WARM/COOL TONES

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.

Yellow and Blue are opposites on the photographer's color wheel. I often try to locate images that have a mix of these two colors, similar to the attached sample image of Buda Castle. While not specifically Yellow and Blue, warm tones (yellow cast) are displayed by the interior castle lights, and the cool tones (blue cast) are displayed by the immediate frontal exterior. When the sun has set, building exteriors become cool-toned, while interiors usually maintain a warm toned, incandescent look.

Architectural photographers make use of this light color mixture frequently. You can do it too, by using a tripod with a cable or remote release. Take the photo after sunset, when the ambient sky light illuminating the building's exterior is roughly the same brightness as the interior light bulbs.

Thanks to Sue Furlong who clicked the shutter for me on this picture. Being a photographer there are very few pictures of myself, so I decided to get a photo taken in Budapest at this wonderful castle cafe. The view in the background is of the Parliament Building on the Pest side of the river.

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Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com

Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com

COMPOSITIONAL FRAMING

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.

Regardless of where you travel to, if you have a camera in hand there will usually be an interesting landmark or building to photograph. As you already know, the subject matter that is in front of you has already been photographed ad nauseam. To set your photo apart from all the millions of other similar images, try a simple framing technique where the main subject is encased within a secondary point of interest. In the case of this image, my goal was to photograph the Budapest parliament building, but to have the image framed by a secondary subject, the famous Buda Castle.

There are many examples of this technique throughout the history of photography, and the one that stood out for me the most was a snapshot that an acquaintance took of the Taj Mahal in India. There are countless Taj Mahal photographs in existence, but this one was framed within a minaret shaped archway or gate, and the effect was very dramatic.

If you are a nature photographer, you no doubt have already employed framing devices in your images. An often-used example is autumn tree branches surrounding your main subject. Outdoor portrait photographers often use similar techniques to add drama to their images.

Experiment with different angles, and try shooting your main subject through another subject. It may just be the extra touch that takes an ordinary photo to something mysterious and compelling.

Mark's photographic prints for your wall can be purchased at www.markhemmings.com

Mark can be hired as a photographer or filmmaker via www.hemmingshouse.com