Why Balance in Photography is Important

Knowing how to effectively balance objects within a photo is a skill that all photographers should learn. The problem with improperly balanced photographs is that they are, in general, less appealing, and they can feel as if something is missing.  The viewer may look at the photo and feel as if something is “off” without even knowing exactly why they feel that way.

Types of Balance in Photography

There are various types of balance in photography, including symmetrical balance (also known as formal balance), asymmetrical balance (also known as informal balance), and radial balance. Understanding these types of balance is essential to create balanced compositions.

Symmetrical Balance and Formal Balance in Photography

Formal balance, which is also known as symmetrical balance, is an important concept in photography. In the previous chapter, we discussed how to achieve symmetrical balance in photography. To achieve symmetrical balance, you need to frame the shot so that identical or similar subjects are repeated symmetrically on each side of a given point.

Informal Balance in Photography (Asymmetrical Balance)

Asymmetrical balance, otherwise known as informal balance, occurs when the visual weight of the elements in the image is not equal, but the composition still feels harmonious. This type of balance is more dynamic and creates a sense of movement and tension in the image. Asymmetrical balance is often seen in landscape photography, street photography, and documentary photography.

Informal balance is a subtle yet important form of balance in photography that requires more attention to detail. Unlike formal balance, which relies on the repetition of identical or similar subjects on both sides of a given point, informal balance is achieved by balancing dissimilar elements on each side of the frame. The size of each element is not always relevant, but having a larger element paired with smaller elements can create a well-balanced composition. Photos that use informal balance are often more appealing to the eye than those that use formal balance. To better understand informal balance, it is helpful to look at several photo examples that effectively showcase it.

Photo by Chang Liu

The photo above is a perfect example of how balance can be achieved even with two subjects of different sizes. The man’s position in the bottom left of the frame is perfectly counterbalanced by the smaller sea creature in the top right corner. Removing either of the subjects would make the photo feel unbalanced. For instance, if the sea creature was not present, the image might feel visually bottom-heavy with the man looking at an empty space above. In such a case, a formal balance with a center-aligned composition might be a better option.

Photo by Shannon Kokoska

This photo serves as another excellent example of how two objects of different sizes can be used to counterbalance each other within the frame. The OUT sign is tall and vertical, while the building is long and horizontal, creating a perfect juxtaposition of size and direction that complement each other. The position of both elements within the frame also provides a proper balance for this photo. In the alternate examples to the right, the photos feel unbalanced. If the building was centered in the frame and placed closer to the sign, a large empty space would be left on the left side of the frame, creating an imbalance. Similarly, if the sign was positioned in the middle of the frame and closer to the building, an empty space on the right side of the frame would make it feel unbalanced.

Radial Balance

Radial balance occurs when the visual elements in the image are arranged around a central point, creating a circular or spiral composition. This type of balance is often seen in nature photography, where the elements are arranged around a focal point like a flower or a tree.

Balance and the Rule of Thirds

Balancing elements in photography becomes important when you frame your shots. If you think about the rule of thirds, you’ll remember that placing the primary subject of your photo off center can help you create a more interesting photo via the concept of  “visual tension”.

While this guideline can effectively create balance and visual interest in a photo, it may also lead to a lot of empty space in the image, making it feel incomplete. In certain cases, such empty space may work well for the image, but if it does not, photographers should try to include other objects in the frame to balance the visual weight of the subject and fill the empty space. This will create a more complete and visually appealing composition.

In the image below, see how the sun balances out the couple in the frame.

Factors that Affect Balance

Several factors can affect balance in photography.  Here are the primary, most common factors that you can utilize in your photography.

Light vs Dark – A small area of white in a photo can be balanced by a larger area of black, and vice versa. Each one does not have to have the exact same size or intensity.

Colors – Colors can affect the balance of an image. Using colors that are opposite on the color wheel creates a sense of balance and harmony. For example, using red and green can create a balanced composition. Using colors that are too similar can create a sense of monotony and imbalance.  A small area of vibrant color can be balanced by a larger area of neutral color. Vibrant colors provide more intensity and therefore large neutral areas can be used to compensate for it.

Lines – Lines can affect the balance of an image. Using diagonal lines creates a sense of tension and movement, while using horizontal or vertical lines creates a sense of stability and balance. Lines can also be used to guide the viewer’s eye through the image, creating a sense of balance and harmony.

Conclusion

Balance is an essential component of creating visually impactful and engaging images that can connect with viewers on a deeper level. Understanding the different types of balance, how to achieve balance, factors that affect balance, and tips for creating balanced compositions is crucial to creating visually pleasing and meaningful images. Incorporating balance in your photography can take your images to the next level and help you communicate your visual language effectively.

