Bill Raymond
Did you ever photograph a spectacular view only to have the final result lack the sense of depth you saw in the original scene? This happens because while we see in three dimensions and almost all cameras only capture a two dimensional image. Our eyes see the clues to depth; near and distance objects in our visual scene.
To some degree, we can convey this same sense of depth by being sure to include near objects in pictures where the primary subject is far away. Look to see what is close to you that can be included in those distance shots without creating a sense of unbalance.
One of my favorite techniques for doing this is framing the subject. The frame could be a Y branch in a tree trunk, a hole in a rock structure or some other structure that surrounds the subject. For example, look at the above picture. The monoliths in the distance are beautiful in their own right, but framing them with the arch does two things; it provides that sense of depth and focuses us on the distant subject. This picture was taken about two hours after sunrise. The red glow on the underside of the arch comes from the low light reflecting off the rocks beneath it.
What do you focus on in a picture like this? For this shot, I wanted both the arch and monoliths to be in focus because they are individually pleasing and they complement each other. In other pictures, where I include just a glimpse of a close object (for example a small branch of a tree in the foreground with the subject in the distance), I typically make the foreground out of focus. In some pictures, an interesting tree in the foreground might be the subject with mountains in the background. In that case, the tree would be in focus with the background blurred. For taking pictures like these, it helps to be familiar with the impact of aperture control on focus.
The Southwest is a great place to be if you like photography. For the next six months it will be pleasant to be outside looking for just the right subjects.
Bill Raymond teaches photography workshops for the PebbleCreek Art Club. Beginner to intermediate workshops will be offered after the first of the year.