Challenge - Windows and Doors

Challenge Topic: Windows and Doors

Posting Date: Saturday, September 14, 2013

Online Background Information:

• Window and door photography tips
• 25 amazing examples of window and door photography

Additional Tips and Suggestions:

Forms, lines, and texture in architecture captivate many photographers, particularly architectural features such as of windows and doors. These everyday objects possess both utilitarian and decorative functions. And their artistic capture in photographs can evoke powerful emotions and mood, thereby bringing the viewers into the scenes. A composition may include many elements or use a simplistic approach that excludes extraneous items that detract from the window or door subject. Ideas for subject matter include emphasis on shapes, textures, contrasting colors, isolated details, reflections, light and shadows, symmetry, patterns, and compositional framing.

When photographing glass components, you should be pay attention to reflections. Make sure that reflections do not provide a distraction. In addition to outside vantage points, look for composition opportunities with an interior view. Use your camera’s exposure compensation settings or automatic exposure lock to manage highly backlit scenes or lighting with a lot of contrast. (Read your camera manual if you don't know how to do these adjustments!) Doors and windows also can provide instant frames within a composition, so they can be used to compliment people, animals, objects, and distant vistas.

Be sure to check out the links provided above for background information and examples. Perform searches on Google Images and Pinterest for numerous composition and lighting ideas for windows and doors. Seek out different types of buildings in your area that provide architectural interest: churches, commercial buildings, residential buildings, historic structures, farms. Include scale or additional interest to your composition, such as a pet, person, decorative accent, etc.

Think creatively in setting up and post-processing your shots. For a captivating composition, you want to compel the viewers to peek through that window, go through that door, or place themselves into the overall scene, as if they are seeing it with their own eyes.

Instructions:

Prepare one to five of your own photographic images of windows and/or doors. You may take new photos or use ones in your archives. Please include any information or tips that may be of assistance to other participants (e.g., how you took the images, post-processing details, camera settings, what you learned).

The linkup tool will be available the day before the challenge date (September 13) and a couple days thereafter. Don’t forget to set up a calendar reminder for yourself!

Special Note from Your Hostess, Donna: During this particular challenge, my husband will be in the hospital and recovering from major surgery for pancreatic cancer. I will try to prepare my challenge post in advance so that I can participate. However, I will be unable to visit folks and comment on their work. It would be terrific if you can offer extra encouragement to the other participants since I will be absent. Thank you for your understanding!