The foundational principles of design are the perfect example. These ideas have been used by drawers and painters for hundreds of years. Graphic designers study them and apply them to all of their work. And, whether they realize it or not, photographers use them constantly as well. The design principles not only apply to photography but also marketing communications. For example, the process of creating a successful photography portfolio website would also make use of these design principles.

Understanding the Principles of Design

The seven basic principles include the following:

• Balance
• Space
• Emphasis
• Movement
• Contrast
• Pattern or Repetition
• Unity or Harmony

These principles have been around as long as artists have been translating the real world onto two-dimensional pieces of canvas. Unlike painters, photographers don’t physically create the objects we capture. However, transferring them from the three-dimensional world onto a two-dimensional canvas is the same. And that’s the most challenging aspect of any art form.

Using the 7 Principles of Design in Photography

These seven principles work together and play off one another. None of them are mutually exclusive, and many of them rely on others to become impactful. But taken as a whole, these tenets underlie what will make an image successful.

Tip: Think about these design principles every time you are shooting a new photograph. Slowly, with practice, these principles will become second nature to you.

Balance

Balance is a design element that’s pretty easy for most people to see, even if they don’t think about it outright. An image that is out of balance feels lopsided.  When it comes to balance in photography, there are three types of balance to consider: radial balance, symmetrical balance, and asymmetrical balance.

Items in the photograph have a visual weight to them. And the weight isn’t just about how much space it takes up in the frame or how big something is. The visual weight of an object comes from many factors, including its size, shape, color, and contrast.

If you photographed an image of two identical black balls, how could you make them balance? You could make the image perfectly symmetrical down the center of the frame so that each half of the image had one of the balls. That would create a perfect example of symmetrical balance. This is one reason why symmetry is so pleasing in photography.

But what if one of the balls was farther away from you when you took the photo? It would then appear smaller in the frame, and it would be harder to balance the image. You can’t make it symmetrically balanced, so you need to use a different technique. You can still balance it, but the trick is to change the spacing between the balls. By moving the smaller ball farther away from the larger ball, it will give it more weight. The same technique applies if the balls are of different colors.

You can imagine the parts of your image as being on a teeter-totter in a school playground. Two differently sized kids can make the see-saw balance, but they have to change how far they sit from the fulcrum. Exactly like that, you can move seemingly unbalanced items around the frame to balance the image.

Space

Space is either positive or negative. Positive space is filled with objects, while negative is empty. Many people refer to negative space as white space, but it isn’t necessarily white. It is merely space that does not have an essential element in it, like an empty ocean in the seascape or a blue sky in a landscape. These areas of the photograph are important nonetheless–they help create balance with the busy, positive space areas.

Emphasis

Emphasis is how dominant something is in the photograph. There are lots of tricks to making an object appear more dominant, but the basic idea of emphasis is that what you want to be impactful in your image is seen and understood by the viewers. Designers use tricks like bigger font sizes, or bold, different colored fonts to get points across.

We can use some of the other principles of design in photography to help emphasize what we want. Contrast, space, pattern, movement, and balance can all be used to help you make your subject the most important message that viewers take away.

Movement

In design and photography, movement actually refers to how the viewer looks at the photo when they approach it for the first time. What path does their eye take, and is it the way that the photographer had intended?

One of the best tools is using leading lines to guide viewers around and point out important things. White space and image balance are also essential tools. At their most basic forms, the Rule of Thirds and the Golden Spiral are compositional tools that help photographers get the movement they want within the frame.

Contrast

Contrast comes in two forms for photography. It can be shown with tone, where light areas contrast with dark ones. It can also be shown with colors, where colors opposite one another on the color wheel contrast with one another. For example, blue contrasts with orange.

Contrast is a valuable tool to help photographers emphasize their subjects. If a photo has too much contrast throughout the image, it will tend to confuse the viewer. If there is too little contrast, the audience may not see what they’re supposed to see–nothing is emphasized enough.

Space can also be used to add contrast to an image. Empty white space can contrast with your subject or a group of subjects. The emptiness can add emphasis.

Pattern or Repetition

Any time you have an element repeated throughout an image, it creates a pattern. Patterns are important because the human eye and mind naturally look for them. They draw us in and get us interested in the subject. Patterns are everywhere around us every day, so we are used to seeing them.

Adding patterns into your photography is usually just as simple as noticing them in the first place. Patterns are used extensively in architecture, and everywhere you go with human-made objects, you’re sure to see patterns.

And of course, how you frame your image will affect the pattern greatly. If you use the other design principles to make the pattern more dominant, it will be that much more effective in drawing in the viewer.

