How to Take Artistic Photographs

Video Transcript

"Hi I'm Richard Petty, I'm a photographer in St. Louis and this is how to take artistic photographs. There are really three things you need to look at. First of all, your subject has to be interesting. It cannot be an artistic photograph if it's a boring subject. You need to take a picture of something that is really fascinating and interesting. The next thing you have to do is understand composition. Great composition for your artistic photographs, try some different camera angles, you can even try tilting the camera or getting down really low or getting in really close but be sure that it contributes to the artistic nature of the photograph and is not just gimmicky. You need to go to the art museum and look at the pictures there and you need to understand how to balance your picture and how to make things in the picture draw your eye to the most interesting part of the picture. Finally be conscious of your lighting. Your lighting has really got to contribute to the photograph and not detract from it. I think that the best way if you're outdoors is to use a lot of reflectors and have assistants who hold them for you. If you're indoors then you need to learn how to use your lighting, your soft boxes, your umbrellas and all your lighting in order to give you the best effect that contributes to the artistic nature of your photograph."