get to act like a photojournalist, which is a lot of fun. This mentality gets you to look a little closer at what makes a particular place different and unique. The people, animals, and scenery can all tell a story, and the combination and interaction between these elements define the culture of a place. Look for details like these to photograph; the details that make up the whole allow you to find opportunities for great imagery you may have otherwise overlooked. Typically, each individual image ends up deeper and can stand alone as a great photo, but you also end up with a series of photos that tell a rich, visual story.

Depth of Field
Understanding Depth of Field can be an important tool to put that finishing touch on any photo setup. As a photographer, decide whether the subject you are photographing needs to be isolated or not. For instance, let's say you are photographing a beautiful tree. You can choose a longer zoom lens to really isolate that tree so that the background goes out of focus and flat, or you can choose to make a point that this tree is just one in a sea of trees by keeping the background and surrounding scenery in focus. This is all controlled by the lens you use and the f-stop you choose. The longer lens will help isolate the subject, while a wider lens will keep everything equal. For a blurry background, open the lens wider and set the f-stop to f/2.8 or something close to that, and for a focused background, use a wider lens and an f-stop around f/16. To read more about Depth of Field and Manual mode in general, read my manual mode photo tip.

Contrast
One element that makes a photo great is when the main subject jumps off of the print. When you really take the time to scrutinize why certain photos are more powerful, you will discover in most cases that the contrast between the subject and the background makes all the difference in the world. Having awareness of your background plays an important role in this. For example, a black dog photographed against a black background will lose impact. However, that same dog captured against a splash of white light will lift the dog out of the background and push it forward. Be aware of your surroundings and adjust your angles to make the most of your subject.

Digi's Site Tip: Organize Photos
Digital cameras allow us to take thousands of photos a day if we want. But, when it comes to organizing, the more you have, the harder it is. Use your online account to help you name photos and organize them by date, event, or any other scheme. Rename your albums to help you understand what, where, or when the photos are from. Right-click (or hold "Control" and click for Mac users) on an album name on the "My Web Photos" page in your account, and choose the "Rename album" option.

"I took many beautiful pictures at the Denver Zoo! This was my first experience with a large telephoto lens."
– Jaci

"I recently saw your invitation to email photos to you and thought I would forward this shot I took when I was in New Orleans this past December. The weather was unseasonably warm the first day we arrived, and although most balconies were decorated for Christmas, I thought this balcony was more in keeping with the day. Thank you for letting me share."
– Diana

"Here is a photo I took at the Indianapolis 500 in May. It is of an old time racer, probably circa late 30's to early 40's. I've included it in a series of 'race' art titled 'Champions.' I like to include a close in art type perspective on anything I shoot. I think this photo depicts a time gone by when auto racing was more dangerous and also a beginning art form."
– Michael