Unity or Harmony

The unity of a composition is how well everything goes together. That doesn’t mean that it needs to be bland and dull. It just means that everything belongs and that if an element is out of place, that was what the photographer intended. The perfect example of this in photography is having clutter in the background. If the picture is of the clutter, the clutter is incredible. But if the picture is of a model posing in the room, then the clutter is just junking up the place with distraction.

Conclusion

The seven principles of design in photography are essential to keep in mind, even if they aren’t the first thing you think of when you pull out your camera. With a little practice with each one, and you will quickly see how they can be used to improve not just your photography, but also your branding and marketing communications that would help you grow your photography business.

If there is one overarching characteristic whose importance precedes that of all the characteristics listed in this article, it’s that every image needs to have a purpose. The image should tell a story or capture a unique moment in a meaningful way. If you comb through your portfolio and find yourself wondering why you captured a particular image, then there’s a good chance it’s lacking some or all of the following characteristics.

While it is highly unlikely that a given image (even an amazing photo) will include all of these characteristics, try to combine as many as possible and always keep composition in mind.  Without any further delay, here are 10 Characteristics of Great Photos.

10 Characteristics of Great Photos

1 – A Good Photo Has a Compelling Composition

Most basic photography guides include common compositional concepts like the rule of thirds and rules of symmetry, but what other techniques can we use to create compelling compositions? Some less common techniques involve negative space, leading lines, depth of field, and framing. I mention this rule first because it doesn’t matter which particular style, technique, or rule you follow, so long as every image is thoughtfully composed. There will be times when composition takes a back seat in order to just grab the shot, but it should otherwise be considered whenever possible.

The image above uses one of the most common compositional rules, the rule of thirds, in two ways. First, the dunes occupy two-thirds of the image horizontally, leaving the sun & sky to fill the final third. Secondly, the couple has been placed near the upper left intersection of the horizontal and vertical thirds. Although the rule is commonly practiced, this image exemplifies why it is so effective, especially in this scene from Dubai.

The image above features the dynamic symmetry of continuous spiral, which is often found in both nature and architecture. There are mathematical equations concerning ratios that explain in technical terms why this is pleasing to the eye, but it’s easy enough to notice how the lines effectively lead to the subjects, who’ve been placed in the lower left third of the image. Of course, the dramatic lighting also plays a role in minimizing distractions and drawing the viewer’s focus to the brightest part of the photo.

The photo above features several compositional components, including leading lines, the rule of thirds, and unique framing. The leading lines in the scene draw the viewer’s eye to the couple, who occupy the space framed by the walls on either side of the walkway at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. In addition, the entire composition is framed using thirds, the left third where the couple resides, and the right two-thirds occupied by the wall and leading lines. The couple’s reflection in the wall on the right also adds a sense of (nearly symmetrical) balance to the image.

Framing is key in the image above, as the couple is framed inside of multiple layers of squares. They’ve also been placed at the intersection of the lower left thirds, and lighting has been used to draw focus to the couple.

In the image above, bokeh, which basically refers to the out-of-focus parts of the image, works in tandem with a shallow depth-of-field to separate the subjects from the background (and in the case of this shoot-through, the foreground as well). The subjects occupy a very narrow margin of space that remains in focus, which also happens to reside in the lower-right third of the image.

Here, we have a great showcase for the power of symmetry. The couple has been placed on the apex of the triangular rock formation in the foreground, creating the first layer of symmetry. The mountain range in the background also adds to the symmetry of the image in that it echoes the triangular shape in the foreground while also providing its own symmetrical element.

You can find more information on composition and how to combine compositional elements here.

2 – Display Of Emotion Can Create a Good Photo

As human beings, we are drawn to emotion. Whether we’re laughing or crying, emotion ties each and everyone of us together. Images that capture genuine displays of emotion often prove timeless, and these meaningful moments will always capture the audience’s attention.

The image above was captured during a Vidaai, which marks the end of the Hindu wedding ceremony and the beginning of the bride and groom’s journey as husband and wife. Vidaais can be intensely emotional as the bride’s friends and family wish her farewell (as illustrated above).

On the flipside of sad emotions, genuine happiness also effectively connects viewers to the subjects in images. Usually, the more candid and natural the capture appears (even if it was actually directed), the larger the impact of the image.

3 – Storytelling Makes a Good Photo

Some of the greatest images simply tell a story. Rather than relying on great composition or featuring other unique characteristics, they instead focus on storytelling. Some of the best storytelling images are found in the news and other sources of photojournalism. From the triumphant shout of a newly crowned sports champion to a protester standing in front of a tank in the Tiananmen Square massacre, these images capture and freeze moments in history for everyone to become a witness. Here are a few examples from weddings we’ve photographed.

