4 Elements of a Successful Image

Learning how to manipulate your camera settings to help create dramatic lighting, alter backgrounds, make an image moody, or add a sense of motion, gives you the power to create a unique artistic style. The real art of photography is in the way you connect and capture the story of what you experience and how it resonates with your audience, not in producing a technically perfect photograph.

In my own photography, when creating an image or editing through my photographs, a successful image is one that contains powerful light, a strong background that fits the subject, shows emotion, and conveys motion.

The advice I give the participants on my safaris and workshops is to ask themselves two important questions before clicking the shutter, “what is my light?” and “what is my background?” If you are picking up your camera and pointing it at something, even if it is a rock, I am assuming you find that subject/environment extraordinary. Therefore, since it is a given that your subject is fascinating, don’t immediately focus on what is in front of you, but quickly evaluate your composition for the best light and background. If not, you may find yourself disappointed with the results; a snapshot of an extraordinary subject rather than an extraordinary photograph of an extraordinary subject.

I have written some previous posts on the power of light (here and here) and the importance of a strong background. Yes, learning the technical side takes some effort, but once looking past your subject becomes second nature, you are free to intimately connection with your subject and create a more powerful image; when possible, also try to capture a sense of motion in your still image. An image with powerful light in a soothing background, which shows motion and emotion, can stir one’s soul and captivate one’s mind. Having all, or at least three, of these elements in a photograph draws the viewer in more deeply as they process your experience when you click the shutter.

Rarely does a person read something and instantly master a skill. Most of us creative spirits feel bogged down by the technical side, sitting in front of a computer, trying to figure out all the dials, buttons, and exposure, however, we want to be out experiencing the world through our lens, capturing what inspires us. As a self-taught photographer, I did not want to read a manual, spend hours on technical blogs, and practice in my “living room”, so to speak. So I traveled and developed these skills along the way. Reflecting back over those first five plus years, I painfully realized how many incredible photographic opportunities were lost, by not spending the time to develop my craft before investing in an adventure to an exotic location. Many of those first experiences can never be repeated as the world has changed so quickly. I am grateful to have a library of incredible memories, but many images fall short of the mark. They are more of a snapshot than a powerful, emotional image with impact.

This inspired me to create the Spirit-N-Light workshops series; dropping you into an inspiring environment where you can hone in on these skills and creatively prepare for your next adventure or simply improve your artistic expression. My teaching is more from a creative perspective with simple instructions to technically achieve what your soul is envisioning.