In Part 1 of this series, I explored the idea of blown highlights
and blocked-up shadows. Both can be major distractions within an image
and both can force the eye to escape the image prematurely.
Next I want to take on the idea of choosing the appropriate amount
of visual information to include in a photograph. The most common
mistake in this area is that of providing too much information. Let me
explain...
Too much information
"Fill the frame." Useful advice, when interpreted correctly.
Here's what it doesn't mean: include as much visual information as
possible in the image. Here's what it does mean: Fill the frame with
your subject and a minimum amount of supporting detail - NOTHING MORE. This simple concept, when applied thoughtfully, will provide quantum leaps of improvement in the quality and impact of your photographs.
Providing the appropriate amount of visual information has two powerful effects on the viewer of an image. Both of which keep their eye and mind from escaping the image.
First, by limiting the amount of visual information in the image, you enable the viewer of the image to spend more time on your main subject without distraction. The result is that the subject receives more attention than it might otherwise. The viewer's eye will spend more time looking at the details of the subject and the context in which you have created the image.
Second, by simplifying the image, you begin telling a stronger story. By only including necessary details, you are giving each of these details a stronger voice within your image. Each detail within the image has more impact as the distractions of "too much information" have been removed. The old saying "less is more" definitely applies here.
Now there is a lot of wiggle room with this concept, so lets' look at a
couple of examples.
This actually isn't a bad image and might
make a fine stock photo (backhanded compliment to myself intended).
It has quite a bit of visual information to explore. Let's see, is
that the Ponte Vecchio in the background? Is he a clothes model of
some sort, or do men in Italy actually dress that way? Do red socks go
with a pink sweater? What's he looking at anyway? Hopefully you are
getting the point. There is so much going on here, that I can't decide
what to look at. I'm helped by the fact that the man is the only thing
in focus, so my eye tends to return there. But I'm quickly ready to
just be done with the image, to escape and look at something else,
because I have not been moved enough to consider much beyond just what
I have seen in the image. No questions or stories have been created
for me.
Let's move on to an image taken at the same time and place:
POW! What a difference! Now we're
talking. By filling the frame with what I consider to be the more
interesting parts of the scene, we are capturing the eye (and the
mind). Notice how in this image, you tend to explore the details in
much more depth. Is it possible you didn't even notice the shadow in
the first image due to all of the other visual information? Here the
shadow is of primary importance. Your eye bounces between the shadow
and the man, thoughfully, comtemplatingly. You begin concocting the
story behind this person, this place by examining the few elements of visual information you are seeing.
Your eye doesn't necessarily want to escape this image. If anything,
it is looking for more. Excellent!
OK, one more set of photos, just for fun:
I wanted to capture this scene for my Urban Melancholy photo project, but quickly realized that there was just too much going on in the image. There is no clear subject or story. So I used the concept of "Isolate and Simplify" to zero in on what it was I was trying to say with this scene. I re-framed the image so that it included just the right amount of visual information and nothing more. The result is the image seen below:
I wanted to keep the feeling of being in an abandoned, boarded-up part of town but not have so much visual information in this regard as to detract from the subject of the "expired" parking meter. By filling the frame, I have an image with more impact and more story. Less becomes more. The eye doesn't float around the image looking for a subject as it did in the first image. I feel as though I have succeeded with providing just the right amount of visual information and created an image with impact magnitudes greater than my first attempt.
In summary, remember these concepts to avoid providing too much information within an image:
- Isolate and Simplify
- Fill the Frame
- When in doubt, leave it out
Stay tuned for Part 3 of this series, where we will address the issue of Visual Balance & Rhythm.
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