You can almost feel the anticipation in the air as the bride’s father walks her down the stairs to the ceremony site at Malibu Rocky Oaks. From this unique perspective, you can see the story unfold as the bride’s family, friends, and groom-to-be anxiously await her arrival.

What is bride prep without a little help from the bride’s friends or family? Here, an ensemble cast of bridesmaids admire the bride’s beauty from all angles while helping her with the final touches in preparation for her big day.

For wedding photographers, the first look at the altar offers a perfect opportunity to capture the anticipation and surprise of the bride and groom seeing one another for the first time on their wedding day (depending on whether or not they did a first look earlier in the day). It’s one of the staple moments of the entire day.

4 – Elliptical Storytelling

Most images that tell a story are already worthwhile, but images that tell stories while leaving something to the viewer’s imagination are even better. You’ve probably heard people say that the book is always better than the movie because it allows us to use our imagination to create the most amazing and personalized special effects in our minds. Images that leave something to the imagination tend to do the same thing. They offer just enough information to fuel our imagination as we fill in the missing pieces.

This image was shot at a local airport during an engagement shoot. While we can’t be sure of the subjects’ identities, we’re given enough clues to imagine they’re embarking on a long-distance trip. We don’t know where they’re going or under what circumstances, but that’s also why the image works so well. The limited clues let you imagine the rest.

We’re given very few clues to determine the situation in the above image, but it’s enough to allow for creative speculation. The close proximity between the subjects implies a close relationship, and the style of the shoes and wardrobe combined with the graffitied background lend an urban feel to this untold story.

5 – Iconic Moments Make Good Photos

When capturing an iconic moment, you are capturing a moment created or modeled after meaningful moments in pop culture and/or history. Whether it is a reproduction of a scene from a classic movie or a moment based around something trendy, these shots allow the audience to feel emotionally connected to the moment within the imagery.

While James Dean never rode a motorcycle in his movies, plenty of photos exist of the star as he sits atop an old Triumph, exuding the cool guy, rebel persona he’s often associated with. In the James Dean-inspired shot above, viewers are transported back to the era of cool as we spy a glimpse of a couple in the rearview mirror, just before they ride off into the sunset.

The couples portrait above recalls the golden age of Hollywood through its use of dapper outfits, editorial posing, dramatic lighting, and on-set props (like the retro-style light, which was part of the decor in a room at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel).

6 – A Good Photo Often Captures Unique Moments

What’s an easy way to create an interesting image? Simple, shoot something that is unique to the respective audience. For example, while a Christian wedding may seem quite common in the United States, a traditional Hindu wedding isn’t so common and therefore is automatically more interesting to an audience in the states. Other unique moments might reveal themselves during unusual events or at one-of-a-kind locations.\

During his pre-wedding baraat, a Sikh bridegroom peeks through the strands of his Sehra to take in the sights. While baraats are quite common in Hindu and Sikh weddings, they’re unique to those who’ve never witnessed them. In addition, the ornate and colorful clothing worn by most in attendance make for unique photos.

It’s not often that you get to capture family portrait framed under a spectacular fireworks display. The image above took place outside the venue during a wedding reception and used a backlight to separate the family from the background.

You can find more tips on how to capture portraits under fireworks here.

The image above was captured at sunset just after the clouds began to clear at Malibu Rocky Oaks. By using off-camera flash to highlight the couple, we were able to capture a unique couples portrait in an environment whose look and lighting changed by the minute.

You can see how we captured the image above here.

7 – Juxtaposed/Contrasting Concepts

Some of the most interesting images juxtapose (compare) completely contrasting objects and concepts. Examples of this might include a beautiful bride in a completely white and flowing wedding dress shot in front of a background littered with trash and graffiti, thus juxtaposing beauty and purity with ugly and uncleanliness. Or perhaps a homeless person downtown sitting with all of his belongings with a glowing Merryl Lynch sign in the background, contrasting utter poverty with a symbol of wealth and power. See the images below for more examples.

You might be wondering what’s going on in this image. We’re looking out from a makeshift shanty in downtown Los Angeles. This might not be the first place one would imagine using as a backdrop for an engagement portrait, but it aligns with the urban engagement theme and presents a unique setting for lighting and framing the couple.

The image above was shot at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center against a graffiti-esque wall mural. The dapper wardrobes of the bride and groom in this editorial style shot contrasts well against the painted background.

8 – Unique Lighting and Color Can Make a Good Photo

Lighting and color is really where a lot of great images start. Great lighting can turn a mundane scene into an amazingly colorful scene full of texture and life. In nature, these types of scenes happen all the time during sunrise and sunset, and while we can’t control the lighting of those fleeting moments, if you happen to be in the right place at the right time, you just may be able to capture it (see point number six above). However, we can control and create unique lighting on our own with the proper knowledge using off camera lighting, flashes and more.

