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Using Shapes in Photography
Photography demands that we study light quickly, but more importantly, to observe how light interacts with everything around us. Traditional visual methods like painting and drawing can do that too, but with photography, that sort of light-studying capability is not just fast, but also widespread. Eyes alone are not simply enough for studying how light affects shape; it’s easier to focus on all the shapes around us by framing a portion of them in front of our eyes. And thanks to that capability in photography, we can later contemplate everything we capture with our camera without being burdened by the ephemerality of passing moments.
As a compositional asset, shape can be an extremely strong tool for enhancing your photography. It is a sort of “back to basics” mindset, but it could make your images pop immediately. There is a vast array of possibilities when it comes to dealing with shape, so here are a few examples of how it can be used in compositions.
From simple to complex, from flat shapes to three-dimensional forms, shapes can be easily spotted or enhanced via the contrasts of different types of light, tone or even color. Shapes are ever-present in nature, and when they are easily defined by such contrasts is when we see the lines that contour them. Shapes are solid elements defined by lines; therefore, they can carry a lot of weight in our compositions, even when…
