As part of my job I get to look at a lot of photos – MEC members send me thousands and thousands every year – some of them great, many not-so-great. To make my job more enjoyable (and increase your chances of being published) I thought I’d provide you with a few tips around what I look for in a photo.
While it can be difficult to define exactly what makes a great photo, there are some general guidelines that help to make photos more interesting. I have talked about some of the technology in the past, and while good equipment is important, if the person taking the photo doesn’t have a good sense of composition, the photos – while properly focused and exposed – might be boring.
A typical issue is perspective – people generally hold the camera at eye-level, put the subject in the centre of the frame, and shoot away. In the two examples shown here, the climber is doing something interesting in a cool location, but the photo lacks any drama. The second shot, while not great, has some interest – not so much due to the activity or the location, but because of the perspective and composition.
Using the rule-of-thirds (placing the subject in the left third of the frame) and shooting from a low angle improves the overall feel of the photo. Many cameras come with flip-out screens, which enable you to hold the camera up above your head, or down near the ground (without getting your clothes dirty). So don’t be lazy – try crazy angles, climb up on a rock and shoot down, or lie down and shoot up at your subject, and see how much more interesting your photos can be.
MEC Photo Contest Winner
Another climbing photo wins this month. This great shot by Thomas Burden, taken at Joshua Tree National Park, has it all – great composition, exposure, and facial expression.
Congratulations Thomas, we’ll be sending you a $50 MEC Gift Card.
I encourage MEC members to submit photos. Here’s how you can do that:
Check out our Photo Submissions page – it has all the details.
Go to MEC’s photo submission site on Flickr.
Have a look at this Flickr gallery. The images here represent the type of images we are interested in using – something with a unique perspective, showing people enjoying the outdoors, using the gear we sell at MEC.
If you liked this post, make sure you read more about MEC Photography.
