PHOTOGRAPHY – 3
Having had some idea of portraiture and perspective, it is
opportune to consider the advantages of making pictures of Landscapes. As the
name suggests the area of coverage has to be quite large, practically denying opportunities
to critics on ‘Focus’ or ‘depth of field’- two aspects ready to lend themselves
for easy criticism. Still, a landscape being of a large physical territory,the
critics may feel handicapped to suggest “what could have been the most ideal spot to have focussed on”
Besides, landscapes are simultaneously vague and
captive—so to say an oxymoron to view! Also, minds which get initiated in to
any art need to tumble down afew times before coming to grips with the ‘likely
pitfalls’ that one may readily play into. If every failure is a stepping stone
to success ,how can photography be any different?
SOME BASIC IDEAS TO REMEMBER
Plain flat landscapes are the least impressive. On the
contrary slopes, meadows and valleys readily hold the viewer’s attention at
least for a while. So, elements varying
in size / shape/ colour/ hue enhance the ‘picture value’ by kindling a variety
of emotional responses to viewers. Also, each viwer gets to hava a select
emotion –‘all too exclusive’ for self. That way landscapes have both scape and
scope to impress the ‘on lookers’.
EXPLOITING SOME FEATURES : Any
talented worker chooses to make the best use of certain elements on the scene.
Practically, these are objects like electric poles, a solitary tree, if nothing
the very road can be availed of to furnish “LEADING LINES” to a picture.
A LEADING LINE IS JUST A LONG OBJECT or ROAD which
draws the attention of the viewer from one end of the picture to near centre of
the picture. Thereafter the viewer should keep searching the area for details.
That is, [s] he should not run the view
beyond a certain locale in the picture. If the viewer’s eye is arrested to stay
on the picture, it is a good piece of work. If not some captivating element is
missing is the message to the photographer.
While capturing a picture along the road, instead of
viewing the road from its centre , a camera angle from one of the sides of the
road can insert ‘life; to the picture from the naturally existing curvature along a road. Central view of the road ‘loses
sight of curvature’. If curves are a part of the scene , it turns the product
picturesque.
A POND FULL OF WATER: It is always a comforting experience; more so
if it has the moon’s image in water. A plain unruffled water surface with moon’s
image looks rather mundne; instead throw
a tiny stone into water causing circular wave series and record the picture of
moon with ripples on water , the appeal is far superior. More to follow K.Raman
The phrase " Scape & Scope " used is an interesting read, meaning the " scape " is sight of the view & " scope " for range of the view in photography.
ReplyDeleteWhat comes to mind immediately while thinking of landscape is - When we observe nearby stationary objects such as trees, houses, etc. while sitting in a moving train, they appear to move rapidly in the opposite direction because the line of sight changes very rapidly. On the other hand, distant objects such as trees, stars, etc. appear stationary because of the large distance. Such sceneries & objects are always in our memory like a photo.