Rob Gray :: grayoutdoors :: tutorials

home nature photography living on the road electronics other stuff shopping cart

limited release prints portfolios stock photos essays tutorials workshops wallpaper publications giftshop links about faq

Nature Photography :: Tutorials :: #07

I found this unusual rock on top of the cliffs at Lucky Bay in the Cape le Grand National Park.

The first shot I took is shown below.

Fig 1: With a 14mm, my first shot of the rock.

It doesn't show the rock's real shape at all, but then as photographers we're not necessarily in the game of realistic portrayals. It's a nice composition, but I thought I'd play with some different angles, lenses and times of day.

Fig 2: 24mm

Fig 3: 24mm, this time we're starting to see the rock's real shape, rather like a rhinoceros.

Fig 4: 24mm right in close to accentuate the "head" of the rhino.

Fig 5: 24mm showing some background to put the rock in context.

Fig 6: 85mm, showing the same background but compressing the perspective. Now the rock is less significant in the shot and the background plays a larger role.'

Fig 7: And just for something completely different, a 24mm shot from the "rear" of the rock. It's no longer recognisable as the same object.

Of course there's a thousand other angles, lightings and perspectives possible, but I think you get the idea.

If you have enough film at the time (no excuses now with digital) it makes sense to "work" the subject, often the composition you thought was best at the time turns out not to be so.

Top of Page

home nature photography living on the road electronics other stuff shopping cart

limited release prints portfolios stock photos essays tutorials workshops wallpaper publications giftshop links about faq