December 16th, 2006

THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT, PART 2: HOW TO TAKE BETTER FINE ART IMAGES AND DESTINATION SHOTS

By Shelly Perry in Portland, Oregon

Last week I gave you six tips for shooting better "people" shots. (You'll find that issue archived here: http://tinyurl.com/y9tx6n).

This week, I'll focus on another two types of pictures everyone likes to receive:

** 1) A fine art print that matches a room in their house.

** 2) A sentimental destination shot. 

Here are a few tips for taking both... and some guidelines about what sort, exactly, make good gifts:

** WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHS**

Fine Art can be good for gift giving, provided you keep a few things in mind.  Pretty much anything you intend to hang on a wall is considered a fine-art shot.  And the key in giving away one of these photographs is matching colors and picking things that your recipient likes to look at. 

Pictures of trees, leaves, and cool light patterns might not make the best gift... but an avid bird watcher might like an artsy picture of a bird or bird’s nest.

Buying fine art for others (or giving them a photo from your own collection) can be a tricky venture. So be sure to keep...

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in mind your recipient's taste and décor. Whether you’re looking for images like this to buy or you’re photographing something yourself -- there are a few things you'll want to look for:

** 1) Repeating textures and shapes.

** 2) Color combinations -- colors that appear opposite on the color wheel or colors that are monochromatic (keeping in mind your recipient).

** 3) Ambiguity about what the actual subject may be.

** THE KIND OF DESTINATION SHOTS THAT MAKE THE BEST GIFTS**

Destinations can be as close as the corner market or your town's windmill or as far as a remote African village or a busy metropolis on the other side of the world.

The trick is to pick a destination that means something to the recipient.  An Eiffel Tower shot doesn’t mean much to someone who’s never been to Paris or might not have enjoyed their trip there. But the Golden Gate Bridge at night might be a great gift for a couple who spent their second honeymoon in San Fran. 

When you’re shooting photographs like this or looking through your old travel photos for the best ones, consider those that really show the viewer where you are. A beach shot could be any beach -- but one with the Santa Monica pier in the background really identifies the photo.  A woman sitting in a café could be taken in a bunch of cities -- but a woman sitting in a café reading La Monde says Paris. 

Keep in mind that having people in your images (even shadows and silhouettes) adds dynamic interest.

Look for images that are technically good, including lighting and composition; also keep in mind the color, style, and mood of the image.  And consider what would carry or invoke a strong, positive response for your recipient.

[Ed Note: Shelly Perry is a professional photographer who specializes in people photography, what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, websites, ad campaigns, and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

You can meet Shelly in person in Charleston, SC in April at our Ultimate Travel Photographer's Workshop, where she'll talk about working with models and model releases as well as breaking into online stock photo agencies and turning everyday household items like curtains, old music records, even your pet goldfish into super-fast cash. (That's a great way to fund your travels without leaving home!) For details, visit http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com]

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