How can you create beauty and awe in your photography?

I think that different photographers approach this in different ways. For me: First, as the photographer it is important to find beauty and awe in your concept or subject or it will not be conveyed to the viewer. Second, you have to be passionate about what you are doing as an art and Lastly, trust your instincts. I tend to have an Aha Moment, that exact moment that I feel, I have captured exactly what I want to portray. It's important to trust your gut instinct.

The best photographs combine the optimal balance of light, composition and moment. Creating beauty and awe completely depends on how the image is viewed, interpreted and likely whether it evokes emotion. There is obviously a very subjective quality to all of this. One tip I give through my mentoring and workshops is to look for beauty in familiar places and even in otherwise mundane settings. You will also often be able to create compelling images by revisiting locations and subject matter and continuing to experiment with creative techniques. Don't be afraid to play!

When reading through this question, I'm tempted to disagree with the approach described in the article which I find simplistic and reductionist. Intentionally creating a photograph with beauty and awe takes a lot of research, preparation and skill to align every element required to converge at the right point during production. You also need to consider the most important fact - beauty and awe are subjective. What looks incredible to one person might look very ordinary to another. With this in mind, you have to understand what is beautiful to you and research techniques that will help you refine your own individual style. Consistent testing and refinement will lead you to produce work with beauty and awe. Practice makes perfect.

Creating beauty and awe in portrait photography starts with technical excellence already understood and applied, then creativity added in with stunning lighting, depth in your image along with impact of story. Composition with leading lines into your image and keeping the viewer interested will also add to the beauty. All subjects can be portrayed with dignity, beauty and interest.

Finding the right subject always take me the longest probably. That is me personally though. My guidelines for the right subject are - is it interesting to me? Do i connect to it? Do I feel alive or energized? There is also the subjects which you don't know about and this is the thing about learning. The more you learn about a subject the more likely you will appreciate it more and more. So whatever works for you I would say. And dont discard ordinary things, like everyday journeys or people... Anyway hope its helpful

Mastering the art of lighting in photography is probably the most important skill one can have as a photographer. Light has the power to alter how an image is perceived and evoke specific emotions or narratives in the minds of viewers. The way you manipulate and choose light will become a defining element of your style, so it's essential to pay utmost attention to it.

Without light there is no photograph. Lighting is fundamental to any image. Shadow adds depth, realism, intrigue and drama to any image… How you master the light is where the skill comes in.

Learning light is a constant lesson. I think the more you study the direction of light, whether it be from the sun or from a Studio strobe, allows you to be able to control it. Any photograph you are creating, I believe should be intentional, and when you light some thing for the most part, you were intentionally lighting it to have a certain feel.

Indirect, diffused light almost always gives the most flattering results. Choosing shade, or being just out of the direct beam of light is almost always a good option.

Photography is about subject and light. Light is crucial to how you wish to portray your subject. As such, it's important to revisit a favorite spot during different seasons, different times of day, and during different weather conditions. Each of these will produce a distinctive type of light, thus creating unique looks to that very same spot.

Apart from lighting, finding the right angle for a photo is also very important. It always depends on what’s going to be in the photo and what the centre point will be. A good way of finding the perfect balance in the composition is using the rule of thirds. The type of camera shot matters too because it sets the mood along with the lighting. By balancing out the composition, any photo will surprise and impress both the photographer and viewers.

The one thing that has really stuck with me over the years that my high school photography teacher said was that most of the time we see everything from eye-level, and so as soon as you take a photo from an angle besides eye level, your photo immediately becomes more interesting.

As a landscape (and sometimes wildlife) photographer, I do not choose to "add drama" during the photo editing stage. The drama I capture is natural: sunrises, sunsets, clouds, rainstorms, snowfall, fog or haze, interaction of wildlife with other wildlife as well as with the elements listed above. It's also of note that each of these elements (aside from wildlife interacting with its environment or other wildlife) also involve the quality of available light.

Having a story behind a photo can provide depth and context, allowing viewers to connect with the image more. However, this is not applicable to all photos; many photos do not have a clear story and some have different stories that can be told by different people looking at the photos but stating that each photo should have a story is just not correct! Abstract photography, for instance, often focuses more on color, form, and texture rather than conveying a narrative. While a story can add significant value to a photograph, it is not a strict requirement for all types of photography. The decision to include a narrative element should align with the photographer's artistic vision and the purpose of the photograph.

Every photo tells a story. The more you photograph a subject, the more that story is fleshed out. And that single photo doesn't need to be complex. Sometimes, the simplest image tells the most story, because it's left up to the viewer to interpret that story. The amount of viewing audience participation is an indicator to the interest in that photo story.

Putting yourself in the headspace of your subject can help you capture the emotions and feelings of the moment more naturally. Every picture can tell a story, but also your gallery as a whole tells a story, and you will have more room for expression and narrative in an entire gallery. Take wide photos to set the stage and give context for the shoot. Take some up close detail shots to really help set the mood and flesh out the story of your photoshoot. If this is a paid client shoot, take the time to get to know their story before the shoot so that your gallery's narrative really speaks to them.

Having your own style is the uniqueness that will stand you apart and it will create your own identification in each image you publish. this may take sometime to master but as you experience and finding your path, there it comes.

Know your camera! Take it off of Auto or Program mode and learn the basics of that camera. Experiment with each of the settings such as white balance, color, shutter speed, aperture, ISO, jgp versus RAW. The more you experiment with these and other settings, the more familiar you will be with your camera and the better you become at photography. Also, be observant. Look for such things as color, pattern, and texture, each of which contribute to a great scene. Look for the little things as well as those big things. Inspiring awe doesn't necessarily mean capturing a huge scene. Sometimes, awe inspiration can come from something as simple as a butterfly on a flower, or wildlife giving birth. Flesh out the Big Picture with the little things.

Mastering the basics of aperture, shutter speed, and ISO – known as the photography triangle – is crucial for any photographer. These three elements work together to determine how much light hits your camera's sensor, affecting how bright or dark your photos are. Aperture affects how much light comes in and the depth of field (how much of your photo is in focus). Shutter speed controls how long your camera’s sensor is exposed to light, influencing whether motion looks blurry or sharp. ISO sets how sensitive your camera is to light, which can make your photos grainy if set too high. Getting a good grip on these basics helps you take better photos, whether you're capturing fast action, landscapes, or portraits.

Great Question: The 3 elements of an outstanding portrait is Composition, Color Harmony and Design The composition should be natural and pleasing to the viewer, Color Harmony is essential to have impact and be captivating to the viewer - Design within the photograph , foreground, focus area snd background to support the color harmony- all three working together is the method of the Old Masters

The best way to create beauty is having my visage behind, not in front of the camera! More seriously I find patience is a gift when trying to capture the beauty of the planet as you may have to wait for things to come together. Shooting a sunset over islands on the South China Sea I had to wait a couple of hours for the sun to get to the right spot for the shot I wanted. Being able to wait is necessary, sometimes you just cannot force it.

I would say composition. Composition does the most in adding beauty to a photograph. Yes, the light, the story, the subject and all the other factors are important but composition makes the real difference between an average photo and a beautiful one. Play attention to all the little details, include or esclude objects in the background, double check all the corners and the lines, choose the right position for your subject and, most important, be creative! Know the rules, use them, manage them and than break them!