The image above was created using a whip pan technique, which can be used to add dynamic motion with shutter drags (long exposures). While the backdrop in this image was already appealing, the added light technique makes this portrait standout from others captured in this same location.

By lowering the ambient exposure in-camera and illuminating the couple with off-camera flash, we were able to capture this unique couples portrait under the beautiful Arizona sky.

Silhouettes are backlit images that are easy to capture and can help you create a good photo. In the image above, captured in the dunes outside of Dubai, we placed the subjects directly in front of the setting sun and lowered our exposure to reveal the outline of the couple riding a camel across the sand. White balance also plays an important role in this image as it adds a desert feel with the bright orange sky.

9 – Attention To Detail

In our time and society where everything is about speed and efficiency, images that capture overlooked detail can be enough to make someone stop to smell the roses. While pictures of unique and unseen detail is amazing and breathtaking, you can often get the same reaction out of your audience by simply shooting the detail in everyday life.

This detail image of a bride’s shoes was captured on a hotel tabletop during a wedding in Huntington Beach. The dramatic lighting and reflective surface elevate this photo to a product shot you might expect to see in an ad for the shoes.

While they’re often used to photograph flowers and insects, macro lenses open up a world of possibilities for photographing all kinds of tiny objects, including wedding rings (as seen in the image above). The best part is, aside from purchasing a macro lens, you can use inexpensive lighting to get your desired look.

In the image above, an Indian bride takes a brief pause before heading out to the ceremony site. The ornate dress and accessories, as well as the henna on the bride’s hands and arms, are packed with detail and deserving of a closer look.  A good photo is sometimes one that’s zoomed in tight on the details.

For more information on how to photograph details like those featured above, see our Photographing the Groom and Photographing the Bride wedding workshops.

10 – Unique Perspective

Most of us live our lives viewing the world with relatively the same perspective. This is what makes unique perspectives so interesting to the audience. Instead of shooting a child from an adult’s perspective, why not get down low and shoot them from the child’s perspective. Very low bottom-up and higher top-down can often create a much more unique and interesting image.

This image was shot during an event as some of the kids were having a little party of their own. What better way to shoot kids, then to shoot it from their perspective. You can imagine how this shot wouldn’t be nearly as special were it shot from a standing (grown up) perspective.

No drone was needed for this overhead photo of a bride and groom dancing in the rotunda at the Monarch Beach Resort. Whether you have to use a drone, balcony, or even an extended monopod, capturing your image from a higher perspective can elevate your image and help you create a good photo.

The image above was shot from a low angle to capture this unique perspective and show the beautiful background above the couple. Remember that backgrounds can be above or below you!

In this portrait taken at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, we’ve used a wide aperture panoramic stitching technique called the Brenizer Method to showcase the couple. Without using this technique, it would be difficult to capture this large of a frame with such shallow depth of field.

We discuss this technique more in-depth in our Panoramic Stitching Workshop.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this article! If so, please share this article to show us your love! Also, please add your additional ideas on creating great images in the comments below.

Flowers provide a unique range of colors, tone, texture, and other attributes that make them perfect subjects. In fact, it is in the details of these attributes that we find ourselves inspired. To prove it, we’ve curated a collection of inspirational macro flower photos that we’d like to share with you. For those interested in taking a more hands-on approach, we’ve also put together a list of tips and the gear you’ll need to practice macro flower photography.  Here’s what we’ll cover in this article:

• Macro Flower Photography Gear
• Tips for Optimal Macro Flower Photography
• Macro Flower Picture Inspiration

The Gear You’ll Need for Macro Flower Photography

While you can’t overstate the importance of education when it comes to exploring new territory, there’s also something to be said about the gear you use on your journey, especially when it comes to macro photography. A number of point-and-shoot cameras offer a macro “mode,” which can get the job done, but I’d like to encourage you to explore other modes (such as aperture priority or manual mode) as they’ll give you more creative control along the way. This might require an upgrade in gear, but use what you have available until you’re ready to take the next step.

Camera (DSLR or Mirrorless) for Macro Flower Photos

Most DSLR or newer mirrorless cameras offer more creative control in terms of exposure, stability, file type, and more. Here are a few great, hi-res options from Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Fujifilm.

