Photo Tip: Use Fuzzy Logic for Sharper Compositons

It’s pretty much an automatic reflex with most photographers to press the shutter button halfway to activate the autofocus as soon as they put their eye to the viewfinder. And why not, what’s the value of looking at a blurry image? Well, there’s a lot of value I think. In fact, I would say that at this point I do the majority of my composing looking at an out of focus image. As counterintuitive as it might seem this practice really helps me ‘see’ compositions much more clearly. When you look at a blurry image all you can really make out are the major shapes and tones in the frame, which are exactly the elements you want to work with when composing a picture.This technique confounds your left brain’s pesky tendency to suck you into the details and lose sight of the big picture.

In my next post I’ll be writing in depth about the workings of our left and right brain hemispheres. Suffice it to say for now that our left-brain is in love with details, instantly naming and categorizing everything it ‘sees’. Unfortunately, this gets in the way of actually seeing the things we are looking at. You need to be in right brain mode when composing images and looking at a fuzzy scene helps you make that switch. That’s because an out of focus image makes no sense to the left brain – it can’t deal with it. It can’t name its components, there’s nothing to categorize. I like to imagine that the left brain looks at the blurry picture, throws up its hands and walks away.

So next time you are composing a shot, keep your finger off that shutter button. You may even have to manually throw the image more out of focus. Then look at the amorphous shapes and tones in your frame and start making adjustments– there are no rules for this, you just have to try things until it starts to feel right. I know that’s really vague but all I can say is that a good composition feels pleasing visually and balanced while a poor composition does not. Using a tripod is a huge help when you are working this way because it allows you to make small adjustments, then evaluate, then adjust until it ‘works’.

This method is really a corollary to my previous photo tip about looking at small images when shooting or editing to get a better sense of the overall composition, what I call the ‘shape’ of the picture. It’sjust another way of tricking the left brain into stepping aside and letting the right brain do its thing.

I’d love to know what you think about this photo tip. If you found it helpful, you can subscribe to future tips & posts about the Art of Seeing on my homepage.

Good shooting,

-Ken

The Price of Happiness? About $65.

The best bargains on the planet aren't found on Groupon or Yelp. They are at your local animal shelter or Humane Society facility. Here in Santa Barbara it costs about $65 to adopt a dog or cat which includes spaying/neutering, vaccinations and even some basic obedience training (for dogs). That's a very small price to pay for years of happiness, devotion and unconditional love. Right now Jake, Addy, Maggie, Toby and nearly 100 other lovable pooches are waiting at the Santa Barbara Humane Society to bring immeasurable joy and fulfillment into your life. I started volunteering at the SBHS a few months back, taking photos of some of the dogs up for adoption. Unfortunately since then the numbers have gone the wrong way and there are now more dogs than ever available for adoption.  Recently we took some of the pictures and created a large  (5' X 12') banner  which will hang at the Goleta branch library for the month of August to raise awareness of the situation. Ready to find your new best friend? Here is a gallery of photos I've taken for the shelter or go the the SBHS website to see all of the dogs and cats currently available. If you're not in the neighborhood, try Petfinder.com to locate animals or shelters in your area. Now, bargain hunting may not be the right reason to visit an animal shelter but I guarantee you this: adopting a dog or cat will be the best deal you make in this life.

New Website, New Work

Cachuma Sunrise

Ch-ch-ch-changes. David Bowie's classic tune feels like the theme song to my life lately.  No more gallery (for now). Lot's more photo workshops and traveling. And writing. Something I've been meaning to do more of for a long time. Oh, did I mention that I've relocated to Santa Barbara? Steamboat Springs was an incredible chapter in my life and I will miss so many things about it, most of all the friends I leave behind. But sunny SB seems to be calling my name now and I'm heeding the siren's song. Steamboat to Santa Barbara. I know. Don't cry for me, Argentina.

