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Here are some ideas to help you take pictures that capture the essence of the
current season - winter, spring, summer, or fall. Even if you're in a
different latitude and your climate is considerably different from ours in
New York, you may still find valuable tips here. Our discussion of a
particular picture that we think captures the essence of the current season
often involves a photographic technique that is basic to good photography in
general. So, whether you live in Australia or Oahu, Beijing or Boston, check
out this page for ideas you may be able to use now or later.
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While we shiver our way through
winter, those of use who live in the temperate zones get to enjoy the reward
of the spring's arrival. The transition between winter and spring is most
dramatic in those parts of the world where snowfall is common in the winter.
Greg Hall, who lives in British Columbia, captured this intimate photo of one
of the first harbingers of spring, the hardy crocus. Not only is the crocus
one of the first flowers to arrive in the spring, best of all it arrives
regardless of snow cover. Tendrils of a new season that poke their heads up
without waiting for the snow cover to yield entirely.
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Let's look at this image using NYI's Three Guidelines
for Great Photographs. If you're unfamiliar with our Guidelines, we'll
review them quickly here. For an in-depth examination of the Three
Guidelines, click your way to our popular feature, the Photo of the Month
Review, where each month we analyze a different photo and show how the NYI
Guidelines are the backbone of every successful photograph.
Guideline One: What's the subject of your photograph? The subject of
this image isn't just a photograph of a bunch of crocus blooms. If the
photographer just wanted to show the flowers, the best image would be one
that showed the flowers and little else. Here, the subject is both the crocus
and the snow cover, and the tension between the flowers and the layer of snow
that they have punctured. It's no surprise that Greg captioned his photo
"Bustin' Loose."
Guideline Two:How is the subject of the photo given emphasis? In this
photo,
 Greg has made his subject large
and up front in the frame. The soft lighting gives good overall illumination
to the flowers and the snow. We know the sun isn't shining because if it
were, there would be shadows cast by the crocus blooms and leaves. Also,
bright sun would tend to wash out detail in the snow. It's important to see
detail in the snow because we can see its granularity. This isn't a fresh
coating of powder, rather it's late season snow that has endured a few warm
spells and started to turn to tiny ice crystals.
Guideline Three: How can the subject and the image be simplified?
There's little extraneous material in this photo. On the right side of this
image there is an out-of-focus brown speck that could be a leaf or a patch of
earth. We don't find it distracting. Rather, it adds a bit of depth to the
image.
Spring is a season for flowers and often flowers tend to be a riot of color
and bloom. In this simple image, Greg has recorded a small victory in the
battle between the end of the harsh winter season and the arrival of spring
with its promise of rejuvenation and renewal. It's a simple photo that says a
lot.
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