Macro Lens Choice for Flowers

First, know that you can capture macro-style photos without a macro lens, using distance or other techniques. For example, you might photograph a flower from a close distance with a longer distance between the flower and the background in order to achieve a shallower depth of field; however, a dedicated macro lens or extension tube will simplify the process and offer more creative options. The focal length of macro lenses varies, but the wider the angle, the closer you’ll have to get to the flower. 100mm (or its equivalent if you’re using a crop sensor camera) is a good go-to focal length. Consider some of these lens options that we’ve reviewed at SLR Lounge:

• Canon RF 100mm f/2.8 L Macro IS Lens
• Nikon Z MC 50mm f/2.8 Macro Lens
• Sigma 70mm f2.8 DG Macro ART Lens
• Fuji Fujinon XF 60mm f/2.4 R Macro Lens

Tripod

A tripod is handy but not absolutely necessary. A tripod will give you the ability to capture sharp images at lower shutter speeds. However, if your scene has plenty of light, then you may not need one.

When shooting close up, motion becomes more exaggerated. Even with image stabilization in the camera and lens, you still risk camera shake, and the last thing you want to do is spend any significant amount of time setting up a shot only to have it come out blurry and destined for the digital trash bin. You can help eliminate (or at least minimize) camera shake by placing your camera on a quality, sturdy tripod.

Lighting

Natural light can work, but a ring light or off-camera flash will come in handy when ambient lighting is less than desirable. You will need to modify the lighting.

Spray Bottle

The unsung hero of macro photography, spray bottles work well for adding a touch of mist to flowers for additional texture.  Combined with angled light, the water droplets created from the spray bottle add texture and interest to a macro flower image.

Tips for Shooting Macro Flower Photography

Focus on Composition

Whether you’re photographing buildings, people, or flowers, you should begin setting up your shot with an emphasis on composition.

For macro flower photography, consider compositional theories like the rule of thirds, depth of field, balance, symmetry, leading lines and other compositional tools to help you create a visually compelling composition.

Ensure You Have a Focal Point

Focus is always important, but it’s especially important in this genre. Use manual or autofocus to pinpoint the exact area of the flower you want to highlight. If the depth of field is too shallow, for example, make adjustments (via stopping down the aperture or by increasing your distance from the flower) until you can see in detail the areas of the flower you want in focus.

Find Unique Angles & Perspectives

Storytelling is key in photography, even when photographing flowers. Capture wide, medium, and tight angles so that you can put together cohesive sequences (perhaps in a blog, social media post, or album). Shoot each of these angles from a different perspective (top-down over the flower, side angle, or underneath the flower, looking up toward the sky) to add visual interest.

Shoot at the Ideal Times

Early morning or late afternoon (perhaps golden hour) sessions work best for getting softer, more pleasant light. Try to avoid the harsh, midday sunshine, if possible; otherwise, look for shade or use a reflector or scrim to diffuse and soften the light falling onto the flower(s). If using natural light, position yourself so that the natural light creates subtle directional light when it falls across the flower. Otherwise, position your flashes (and your camera) in a way that allows you to create directional light.

Use the Right Camera Settings

• Use Depth of Field with Intention – It’s really quite simple. Opt for a shallow depth of field (f/1.2-f/4) if you want to focus on key elements and blur out the rest of the flower’s surface; otherwise, dial your aperture in to f/11 and up to capture a broader range of detail in the image.
• Use a High Shutter Speed – Unless you’re indoors with absolutely no breeze, there’s a good chance the flowers you are photographing are going to blow in the wind and/or move a bit. Along with a tripod, you can dial in your shutter speed to a faster setting (1/200 or faster) to help freeze the action and eliminate camera shake.
• Use a Low ISOs – To maximize image quality, photograph your macro flower photography at low ISOs. Some cameras have better low light performance than others, but in general, try to keep your ISOs at 800 and below.

Mind Your Backdrops

Unlike other genres of photography, macro photography makes it very easy to control the background, especially for those super tight closeup shots. The focus typically falls on the shallower side while backgrounds blur into oblivion.  According to Photography-raw.com, “In a macro image, especially concerning an insect, unless you go for stacking, there will be large unfocused parts.”

Please note, however, that you should still be mindful of any distracting elements in the background and opt for a clean backdrop. You can even use a piece of paper or some other surface of your choosing to create a unique backdrop.

Shoot in RAW

Shoot in RAW (rather than jpeg) to allow for more dynamic edits. For more information about the benefits of shooting in RAW, see our article on RAW vs JPEG.

Macro Flower Photography Inspiration

Without further ado, let’s jump into a collection of inspirational macro flower photography portraits, featuring talented and award-winning artists from around the world.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this collection of inspirational macro flower photography portraits. The list is not exhaustive, of course, but hopefully serves as a starting point to encourage you to further explore this unique genre of photography.