Maybe the most obvious outward sign of my new direction is this new website. What do you think? "Blog-centric" is the term I like best. That's right, from now on I'm going to be a blogging, twittering, facebooking, flickring fool. I can't believe I just said that. But seriously, folks...  Almost as much as photography itself, I've been fascinated with the whole artistic creative process. How does it work? Can we work it? And after twenty-some years of chasing the Muse, I feel like I have some things to say about her wily ways. Hence the blog-centric  website. I want to share my insights but I also hope to start a discussion about the nature of art and creativity particularly as it applies to photography. I think we all stand to benefit and I hope you will join me.

And last but not least, the purpose of all this nonsense, new photos! I hiked the Tahoe Rim Trail last summer with a group from the Tahoe Rim Trail Association as part of their Annual Thru Hike. Backpacking 165 miles in 15 days . Baby steps in the thru hiking world but  plenty of challenge for me. I can describe it in two words. Gruelling. Rewarding. Here are a few of my favorite images from the trip.

I made another trip to Cambodia in preparation for a photo workshop that I am leading there next year.

Revisiting Angkor Wat and the surrounding temples was no less mind blowing than the first time, but I also got to explore quite a bit more of the country including the tranquil coastline. Click here to see the photos.

The mountains and valleys surrounding Santa Barbara are always gorgeous in Spring but this year was especially vibrant as a result of this Winter's epic rainfalls. I spent quite a bit of time in the Santa Ynez valley just north of Santa Barbara. Here are a few of my favorite images.

I've been quiet, but I've been busy.

Angkor Wat & Beyond - Photography Workshop & Tour

Faces of Bayon

 A thousand years ago the god-kings of the ancient Khmer empire organized stupendous feats of architectural engineering. Enormous reservoirs measured in miles and equally impressive monuments in stone honoring themselves and the mythical deities they worshipped. We know these structures  today as the Temples of Angkor in the country of Cambodia and they remain simply mind blowing in their immensity and complexity. Many are amazingly well preserved, others only partially reclaimed from centuries of jungle growth. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the centerpiece of an 8 day photography workshop I will be leading in January 2012 entitled Angkor Wat & Beyond. As the title suggests, temple ruins are but one of the highlights of this amazing adventure. Cambodia is a photographer's paradise from lush jungles, abundant wildlife and unique people Interested? Get more details in the Workshops section of this site or you can find additional images in my Cambodia photo gallery

I Hope He's Ugly

Steve Coleman's Website

If Steve Coleman is good looking, then life just isn't fair. Amazing photographer, inspiring writer, accomplished designer. When they were passing out talent, this guy didn't just come back for seconds, he stole the whole damn buffet. See for yourself. To top it off, he doesn't do it for the money (the photography, that is). It's purely his passion, his gift to the world. Now that's just plain disgusting. I actually met Steve when he dropped into my gallery in Steamboat Springs, CO. He was kind enough to drop me a complimentary note afterwards (a nice guy too, arrgh). Out of curiosity, I clicked the link to his website. Wow. His stunning images and the beautiful understated design of the site blew me away. Recently I visited his site again and clicked the link to his blog. His latest post on "Life & the Business of Photography" really hit home for me. And you MUST read "my thoughts and feelings about photography and life". I think my favorite quote from Steve is "I'm in awe of how beautiful the world is, which is why I love to photograph it." Says it all, in my book. O.K., I'm officially stealing that one. Oh, and "Close your eyes...What do you see?" How artfully said and he's got lots more. So much talent. Please, tell me he's ugly. But he's an Aussie, what are the chances? Well, maybe he kicks dogs... One can hope.

The Art of Seeing Weekend Workshop

Winter Fenceline

2010 Aug 28 - 29  - The Art of Seeing Weekend Workshop- How can I improve my photography is a question I often hear.  The short answer is practice, practice, practice. But practice what exactly and how? What is "The Art of Seeing"? Can I develop my photographic eye or is it a talent you are just born with (or without)? These are the questions we will tackle in this intensive two day workshop. Through a combination of lectures and field sessions, I will demonstrate that everyone can learn to see 'correctly' and practicing the art of seeing is the surest path to improving your photography. Cost $350. Click here for more details and registration form

New Image Naming Contest

Untitled Aspen

Okay, we're doing it again. Come up with the winning name for this untitled new release and win a matted 12X18 print of this image. You can see the winning entries for previous contests in the posts below. Click the photo to see a larger version on my website or go to www.kenleephoto.com and select Galleries>Nature/FineArt>New Releases. Select the thumbnail and click Zoom to see an enlarged version. To enter, click here or go to my website and select Name This Image Contest. Deadline is March 10. Good luck!

