The things I photograph most are sunset skies, trees, gardens and water. This may have a lot to do with the subject matter I have access to at the moment, but it is also because I enjoy and feel drawn to the interplay between light and natural objects.
There are a huge number of photographs and paintings of all of these on the internet. A quick image search brought up this range of trees and beaches.
A tree is just a tree, what makes it interesting is an unusual shape, the way it is lit or what it frames – its position and role in the photograph. Photographers have used unusual angles such as looking up into the camera and foreshortening the view. Or they have heavily cropped the shot, for example just showing the trunks. Or they have used the trees as a frame, such as the avenue of trees that creates a tunnel, leading the eye to the end point.
With water, shutter speed has become more the more dominant way of adding interest to the shot; using slow speeds to create a milky atmospheric image. Light plays an important role in tree shots but it comes into is own with water shots both to catch highlights and movement and to take advantage of the often panaramic nature of seascapes. The sun often plays supporting actor to the seas lead and on occasions it takes centre stage.
My attempts at creativity
Using a potted Witch Hazel as my tree I took a number of shots to see how I could introduce an element of creativity into them.
Images 3, 4 and 6 work best for me although none of them give a sense of scale or even perhaps acknowledge what the subject is.
Katies Photographic Journey 