Beginners Photography - Beginners Photography - Why Finding The Right Subject Is Important!

To some beginners, photography is about taking lots of pictures, printing them off and showing them to your friends and family. When you look back at them, they are, well, alright, but there is something missing. It's hard to put your finger on what it is, though. In haste, many new photographers don't consider the most important aspect of any photograph - the subject. Although we all like to take the perfect photograph every time, you can get away with a slightly out of focus or too dark photo - if you have chosen a strong subject.

A great photograph requires an object or point of interest as its main image. Everything peripheral must centre around this key focal point. Whatever else you learn about photography, always bear this in mind when composing your shot, and you will give yourself the best chance of ending up with a memorable photograph. You may already have some old photos you can review. Look for examples where your photo had a strong subject image, and a similar shot taken at the same time, where no discernible subject existed. You will soon see the greater impact of the former photo when compared to the second.

There are a number of beginners' photography tips that help you place more importance on your photograph's subject. The first is to fill your frame with the subject. Try using your zoom lens to get up close and personal with your subject. Don't be afraid to have them take up half of the frame, or even more. If the zoom does not quite do the job, try physically moving closer to gain a similar effect. If the photo is a portrait, try a head and shoulders shot, or even just their face. Don't be afraid to experiment.

Always remember that the subject is the whole reason for the shot, therefore nothing must distract the viewer from this. So you must ensure there is no distracting "clutter" in the photograph. If your subject is standing in front of a field of flowers, for example, you have a couple of options. You can choose a narrow depth of field that means only your subject will be in focus. The flowers may still be there, but as they are out of focus they can provide a colourful backdrop without competing with your subject. Alternatively, take your subject to an area where no such distraction exists.

Finally, try to be creative with your camera angles. We have all seen too many pictures of a subject standing in the centre of an image with a cheesy grin. So change your viewpoint. Try standing on a high mound to get a perspective from above. Or crouch down and look slightly up on the subject. This works quite well with shots of your children, by the way. Also, try taking shots in profile, or getting your subject to peer back at you over their shoulder.

So in summary, when you are composing your shot, make sure there is something in it that will make a strong subject, an obvious point of interest. And ensure that this subject will not compete with anything else. Quickly try to imagine what the viewer will see in the final photograph. Let's hope this beginner's photography article will help you think a little differently before you press the shutter next time.

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