Water reflection photography uses water to mirror part of the frame and create an artistic, abstract photo. Don’t worry, it’s not complicated, and you can use this technique for a number of purposes, from concealing distracting elements in a scene to adding balance and symmetry to an image, or even revealing elements you wouldn’t otherwise see (such as overhead lights, treetops, etc.) without shooting on a wide angle lens.

After you master this technique, you’ll discover the results far outweigh the effort. Let’s get started.

Shoot in Manual Mode

Image by Rey Benasfre

In Auto Mode, cameras typically underexpose the reflected (or mirror image) area, as it usually registers as one of the darker areas in the frame. Instead, set your camera to Manual Mode and base your exposure on the darker areas within the reflection.

The exception here would be capturing water reflection photography with your smartphone camera. With a smartphone, you can usually select the reflected area and get a decent exposure.

Understand The Effect of water movement

When water is perfectly still, it creates a sharp, detailed reflection, almost like a mirror, capturing the subjects with remarkable clarity. In completely calm conditions, the reflection in clear water can be so precise that it mirrors every detail. However, even the slightest ripple caused by a gentle breeze can disrupt this effect, blurring the reflection and diminishing the detail. The more the water moves, the less defined the reflection becomes.

Slow Your Shutter Speed for Artistic Effect

Use a slow shutter speed (also known as shutter drag) to capture a smooth reflection, especially in choppy (ripply) water. Keep in mind, however, that the slower your shutter speed, the less sharp your reflection will be, unless of course the water is perfectly still. To compensate, you can stop down your aperture, which we’ll cover in the next tip.

If you decide to significantly slow your shutter speed, you’ll want to use a tripod to minimize camera shake.

Use Fast Shutter and/or Narrow Aperture for Sharper Reflections

Image by Lin and Jirsa

A fast shutter speed and narrow aperture (f/8-f/22) will give you the best chance of capturing a sharp water reflection photograph. These settings are ideal if your goal includes capturing as much detail as possible in the reflection. It also helps to shoot in calm conditions for the water.

Avoid Midday Sun Reflections

Ideally, you should aim for a sunrise session for calmer waters and favorable lighting, or else try to capture your images an hour or two before sunset. While it IS possible to take amazing photos under the midday sun (despite the popular notion to avoid shooting at noon because of harsh shadows and so on), having the sun directly overhead increases your chances of getting too much sun glare in the shot. This brings us to our next two tips.

Use a Polarizing Filter (or ND Filter) to Reduce Glare

Polarizing filters (or ND filters) will allow you to slow your shutter speed under brighter lighting conditions; this can prove especially helpful if the water you’re using for reflection is choppy (as we discussed earlier). These filters also help reduce the amount of glare in the reflection, which typically translates to a sharper image.

Find the “Right” Angle (Get Low!)

With water reflection photography, finding and shooting from the right angle is key. When shooting a landscape image, for example, photographers generally try to create as much symmetry as possible and perfectly mirror the top and bottom portions of the frame.

On the other hand, you may be using the reflection to highlight a couple standing off in the distance, which would require you to get lower and closer to the water source in order to find the couple in the reflection.

Flip (and Crop) the Images to Create Abstract Art

Framing your subject in a water reflection can make for interesting, abstract art, especially if you flip the image. Doing so completely changes the viewer’s perspective and understanding of what they’re seeing. The area around the reflection typically falls out of focus, and with the orientation of the image reversed, even recognizable objects can look unusual. It’s worth noting that ripply water works well for distorting the subject and maximizing the abstract effect, especially if you crop the frame and minimize the context clues that viewers might get from other areas of the image.

Shoot Wide and Tight for Unique Results

Image by Henington Studios

The focal length you use can have a great impact on the final image. Experiment with different focal lengths to see how they affect your photo and the subjects in it. As we mentioned in the previous tip, zooming in or cropping the image can add an abstract quality, while a wide angle of view reveals more of the environment and elicits a different reaction to the scene.

No Water? No Problem!

You don’t need large bodies of water to create amazing water reflection photographs. Puddles are sufficient and more calm than large bodies of water, and you can even find puddles at the beach. Moreover, you really don’t need water to capture a worthwhile selection photo. Water is only one of many reflective surfaces. You can also use your smartphone, mirrors, table tops, shiny floors, windows, and more to achieve a similar effect.

Image by Marissa Joy Daly

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this article with 10 water reflection photography tips. Hopefully, the next time you head out with your camera (or even your smartphone), you can incorporate some theses techniques into your shoot and walk away with photos you can be proud of.

Video for Using Lighting for Better Composition in Any Portrait

Today’s compositional trick is as simple as this: Place your subjects in the brightest area of the frame. Here are the steps we took to use this trick to full effect and create a solid portrait.

