Page 29 - Australian Photography Dec 2020

PHOTO TIPS: PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE
PATTERNS WITH PEOPLE
Another method for photographing people in a scene is to find or make patterns with the people. A great way to make patterns is to photograph them from above, as in a bird’s eye view perspective. In this case, you need to be on a bridge, balcony, table or another structure with height. From a high angle, you can look down to photograph patterns made by people sitting or moving below, and choose how to frame the photo by zooming in or carefully composing so a pattern is evident.
Lines, symmetrical arrangements and filling of the frame with repetition are all good pattern ideas to look for or to create with locals who are happy to be your photographic subjects. It’s a great chance to be creative, which to me is an important part of photography, and since the results can be very aesthetically pleasing, it’s always wise to be thinking about featuring patterns in your photography. People are a good subject for this.
ABOVE: Pilgrims Eating Together. This was photographed from a large bridge at the Kumbh Mela Festival in India, I saw these lines of pilgrims eating below and photographed them from above looking straight down, zooming in to 135mm. By framing the two lines equally with similar spacing on either side, a pattern of two lines is created which provides visual interest. Nikon D800, 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 116mm. 1/250s @ f8, ISO 400.
| 29 | DECEMBER 2020 | AUSTRALIANPHOTOGRAPHY.COM