Photo Tip: Look at Small Images to See the Big Picture

I got a new camera recently that has a beautiful large high resolution LCD screen for previewing images. I see much more detail in this new display than the one in my old camera, but in some ways I miss the "postage stamp" size screen of my previous system. That's because looking at a small image often helps you better see the overall composition of a photograph. Since you can't see much detail, what you are left with is the overall 'shape' of the picture. What I mean is that the pattern of highlights & shadows, dominant colors, and shapes becomes much more obvious when you look at smaller versions of images. You can use this fact to fine tune your compositions in the field. Simply shoot one frame and bring up the image on your camera's screen (this works best when using a tripod). Now try to evaluate the composition from a global perspective. Trust your first impressions. Does the composition feel balanced? Is there a clear subject or does it get lost against the background? Are there any unintentionally distracting bright areas in the frame? If you are having a hard time seeing the overall composition, try stepping back from the screen or bring up the histogram display which further shrinks the size of your image on screen.

Looking at small images is also particularly useful when you are trying to select your best images from a photoshoot. When I was shooting film, I would scan the slide pages on a lightbox before breaking out the loupe. Now that most of us have gone digital, I suggest using your software to view your images as 'thumbnails' during the initial edits.

View fullsize

The pictures that jump out at you at this size will almost always be your strongest compositions. You can also use a variation of this technique when you are working on individual images. It's easy to lose the forest for the trees after spending some time burning, dodging, color correcting and making contrast adjustments. To regain perspective, try shrinking the image on screen and stepping away from the monitor. Better yet, take a break and leave the room. When you return, quickly glance at the screen. Your initial impression will give you a good idea if you are on the right path or if you took a wrong turn somewhere.

Best of Nature

Humphrey's Basin at Dusk

Winter Fenceline

Two of my images, "Winter Fenceline" and "Humphrey's Basin at Dusk" were chosen to be included in theBest of Nature exhibition at the San Diego Natural History Museum. A total of 72 images were selected from over 2300 entries for this exhibit. The exhibit will be on display at the museum from June 27th thru Sept 13 this year. Click here for more information.

New Image Naming Contest

New Release

Our last contest was so successful, we are doing it again. Simply come up with a title for this new release and if your entry is selected you will win a matted limited edition print of this image. Click the photo to see a larger version on my website or go to www.kenleephoto.com and select Galleries>Nature/FineArt>New Releases. Select the thumbnail and click Zoom to see an enlarged version. Use the form on the Contact page to send in your entry or just send us an email with your title. Deadline is May 15. Good luck!

1st Image Naming Contest winner selected

Forever Together

Congratulations to Jim Lawler of Worthington, OH for submitting the winning entry in our first Image Naming Contest. Jim's title, "Forever Together", really made me see this image in a new light. -Ken

Photo Tip: Zoom in for Stronger Compositions

Everyone has experienced the disappointment of photos that just don't do justice to the beauty and drama of the scene they remember. Usually, this gets blamed on not having a good enough camera. More times than not, however, the culprit is a composition that lacks focus. Not blurry/sharp focus, but focus in terms of having a clear subject. Faced with photographing a beautiful scene, most people automatically try to "get it all in" one picture. This usually means physically backing up or zooming out with the lens. And when they run out of room, people lean back to try to get that extra tree, mountain, river, whatever in the shot. Unfortunately, in most cases, this is exactly the opposite of what you should be doing. The next time you you find yourself backing up, ask yourself, "what is the subject of this picture?" "What is the really interesting thing about this scene and what can I leave out?" Keep moving forward or zooming in, eliminating (cropping out) everything that is not essential to your composition. Then check all the edges and corners of your frame and see if you can crop out anything else. If you can't resist, shoot one frame with a 'loose' composition and another with the tighter composition. I'll bet you'll agree that the tighter composition almost always makes the stronger image.