![\"redwoods_130427__SM35921_2_3_4_5-Edit\"](\"http:\/\/ralphnordstromphotography.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/redwoods_130427__SM35921_2_3_4_5-Edit.jpg\" "\\"redwoods_130427__SM35921_2_3_4_5-Edit\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\nThis is a photograph I was fortunate enough to get because I turned around and looked behind me.\u00a0 I was so excited I set up the camera, did a quick composition and tripped the shutter.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t do adequate border patrol.\u00a0 Yea, I paid attention to the bottom of the frame, carefully aligning how the path came into the frame.\u00a0 I also paid attention to both the left and right sides.\u00a0 But there was one very big flub \u2013 the upper left corner.<\/p>\n
You see, the aim of border patrol is to ensure that nothing is creeping into the frame that does not belong.\u00a0 Or worse yet, you need to make sure that there\u2019s nothing on the border that will distract the viewer\u2019s eye from where you want it to go \u2013 in this case down the path to the beautiful rays of light.\u00a0 And one of the things that is the worst offender in drawing attention to itself is bright spots \u2013 like the one in the upper left corner.\u00a0 That patch of bright cloud is screaming for attention and gets it in short order.\u00a0 Now the viewer\u2019s eye is at the edge of the image and I\u2019ve lost them.<\/p>\n
So the compositional principle here is that bright spots attract the eye so you have to be sure that they are used to support the main subject or intent of the image and not detract from it.\u00a0 Actually, this is just the way our brains work.\u00a0 Bright sparkly things attract our attention.\u00a0 That\u2019s all there is to it.\u00a0 And we need to use that knowledge when we prepare our photographs.<\/p>\n
So can anything be done after the fact.\u00a0 Well, I cropped out the offending upper left corner and ended up with this.<\/p>\n
Ah, that\u2019s much better.\u00a0 The eye goes down the trail amid the calming greens of the foliage and then BAM, it runs into the very energetic diagonal lines of the God Rays.\u00a0 It\u2019s exciting, the contrast between the energy and the calm.\u00a0 And there\u2019s nothing on the borders to detract from this effect.\u00a0 In fact, one hardly pays attention to the borders.<\/p>\n In other words, the borders are doing their job.\u00a0 \u201cWhat job is that?\u201d you ask?\u00a0 To keep the eye imprisoned within the frame and not let it escape.\u00a0 And there\u2019s nothing on the borders that pull the eye away from the action.\u00a0 The second image works ten times better than the first.\u00a0 Scroll back and forth and see for yourself.<\/p>\n In summary, the purpose of border patrol is to make sure there are not any elements on the borders that will distract the viewer\u2019s attention away from the main intent of the image.\u00a0 And bright spots are just one of may potential distractions.\u00a0 So next time you\u2019re out shooting, sign up for border patrol.<\/p>\n I have a few more recent articles on composition.\u00a0 Check them out if you haven\u2019t already.<\/p>\n Mastering Composition – What?<\/a><\/p>\n Mastering Composition \u2013 Balance<\/a><\/p>\n Let us hear from you.\u00a0 Leave a comment.\u00a0 It\u2019 makes my day when you do and other\u2019s will benefit from your input.<\/p>\n If you like this post please feel free to share it with your friends, on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, \u2026, you get the idea.\u00a0 And a big thanks when you do cause it sure helps.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n
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