Every photographer knows the struggle that comes with determining once and for all what makes a truly great image. In fact, many people worry so much about nailing what makes a photograph good that they forget to anticipate elements that can make a photograph bad.
No worries if that sounds like you! Even the world’s best photographers had to deal with a bit of a learning curve before really hitting their stride. Here are a few things to watch out for that might be taking more away from your photographs than you realize.
- Your horizon is crooked.
Perhaps the absolute most distracting issue you can see in a photograph is a horizon that’s off-kilter. Even if it’s only off by a little bit, it can still absolutely ruin an otherwise good photo. That said, start paying special attention to whether or not you’re holding your camera straight. If your camera features a gridded viewfinder, definitely use it. It’s there to make your life easier.
Can’t see the actual horizon and want to make sure you’re capturing the image properly? Look for cues – like trees that are slanting diagonally – to clue you in.
- There’s a triangular shape or form in the corner of your image.
Make sure you watch your corners when taking photographs. Although it’s something of a subjective choice, many show judges and professionals consider triangular shapes in the corners of an image to be undesirable. In fact, if you’re competing or entering a contest, it’s likely that you’ll lose points for images that have them.
So what’s wrong with triangles? They can mess with the integrity of your composition and make it feel off-balance. They are also widely considered the mark of an amateur.