The SpectraLight Photography Blog

Have you ever tried to get a photo of something but your view was blocked by an object or group of people?

The photo on the left shows a fence blocking the view of final preparations of a float for the Rose Bowl Parade.

For the photo on the right, I raised the camera over the fence and took a series of photos tilting it up, down, left and right until I captured a photo that was nicely composed. I then deleted all other photos that were not as pleasing this.

Other notes: These photos were taken the day before the 2010 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena. Featured here is a float honoring the Tuskegee Airmen of WWII.

Architecture lends itself to striking full building views as well as detailed close-ups.

The photo at left shows the whole building. I then zoomed in on some interesting details that are easily missed in the first photo.

Other notes: These photos are of Pasadena City Hall taken in December, 2009.

Sometimes taking a minute to walk around your subject while taking photos will present a more interesting composition than what you first see.

In photo at left, the building is somewhat hidden by the trees and the lighting is pretty one-dimensional.

I then moved to the opposite side of the building where it had some sunlight and shadow and a little less trees blocking the view.

Other notes: These photos are of Pasadena City Hall taken in December, 2009.

Sometimes tipping your camera a little sideways can give an ordinary composition a lot more interest. The photo at left shows the palm trees growing naturally.

I then tipped the camera to one side for a more interesting take on a subject that’s been photographed millions of times.

Other notes: These photos were taken two days before the 2010 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena.

Using your camera’s flash is sometimes a matter of personal preference. In an earlier post, I showed how the flash eliminated shadows on the subject’s faces for a more pleasing look. In the above photo, the flash eliminated the shadows but took away from the form and texture of the roses.

In this photo the roses are illuminated by available light only. Note how the roses have a more three-dimensional look.

Other notes: These photos were taken two days before the 2010 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena at the rose garden at Tournament House – the official home of the Tournament of Roses Association executive offices.

This photo was taken without using the little flash on a “point-and-shoot” digital camera. See the unflattering shadows on the faces? Also note the distracting signs in the background to the right of the couple.

In this photo, I turned on the flash and let the camera automatically add just enough light for a more pleasing look on the couple’s faces. I also moved the couple a little to the right to hide the signs and reveal the curved sidewalk that “connects” the couple in the foreground to the arbor in the background.

Other notes: These photos were taken two days before the 2010 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena at Tournament House – home of the official Tournament of Roses Association executive offices. It is an Italian Renaissance-style mansion once owned by chewing-gum pioneer William Wrigley Jr. and built between 1906 and 1914.

The couple in the photo are Richard Nicholson (our “unofficial tour guide” and friend) and my wife Doreen.