19 July 2020

I love photography. There is just something about certain photographs that capture your eye, your imagination and your heart. I am a little picky about what I consider to be a good photo, however, and a lot of it has to do with framing.

You can google ‘rules of photography’ until you’re blue in the face, and people seem to have very set rules about how to achieve a perfect photo. The rule of thirds is one I’ve never understood or adhered to in any shape, way or form.  Appreciation of photography, like appreciation of a football team, art, or a life partner, is a subjective issue. It’s your prerogative to prefer one way or the other.

But back to my preferred photo style. I have quite a few friends and relatives who are REALLY good photographers, and whose photos I could spend a lot of time immersed in. I regularly see photos of Tasmanian bush walks that are just jaw dropping in their beauty. That particular friends’ ability to see something – in something others would walk past – is incredible.

I listened today to someone talking about rainbows, and immediately grabbed out my phone to make a few notes.

Whether it is rainbows, or sunsets or sunrises, or the northern or southern lights, perspective is incredibly important to me.

To me, and I reiterate this again because it IS a personal opinion, views of amazing things are best when there’s both a foreground and background featured in the image. One ongoing joke in our family is of a photo I took of a beautiful tree with hills in the background – my oldest son’s comment was that I’d messed up the photo – a tree got in the way. The joke gets reiterated now for any photo with something in the foreground.

Photos of sunsets are nicer with trees or beaches or people involved. Northern lights photos that feature mountains or jetties are just more amazing.

Sunsets on their own – gorgeous. Rainbows – spectacular. Northern/southern lights (serious bucket list item) – incredible.  But putting something into context by showing the  area around it makes it real, gives it substance and perspective.

In my opinion, anyway.

Please accept my apology for the tree obscuring the nice view of the waterfall.