Rawtography - Blog of the RAW

Okay - so I am planning to pick back up the blogging. I know I have been slow in getting stuff up over the past few months, but that's about to change... maybe. Hopefully.

I recently had a chance to go up to the Griffith Observatory in Hollywood. I hadn't been up there since they renovated, and have forgotten how beautiful it is! What a great spot. With new trails, new facilities in the front, and the same great view - it's really one of Los Angeles' treasures.

One of the great aspects of it currently comes from the fires that almost burnt it down. With fires comes great new growth. And the hillsides up there are stunningly green! I had a chance to snap a few pics. The view up there really reminded me what's so amazing about LA - the mix between urban and rural. The ability for the landscape to jump in such a short distance is stunning. And makes for great photographic work.














Like all things, however, there are the easy to get "tourist shots." The things that immediately grab a person's attention. As with most of my photography, however, I am looking for an angle - something unique, something new to bring to the table. And the thing that's great about a landmark like the observatory is its detail. Blending some classic early 20th century LA style with classic building elements makes it an excellent place to see things that the average eye might skip.

To me, good photography is about bringing something to light in a captured moment - something that you see in a unique way. This is what most people call 'your eye.' So what goes into a good eye? Most of it's natural, but there are a few things to keep an eye on the next time you're looking at photographs. How well does the photographer use their lines? Do they see lines in the picture leading the eye? What about perspective - do they use both foreground and background - even in close ups? And of course, there is the rule of thirds... I personally think this is a little overused, but - check it out - if you cut the photo into thirds each way - does the picture take advantage of the cross points? It's a classic technique, and people have a natural affinity for it.

But most importantly - is the picture interesting? Does it create a feeling or emotion. The photo below is of a cement walkway with a small plaque. It's a pretty mundane subject, but the image (at least in my opinion) is interesting to look at. Also - notice the rules of thirds as well as the very obvious use of lines. When you take that next snapshot, keep these elements in mind - they will usually grab your viewer's attention!