Tips to Work the Scene to Improve Your Photography

Host and Professional Photographer Peggy Farren interviews photographer and workshop leader Wayne Bennett. Wayne gives us tips for getting the most out of every landscape photo shoot.

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Working the Scene for More Impact with Wayne Bennett

Episode 104 with Wayne Bennett About Wayne

• He was one of the original members of the Orlando Camera Club.
• He started teaching photography workshops with Great American Photography Weekends (GAPW) about 10-12 years ago.
• Wayne’s favorite workshop is in the Four Corners area (AZ, NM, UT, CO).
• He worked closely with Singh-Ray to create a special ND Polarizing filter with an additional diffuser layer – Wayne Bennett Smoky Vision Polarizer.

“Every scene you see has lines, shapes, forms, colors, textures, and patterns. I’m looking for the way they interact with each other.”

Before you go…

Study and scout your locations in advance. – If you’ve been there before, think about the area and what you want to capture. – If the area is new to you – look on Google Earth, Google Images, or travel guidebooks (Wayne’s favorites are Lonely Planet and Fodor’s Travel Guides) – Check sunrise times and weather for that area.

At your location…

• Walk an area to see what’s available to you from different angles and directions.
• Find your star performer (dominant piece in the scene) and it’s supporting cast.– Look at the spatial relationships between them. – Move to a different angle to change the spatial relationships between subjects.

“If your subject merges with something else, it takes away from the impact of the subject.”

– Pick out several spots or angles within a 25-50 yard stretch to shoot the same subject within the short timeframe of the golden hour for larger variety.

“Think about the ways you can use what’s in front of you to work to its maximum benefit.”

• Try to anticipate light patterns created by the approaching sunrise. – If your light is coming from the left, it should LEAD to your subject on the right side of the frame.If both light AND subject are on the left side of the image, your eye will stop and dismiss anything on the right side.

  “Look for the rhythm, flow, and order within the seemingly chaotic nature of the landscape.”

• Compose images in camera from one or multiple locations.
• Zoom in to find the textures, patterns and colors that work well together.

“Foreground and background can either make your image great or ruin it, depending on how you use it.”

• Try to make both the foreground and background emphasize the strengths of your subject.
• If any objects deter from the main subject, de-emphasize or get rid of them by changing your angle or depth of field.
• Play around with the crop tool both in camera and in post-processing.

“If you see something in the distance that could be meaningful to you, but you don’t have the right lens along, TAKE THE PICTURE with what you have. The quality of the images produced by today’s cameras will allow you to zoom in and crop later.” Other tips

1. Understand your equipment.
2. Prepare ahead of time.Think about the lay of the land, weather, and lighting before you go shoot.
3. Don’t be afraid to break the rules.
4. Shoot a lot.

“If something is pleasing to the eye, it doesn’t matter if it breaks the rules of composition.”

Finding Wayne
WayneBennettPhotography.com
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