All in the Details

Z

It is very easy to get caught up in trying to get "the BIG picture" when we are out with our cameras. However, sometimes situations are conducive to getting everything in the shot. At times like that, sometimes zeroing in on distinctive details can make for a more interesting image. The shot above was taken at an automobile show this past January. The show was held in one of the local convention centers. The lighting wasn't very good for photography as you can imagine, plus there were lots of people in the venue admiring the cars. They were also trying to stay inside and out of one of the only days of snow we had last winter. I got several wide shots that I liked of various cars, However, I think some of the better images from that day were details of the cars. Those shots tended to encompass some important design element, or the car's badge, or other identifying feature. This made them easier to frame, easier to control the lighting, and easier to remove the background crowds from the composition.

Next time you are out with your camera, look for interesting details that can fill the frame. A potter's hands as he turns his clay might be more interesting and tell a better visual story than then a long shot of the potter stooped over his wheel. The colors in a subject might be visually more intriguing than the subject itself. Or you might find an exceptionally intricate texture that just demands some attention. Shooting details can begin to introduce you to abstract images and see things in ways that you didn't before. Plus, it can be a lot of fun to turn a blah "big picture" into a series of "Wow!" detail images.