More than 100 million gathered at Maha Kumbh Mela in India to take a dip in the river Ganges | GulfNews.com

More than 100 million gathered at Maha Kumbh Mela in India to take a dip in the river Ganges | GulfNews.com

Phewa Lake. Nepal

Freezing a moment for eternity.

A tense face is the most natural reaction when people see someone clicking their photograph. And such an expression, no matter how natural it may be, is considered unnatural and less spontaneous, resulting in a disappointing end product.

Imagine a mason nailing a beam and looking at the camera at the same time. Isn’t it unrealistic? The easier option is to take the picture without him noticing. But the downside of such an attempt is that the photographer may be invading privacy and in some countries this may even be illegal.

So the best option for a photographer is to blend one’s self with the subject. Spend time with the subject, earn his or her confidence and then start clicking some of those “obvious”, “posed” shots. After the initial distraction created by your presence, rest assured your subject will be fully focused on his or her job and will be oblivious to your presence.

From that moment, your real job starts.

You can then capture the relaxed, natural expression without any hassle. This applies not only to absolute strangers, but even family members or friends at birthday parties, weddings or social gatherings.

Also, avoid using a flash as much as possible and use a wide angle lens. Try to control your camera without looking at it, checking for speed and other technical details.

Remember, all that matters is freezing a moment for eternity.

– By Sankha Kar, 

Vietnam

Desert Beauty

Akhaura Border

Chemistry

The chemistry of a well-composed photograph depends on the clever use of certain elements. Appropriate use of the elements of art will determine whether the picture will breathe a poisonous CO2 (carbon dioxide) or a life-giving O2 (oxygen) — the choice is yours.
Lines: Lines can be used as horizontal, vertical or diagonal. Each of them has a different impact: a horizontal line for firmness, vertical for escalation and diagonal for depth or dimension.
Shape and form: While shape is two dimensional, form renders a three-dimensional feature to the picture. A round shape will create a feeling of movement and triangle will create stability. Form creates volume and weight.
Texture: Texture gives your picture vibrancy. As a rule of thumb, do not take photographs when the sun is directly above your head. No light and shade means no texture will be created — your picture will look dead.
Colour: The proper distribution of colour across the photo will emphasise the centre of interest, but an improper distribution will distract viewers. Remember that colour is a powerful tool to create asymmetrical balance in the picture.
Space: Do not dump too many objects in the frame — it will create pandemonium and the picture will lose its focus. Everyone needs some breathing space, and pictures are no exception. You can carve the available space in two parts: positive and negative. The front direction of the main subject in the picture is positive and the back is negative. Always try to use 2/3rd of positive and 1/3rd of negative space in a picture. Used effectively, the optimum utilisation of the above elements will create a well-balanced picture that will have your viewers saying — wow!
— By Sankha Kar,