Step 1. Look at the Lighting when Scouting a Scene

When you’re walking through a location and scouting for the perfect scene, consider how light will affect your composition. As we scouted our location for this tutorial, I noticed in one particular spot how the sunlight reflected off the building in the background and created a nice graduation of brightness in the area, perfect for a portrait. The location also created a natural backlight for the couple after I placed them into the scene. Even though we were shooting at noon, the buildings served as natural reflective objects to aid creating directional light for our portrait.

[Related Reading: 6 Techniques to Create Great Images Anywhere]

Step 2. Use Objects in the Scene to Add Foreground and Help Frame The Image

In this particular location, I was able to use the tree in the foreground to frame the couple and help separate the light and dark areas of the frame, keeping the couple positioned in the brightest area. Not every location will offer such objects, but I recommend looking for them and using them if possible when scouting for spots.

Step 3. Dial In Your Exposure

Only after I’ve chosen a location and placed my couple do I pick up my camera to dial in the settings and capture the portrait. When I’m ready to get the shot, the first thing I do is dial in my exposure. Using the histogram in live view mode also helps retain an adequate amount of shadows and highlights (depending on your preference) when dialing in your exposure. Also, for this portrait, I chose to shoot at an aperture of f/2.8 (as opposed to a wide open aperture) to retain more detail in the scene and add extra sharpness to the  surrounding objects.

Step 4. Pose Your Subjects

For more information on posing, be sure to check out our Official Posing Guide with tips, cues, and more. For this image, I directed the couple into a closed pose (one of our five foundation poses) to keep them close together and take advantage of their profiles. This pose works especially well for couples in engagement and wedding portraits.

[Related Reading: Complete Guide to Engagement Photography – 10 Tips & Tricks for Better Photos]

Step 5. Edit to Taste

To complete the look, we chose the “Back lit” preset from our new Visual Flow Preset system. You can see in the before and after image above how we accentuated the couple by placing them in the brightest area in the frame. The preset further highlighted the contrast between the light and dark areas.

We hope you enjoyed this video and lesson, which is part of our new Natural Light Photography Workshop (release date coming soon). In this forthcoming workshop, we’ll visit several locations and cover posing, positioning, angles and more to show you how to you can use whatever camera gear you have with you to capture incredible portraits.

Thank you to our models Maury and Courtney. For more tutorials and lessons on composition and other photography fundamentals, check out our Photography Fundamentals Training System!

In this video, we’ll discuss one simple thing to do before pressing your shutter to help you create more compelling photography.

We’ve all heard of common compositional techniques like the rule of thirds, perfect symmetry, leading lines and more. While each of these has their time and place, I’m here to share with you a simple trick to immediately begin creating more powerful imagery: it’s as simple as combining two or more compositional techniques in each photograph. Let me give you a few examples

I aimed for perfect symmetry while featuring shapes within the scene. To do this, I placed the couple on the rock formation and cropped it so it looked like a triangle at the bottom center of the frame. I moved the camera to ensure the background mountain was the larger triangle that sort of framed the entire composition, while the height of the camera made sure the road acted like a diagonal leading directly into the subject. We’re also using a 4th compositional rule here which is to place our subjects in the highlights, or simply make them the brightest part of the image, which we did by adding flash.

For this next image, I placed my bride in the brightest part of the composition. Second, I stood back and used a foreground element to add depth to the scene by shooting through that door which we’re also using to frame our subject, finally, I have the leading lines from the door and its frame leading into the subject.

In this image, I’ve placed my subjects again in the brightest part of the scene framed right over the road. Standing back, I shot through the trees to create a natural frame around the couple, while also allowing the leaves to act as negative space for the photograph. Finally, I added motion to the image by asking him to give her a twirl to add a sense of action and movement to the image.

In this image, we have 6 or 7 different compositional elements at play here. First, our subject is placed in the center third of the frame and we are incorporating a symmetrical composition with the buildings framing her on each side. In addition to framing our subject, the leading lines from the buildings pull us directly into our primary subject. We took a low position to place our models head and torso over the brightest area of the background sky, on top of that, we’ve positioned her in a place where the natural light in the scene is making her the brightest part of the frame, I then instructed her to take a wide positioned stance to give her a sense of strength over the frame. We also planned the wardrobe to match the colors and tone that we’d typically find in Downtown San Juan Puerto Rico, so all of our colors are harmonious. On top of that, we used Visual Flow Modern Pack Preset to further pull all of our tones into one cohesive set of warm pastel colors.

We hope you enjoyed this video and lesson on composition photography. Catch our next episode of Mastering Your Craft on Adorama’s YouTube channel next Friday!