STAY AT HOME PHOTOGRAPHY
Keep calm and camera on with our guide to projects you can complete near home
Spring is here, but many of us still need to stay close to home. This special section helps you get the most out of your time indoors or your daily local walk: our creative projects are easy to attempt, but give great results that bring fresh approaches to your photographic craft.
This issue, we challenge you to take seven creative shots, with plenty of ideas for new ways of seeing – and a tips card to keep in your pocket while you tackle the challenge! You’ll also learn how to create painterly abstracts with the minimum of fuss.
USE YOUR TIPS CARD!
44
Explore shapes in
your surroundings
Take our seven-shot challenge to push your creative boundaries and discover new approaches in your photography
PROJECT 2
47
Spring clean your lenses for the new season
Shooting projects mostly at home will still result in marks and smudges on your optics. Here’s how to zap them
PROJECT 3
48
Create liquid colour abstracts at home
Use everyday household items and a basic camera setup to emulate the paintings of Jackson Pollock
PROJECT 4
52
Bag a best-buy product for home use
Our pick of top-rated photographic accessories, from PCs to printers. Your ideal home setup starts here
PROJECT 5
54
Send us your shots and star in our photo gallery
Digital Camerareaders never fail to impress us with their accomplished photos. Enjoy this month’s selection
SPECIAL SECTION
Projects to try in the safety of your own locality!
PLUS! Visit our website for more home-focused inspiration www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/homephotography www.digitalcameraworld.com/tag/homeworking
1 Explore shapes in your surroundings
Looking at the world in a different way by capturing shapes and shadows can build up a decent selection of abstract imagery for your archive, says
Roddy
Llewellyn
Great photographs are not always about waiting for a fantastic sunset or special occasion. Exploring the world around you and changing your thought process around photos can lead you to capture interesting and unusual shots. Explore angles, shapes and compositions, and objects of interest to expand your portfolio. Turn the mundane and boring into interesting shots. Venture out on a bright day with strong sunlight to get the most from this project: the light will help you find strong contrasting colours, shapes and textures to create your own collection of abstract imagery.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• Camera, any lens Time:
• Over any period you like!
THINGS TO CONSIDER FOR CONTRASTING IMAGERY
Find new angles
Try tilting your camera or looking at subjects from different angles. Capturing these steps from the side brings abstraction into the image.
Use the sky as your backdrop
Just because it’s a dull day doesn’t meant you can’t achieve graphic images. Strong shapes against clear skies can create powerful contrast.
Make the mundane interesting
Use space around your subject. This image of a railing against a clear blue sky, cropping out all the foreground, creates a semi-abstract shape with a leading line.
Bring in depth
Combining shapes and contrasting colours with depth can make for interesting compositions, such as these swimming pool steps with a blue-and-white tile pattern.
TOP TIP
Convert to black and white
Monochrome brings out form and structure. Try boosting the contrast, lifting shadows and rotating the image to create an interesting abstract.