GRAPHIC IMAGES

Dear reader, if this entry or my other blog entries don't answer your specific photography questions, you can call me on the phone anytime for advice by clicking here.

If you have ever heard of the term "graphic image" applied to a photograph, you are probably looking at an image that is bold, minimal, possibly abstract, and strong in its compositional framing. This type of image usually doesn't tell a story as it is more for attention grabbing; because of these photos are often well suited for advertising photography.

When deciding on a certain subject matter and crop, look for bold colors, or high contrast if the image is black and white. Often symmetrical compositions work well, or the utilization of geometric shapes such as triangles, squares, and circles.

To make your image more marketable, allow for a lot of empty space for the addition of text. My example above of a Lunenburg building has plenty of empty space, thus making it a good choice for a magazine cover shot. Speaking off magazines, remember that vertical compositions are sometimes preferred . . . make sure you take two photos of everything, one horizontal and one vertical. You will then have the choice if an editor needs a few different options.

Email this Blog to a friend! To see more photographs by Mark Hemmings, click here