Quite often it is difficult to convey the power of a large statue in a photograph. Most images cannot provide the viewer with an idea of their actual size in relation to everyday objects. In most cases one has to shoot from a low viewpoint as the statues are often raised way above eye level, resulting in distortion (big at the bottom and smaller at the top). A better approach is either to stand further back and use longer zoom setting or to find a higher position to level the shot.
It's also important to consider the shooting direction and discover the best viewpoint. Wander all around the statue and examine it from different angles, and see what background and features stand out and interest you. Then base the composition around that. It's easy to find how much a background can influence the exposure and overall feel of the image. For instance I have included some greenery in the background as they contrast against the appearance of the statue.
A plain and uncluttered background usually works best for statue photography because it keeps the viewer's attention focused on the statue itself. A photographer might also focus on particular things such as the hands or the face of the statue to make a dramatic photograph of it.
Producing the perfect exposure is always harder when photographing statues. Often one might result in overexposed skies or underexposed silhouettes. Of course it could be minimized just by changing the viewpoint to get a better lighting direction to work with and sometimes it even gives a more suitable composition of the statue.
To avoid losing shadows and depth which give the object its shape, switch the flash off and use a tripod to stop shake spoiling the shot.
Comments
Post a Comment