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As photographers we’re responsible for telling the story of a moment or series of events in a single image. It allows the viewer to take a mental trip through our photographs. No matter what your focus is in photography, being able to convey a story will help add impact to your images. One of the ways to do that is through creating multi-dimensional or multi-layered images.

I’m not referring to any fancy Photoshop move so back away from adding yet another background layer in post. No, the layers I’m referring to are points of interest throughout a photograph. They can either be a different and fully complete second focal point to your image, or an action/object/idea just hinted at. Either way, they can lend a sense of place or of action yet to happen or already occurred.

Think of your entire frame

The first step in creating multi-layered images is to be aware of what’s in your entire frame. Every part of your photograph can and does tell a story or impact how a viewer connects with an image. Do you focus on every layer of your photographs?

A great landscape photograph could be completely destroyed by a big piece of trash in a corner of one of the frames. On the opposite note, that piece of trash could be a very big statement to the image. It’s all in knowing what you’re trying to say and being able to frame your image or place items in it that evoke your vision.

Concepts trump “single” photos

A key tenet in advertising and editorial photography is to create images that tell a story around a specific concept. An entire idea or series of photos need to be compressed into one single image. It’s how an ad in a magazine for a resort or hotel makes you say, “Man, I’d really like to go there.”  It’s the emotions and feelings that one photo draws out.

It’s possible to do that by creating layers in a photo. For example, a resort photo might show a woman getting a stone massage under a tropical leaf hut and in the background windsurfers are cruising the waves on the clear blue ocean. That image creates a feeling of relaxation and adventure all in one, and a greater appeal to viewers who might value different activities in a vacation. It can be subtle things like in the photo to the left where the model is holding a new iPhone and in the background is an old rotary phone, conveying the classic feel of your old phone in this new wonder of technology.

Motion is yet another way to create a multi-dimensional image. It can lend the sense of an impending action. Whether you freeze a single moment, say a group of friends jumping off a rock into the water, or create some blur as a cyclist streaks by on an adventure, both make you wonder what’s next.

Plan and scout

If you’re photographing for journalistic purposes, you won’t be able to plan ahead or arrange any of the elements in your image. However, what makes a great news-telling image is the ability to convey a story through noticing even the tiniest details.

If you’re shooting commercially you’ll have the advantage to fully plan out your photo shoot. Try to scout the location to determine the best time to shoot, write down shot ideas and plan different layers of your image. How can you help tell a complete story using all the layers of a photograph?

Start thinking beyond the primary subject of your photograph. When you do, you’ll be on your way to creating richer, story-telling images.

Post from: Digital Photography School

Digital Photography School

Flickr today released a new suggested users list. You can go here and Flickr will show you some people it feels like randomly that have common contacts with you. They show you 8 names and then you can click to “refresh your recommendations,” to get some more.

I tried the page myself and clicked on refresh your recommendations several times but didn’t find anyone especially relevant that I felt I needed to add. Most of the suggested user pages that I’ve tried on other pages usually don’t feel very accurate either — with the exception of Twitter, which I find regularly suggests very relevant tweeters to me.

The above screenshot shows what the new feature looks like.

As part of this new suggested users feature, Flickr also launched the ability to check which of your Facebook friends are on Flickr that you currently are not following. I tried this feature out several times as well but it seems to be borked (see above). I’ll try it again later.

Some have suggested that there may be privacy concerns with opening up your Flickr accounts to all of your facebook friends without authorization by default. If you are concerned about this privacy issue there is a method to opt out of this service and hide your flickr account from facebook here.

I think a suggested users feature is a good thing for Flickr. I do worry Flickr could be blacklisting certain members from being recommended (like they do with their Explore). The randomness of the presentation makes it difficult at this point to determine just how or why they might/could be blacklisting certain members for suggestion.

There is a feedback post in the Flickr Help Forum (where I’m still permanently banned) here — Flickr blog post on the new feature here.

Thomas Hawk Digital Connection

UPDATE: The doc has aired, and Joey has posted a ton of pictures and background info on his blog. Neat stuff, and definitely worth a look.
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Just a quick heads-up to make sure to catch JoeyL’s documentary tonight at 10pm on Ovation TV. I saw an early version, and it is definitely worth your time.

It’s easy to want to poke fun at someone who is so successful at such a young age. And between you and me I try to every chance I get. But if you watch this thing tonight I think you will come away with a good impression of who he really is and what is motivating him to do such amazing stuff.

If you do not get Ovation TV, he has arranged for a DVD pressing and will have them available via his blog. No idea on pricing, etc. (And w/Joey, you really never know…)

But if you have access to Ovation TV, don’t miss it. I am very much looking forward to it tonight.

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Strobist