by Russell Burden Here's How To Pay Attention to Detail
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”So small, but so important” has me reflect back to a wedding I photographed. The bride was gorgeous and outfitted in a magnificent beaded dress with a four foot train. Her veil perfectly framed her face that displayed just the right amount of make up. Her bouquet was an array of peace lilies that was as delicate as her personality. I couldn’t wait to start taking pictures. The problem is I had to wait. She was so upset over the way a small section of her bangs looked, she wouldn’t let me begin the picture taking until her hair was fixed. The point I’m getting to is, even though there are many magnificent subjects to photograph, always try to be aware of little details that may make the end result better.
Whether you’re photographing people, flowers, animals, landscapes, architecture or whatever, always be aware of the little things that can be tweaked to improve the shot. With people, wait for an expression that really captures the person's personality. With animals, a simple turn of the head may make all the difference. With landscapes, photograph them at sunrise or sunset and wait for that perfect cloud to get into position that ties the composition together. Regardless of the subject, being patient and persistent will net you better photographs.
In the two images of the gull, the light is good, the subject struck a good pose, and the frame is filled. The little detail that separates one from the other is the reflection. In the first image, the gull walked toward the shore line but the water level had receded, partially obscuring what could have been a stronger reflection. In the second, a more intense reflection is revealed. I patiently waited for a wave to come along while I mentally coaxed the gull to not move an inch. I could have given up after the first shot, but the bride’s hair stuck in my mind reminding me about the little details.
