I picked up my first camera in 2012. At first, I’d take photos of quite literally anything. It wasn’t until I followed a network of photographers on Instagram and inserted myself into the community that I began to feel inspired by others to create moments of my own. Since then I’ve developed a passion for photography and enjoy sharing moments I experience with the rest of the world.
Explore everything.
The first step to great cityscape photos is getting out there. Go places you’ve never been. Stand where no one else wants to. Try angles and framing outside of your comfort zone. If you’ve already been to a location, go again and try a new approach. Exploration of your craft only leads to beneficial new discoveries.
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Think outside the box.
The world is a broad spectrum of opportunity. It’s up to you as a photographer or visual creator to identify those opportunities and use them to your advantage. When setting up a shot, think of ways to do it differently. Forget the rules of photography and orchestrate things on your own terms. You’ll be surprised with what you capture for even daring to be different.
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Tie composition with instinct.
Shooting aimlessly at a scene or subject is pointless. Try finding something that sparks your interests and drives your artistic being. When you feel naturally inspired, you’ll find it much easier to create. Shoot with purpose. Strive to convey emotions with your photos rather than pointing and shooting.
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Your ideas are only as good as your settings.
Understanding your camera’s settings is crucial for creating certain moods. For example, shooting cityscapes at lower apertures makes the scene smoother with a sharp point of focus. Higher apertures entail more crisp and defined scenes. Take the time to learn and tweak your settings to emulate the look you want.
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Take advantage of your surroundings.
Art is everywhere. Whether it’s in rays of light illuminating a city block, or a group of people crossing a street simultaneously, know what to look for and seize photo ops that life throws at you. Use an environment to the best of your ability.
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It all comes down to Post Processing.
Post processing allows you to add personality to your photos. My software of choice is Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5. I play with temperatures, split toning, contrast, and saturation to achieve certain colors and tones. Fully immerse yourself into all the creative options your software offers and find your flare.
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Newt Hinds
Newt Hinds – Contr4st – Freelance Photographer. Born in 1998 in Brooklyn, New York. Currently living in New York City. “The World Is Yours.”