Guide
Make real works of art with these puzzles
by Stefanie Lechthaler
Quick photo tip: Seek proximity, part 2
15.10.2018
Translation: machine translated
Spatial depth is just one of the reasons to get as close to the subject as possible. For me, the most important reason is that you are much more likely to start experimenting with composition and perspective.
"If your pictures aren't good enough, you weren't close enough." Photojournalist Robert Capa said this to anyone and everyone until he went down in history and his saying became the golden rule of photography. But is it true?
Dominik explained in the first part of "Get close" why it's not the same whether you zoom in with a telephoto lens or whether you're up close yourself. When zooming in, the distances seem smaller, the spatial arrangement is different and so is the depth of field.
But that's not the only reason why getting up close is a great tip. As a war reporter, Robert Capa was naturally interested in getting where most people wouldn't dare to go. He paid for this attitude with his life when he stepped on a landmine in 1954. We less courageous people don't have to seek proximity to war, because the rules of image composition also apply to harmless subjects.
Beginners in particular tend to pack as much as possible into the picture. This leads to confusing images without a clear point of orientation. And it's completely unnecessary, because you can take several pictures. So it's better to take several that show just one detail than one overall picture. You can also draw attention to things that a casual observer would have missed.
A building on the Limmat, Viventa technical college. Interesting roof. First reflex: get the whole building on it if possible.
If the roof is interesting, why not just capture the roof?
Now that I'm close, I can also quickly try out the opposite side.
Closer: The ping-pong tables under the roof
Even closer: The net of the ping pong table.
In my experience, the desire to experiment increases greatly when you get close. Cut-outs simplify the geometry in the picture. This allows you to come up with unusual ideas. What's more, you can only experiment with perspective when you're up close. Otherwise you would have to move extremely far away.
I am always mentally closer when I move towards the motifs. More engaged, in the thick of it instead of just being there. It probably happens to you too. Give it a try (again)!
David Lee
Senior Editor
David.Lee@digitecgalaxus.chMy interest in IT and writing landed me in tech journalism early on (2000). I want to know how we can use technology without being used. Outside of the office, I’m a keen musician who makes up for lacking talent with excessive enthusiasm.
