Landscape Photography Tip #2: Point of Interest

Sunburst Rising

       Add an element that will grab and keep your viewers attention. This can be done in several ways, the most common is the photographs composition. Keep things simplistic, help the viewer dive into your photograph. By having a formal composition, say a key element of the composition on one the of 'line of thirds' of the frame, the viewer is given an entry point that will lead them through the image. This will help the viewer 'see' more of the subtle elements of the composition.

       The entry point is one of the most important parts for an artist to keep in mind. A few techniques are to have a strong 'leading line' near one of the corners of the photograph, this, again, helps the viewer slowly make their way through the photograph.

       Add some flare, you can take this literally or not. A 'starburst' is a technique that will often instantly catch the viewers attention. It is a subtle, yet bold, element that (if done correctly) can add a lot of energy and drama to a composition. If this is implemented in a way that follows some formal techniques, like having a strong leading line in the upper frame that leads to the 'sunburst' that sits comfortably on a 'line of thirds', the results can be quite unique.

Note for photographers: A 'starburst' is done by taking advantage of the light coming into the lens, this light diffracts off of the blades in the aperture, creating a stray line of light at each aperture blade intersection. The higher the F/stop, the longer and sharper each point of the 'sunburst' will be.

Technical details: Canon 7D, Canon 10-22mm lens (@16mm) 3-stop neutral density filter, 3-stop graduated neutral density filter, ISO 100, F/25, Three shot HDR