Turn familiar scenes into art

[Peter_S.]

If you like to photograph things you see around you every day, you might find that the results lack atmosphere and look less interesting than expected. Here are some tips and tricks to help you take impressive shots of familiar scenes. 

Composition and cropping

If you’re taking snapshots, it's fun to shoot casually without too much planning. But try thinking about composition and learn how to crop the scene.

Cropping

If you just take out the camera and shoot right away, the photograph often looks cluttered, with unnecessary objects included in the frame. Instead of trying to include everything, focus only on the main subject, especially when shooting casual daily scenes.

Generally, an angle of view (focal length) close to the human visual field can be set by zooming in slightly. Remember to actively use the zoom when taking snapshots.

Focal length: 35 mm / F-number: 5.6 / Shutter speed: 1/1000 sec / Exposure compensation: +1 / White balance: Shade / Creative Style: Landscape (Contrast: +3, Saturation: -3)

This image was shot with the normal zoom lens SEL1855 at the focal length of 35 mm. The scene is cropped, with the flag as the main subject. By zooming in slightly, the photographer has kept a good balance between the size of the flag and the size and depth of the surrounding buildings.

Focal length: 23 mm

This photograph was shot with the telephoto lens zoomed out as far as possible, trying to include many objects such as the buildings and the street lamp. As a result, most of the area in the frame is occupied by the buildings and ground, and the flag looks small in the background. Compared with this shot, the first photograph, which captured the flag by zooming in, looks more impressive.

Both these examples were shot at a focal length of 50 mm. Drastic cropping like this can be interesting for some scenes.

These are close-ups of scenes shot with a telephoto zoom lens while walking on the street. By capturing a small part of the scene within the frame, the viewer is inspired to imagine an atmosphere that can’t actually be seen in the photograph.

Composition
There are a few typical styles of photographic composition, like diagonal composition and the "Rule of Thirds". But if you stick too closely to these, your photographs will lose personality and interest. Just use them as a reference when you’re unsure, and find your own favourite composition or expression, especially when you are casually going out or walking. Take a photograph in the way you like – that's the essence of making your own artwork.

If you can make full use of the zoom, you will be able to crop your familiar scenes and create impressive artworks. Although you may not be able to get the best results at first, try using the zoom carefully, and get a sense of what works well.

Focal length: 11 mm / F-number: 5.6 / Shutter speed: 1/160 sec

Using Picture Effect

If you want to add a unique finish to your photographs, try using the Picture Effect function on your Sony α camera.

With Picture Effect, you can easily shoot retro-style photographs or artistic photographs that look like paintings, without retouching them on the computer. Sony α cameras have various effects, and the Picture Effect options are different depending on the model of your camera. Here are some of the options.

High Contrast Monochrome creates high-contrast photographs that look like images taken with black-and-white film. It’s good for rendering street scenes powerfully. In conditions where colour photographs look less impressive, such as on rainy or cloudy days, applying this effect will turn your photograph into an artwork.

High Contrast Monochrome

Soft High-key creates soft and pale photographs with a slight blue cast. Regardless of the subjects, it adds a pleasant or fantasy-like finish to the photograph.

Soft High-key

Partial Colour creates an image that’s black and white except for a single colour. With this effect, even a photograph of your laundry can instantly become a stylish work of art. Using it for flowers and small items will also create interesting artworks.

Partial Colour (Blue)

There are various other effects, such as "Toy Camera", "Miniature", "Retro Photo" and "Posterisation (Colour)". Try them when shooting casual scenes in your daily life.

Toy Camera	Miniature
Retro Photo	Posterization (Color)

Trying fixed focal length lenses

A fixed focal length lens like the SAL35F18 can create great background defocus, and can turn your snapshots or familiar landscape shots into unique artworks. Also, as this type of lens allows a large amount of light to enter into the camera, it’s useful for shooting indoor or street scenes at night.

If you love the defocused ‘bokeh’ effect, try the SEL35F18 lens, which has a circular aperture for smoother, more natural-looking defocused effects with a crisply focused subject.

Focal length: 35 mm / F-number: 2.0 / Shutter speed: 1/640 sec

Focal length: 35 mm / F-number: 11 / Shutter speed: 1/400 sec