How to take a good photograph – TV report on NOVA S channel
In the Serbian morning show “Wake Up” on Nova S channel, I talked about social media photography on July 29, 2024. We discussed several topics related to trends and selfies, and how to take a good shot.
At the beginning of the show, I talked about how to take a selfie using the example of a photo taken by the hosts. I presented several suggestions on what could be improved when striking a pose. I turned my attention to combining the background with the portrait. Then, TV host Iva Kosovac and I tried to take a selfie together.
You can view the complete interview here or on their YouTube channel.
The topics of discussion were:
- Critique (and praise) of the host’s selfie.
- Selfie demonstration
- Do we take photos from above or below eye level?
- Did the selfie become our mirror and why did I say we should take pictures of how we feel, not just how we look?
- My practice in photographing non-professional models
- Striking a pose demonstration
- Phone or camera and why limiting the number of shots per situation?
- Vertical or horizontal composition?
Bird’s eye or worm’s-eye view?
When placing the camera/phone above eye level while looking at it, we appear “submissive” in the photo. This is a psychological interpretation of the pose, though in practice it may not always exude that impression. Similar to that is when a child looks at an adult. That upward glance is an inferior status, waiting for approval. My suggestion is that the model tries to find a pose in which the camera is positioned below eye level. It is a common practice in fashion photography when photographing the whole figure, especially in magazines from earlier years. At that time, the respect and empowerment of women’s status were proclaimed through fashion. From the lower angle, every subject appears monumental, visionary, perhaps even unattainable, but certainly worthy of appreciation and respect. This is a small, but significant psychological effect that makes us appear more confident.
To photograph the visible
Selfie, in a way, is used as a mirror, specifically for the growing narcissistic generation. It should not be used to show that we are better and happier than we are. Looking at it from a positive perspective, a selfie may also be a confrontation with ourselves. It is gazing directly at ourselves. Photographing our appearance is objectification of ourselves, but capturing the feelings of that moment – that’s where the magic starts. If our feelings reach the observer, then we have created something special. It is good to strive to photograph how we feel, not just how we look. The photograph carries aesthetics and poetics within itself. In photo lessons on my website, I write about aesthetics, but poetics, although a subjective and elusive dimension of photography, may be its most beautiful feature.
To photograph the invisible
Indeed, a photograph is a document, a moment in time. A photograph can capture not only a specific event but also an atmosphere and feeling. Imagine sitting at the train station, waiting. Swinging legs in the air because we can’t touch the ground. Chewing gum. The sound of crickets and the trembling of the rails. Bright sun on the feet, and the face in the shade under the canopy. A single photograph can tell it all, and therein lies the poetics of the moment. Artistic photography does not need to prove anything, to justify itself to anyone. It shows a single and unique moment in our existence and can activate not only the visual senses but all five together. It can, but it doesn’t do it often. It’s a shame when it can yet, doesn’t do it.
Striking a pose
In the following segment of the show, I tried to help the host Iva find a good pose for taking photos. Although not everything went according to plan in the live program, the point of the demonstration was for the pose to look natural and casual. For example, the feet should be placed approximately parallel so as not to appear unnatural. If you don’t know what to do with your hands while posing, it is good to take something – glasses, a pencil, a drink. You may look directly onto the camera, but also from the side. These are, of course, just tips, they should not always be strictly followed.
Limit the number of shots per situation
Although digital photography allows a practically unlimited number of attempts for a good shot, my advice is to always allow yourself a bare minimum number of attempts to photograph one situation. The benefit of this is that you will have better focus. You will choose your angle carefully and therefore produce higher quality photos. From my professional experience, when I switched from analog photography in 2006 to digital in the following years, I stagnated in the quality I delivered. Let’s take shooting sports as an example. When you know that you have endless attempts to hit the target, you can turn your head and shoot blindly. You know that you will hit something at some point. For example, you have 200 bullets, a stationary target, and plenty of time. Because of this feature of digital photography, you may degrade. You may completely lose passion and interest in what you do. I consider every missed shot as a permanent scar on the target canvas, a testament that I didn’t hit the bullseye on the first try.
Therefore, my advice is to try to achieve every shot with full focus and passion as if it were your last on the film strip. By the way, meaninglessly piling up files on the phone/drive/computer and makes us rarely go back to old albums. Earlier generations did with pleasure.
Vertical or horizontal composition?
Although our field of view of about 200 degrees requires a horizontal composition, this time I have opted for a vertical composition when asked how to compose. I pointed out that it is just a phase, as it is and under the influence of the photographer I return to from time to time to see what he has done, and his name is Horst Haman.
In my opinion, he is so brilliant in his vertical landscapes. It’s hard to imagine a vertical composition as a landscape. However, this photographer is a true virtuoso in that. He photographs well-known and seen objects in a completely new way and dizzyingly leads through the composition, zig-zags the focus, and plays with balance. He is so awesome.
Vertical compositions are currently popular on social media, especially in TikTok and Reel videos, and generally on mobile phones. In theory, to be mathematically precise, the human eye prefers the horizontal composition of the golden rectangle. Its longer side compared to the shorter one, is approximately 1.618. Specifically, the number 1.618 represents this ideal ratio, and the standard formats in printing photographs correspond approximately to the proportions of the golden ratio, for example: 10×15 cm, 13×21 cm, 18×30 cm, and so on.
In addition to the golden ratio, there is another popular horizontal video format – 16:9, and recently even wider, as cinematic formats require viewing and focus for longer times. The human eye “reads” from top to bottom. When the format is vertical, observing for a long time becomes difficult due to its “narrow” frame as it creates tension and pressure. I conclude that this is exactly why content on social media are required to be short and quick to keep our attention.
Of course, in these tenish minutes, we haven’t covered everything that can be said about the selfie, but I hope that with this small attempt, I have reached those who are interested in how to take a good photo with a regular camera / mobile phone.
The announcement about the show was also published on the Nova.rs portal.
