5 Pro Tips for Superior Drone Photography Composition
1. Introduction
When we take a picture, we usually adjust the camera and zoom until we find a nice view. We want to fit everything we care about inside the frame.
That’s the basic idea of composition. In some of my previous articles, I talked a lot about composition and the powerful tools we can take advantage to create more balance and harmony in our images.
But, as we learned, it’s not so easy to do it well. We have to think about what to show and what to hide, where to place things, how big or small they should be in the frame, what’s behind them, where the light is coming from, and so on.
There is no right or wrong way to compose an image. (in this article a few ideas on my approach)
When you're photographing from above using a drone, the perspective changes and it offers a unique view and a lot of creative possibilities that you wouldn't get from the ground.
We can now move the camera in three dimensions: up and down, left and right, forward and backward. We can also tilt and rotate the camera to change the angle and orientation of the shot.
This means we have more freedom, but it also adds more complexity to composing the shot.
Composition is more challenging when we do aerial photography. We have to think about how to use the height, distance, and angle to create interesting and effective compositions.
So, it's essential to consider this new perspective and how it affects the objects and elements within your frame.
In this article, we’ll go over 5 of my favorite tips for composing drone shots. While many of the principles of traditional photography apply to aerial photography, there are also some unique considerations that must be taken into account when shooting from above.
By following these tips, you can create more impactful drone shots that will capture the attention of your viewers.
2. Don't Include Too Much Sky
The sky plays a significant role in landscapes. Its light, colors, and formations can captivate the viewer and influence the overall composition of an image.
It’s an important compositional element that can add dynamism to a photo when it differs from the rest of the scene. However, it's essential to be careful when making decisions about it in your photos. It’s very easy to mess up when deciding how much sky to include in your frame.
Just like mountains, lakes, and rocks, the elements in the sky have their own "weights" that we should try to balance in the frame. We should treat sky shapes the same as the other elements of the picture.
Unless the sky is really amazing, don’t let it take up too much space in your picture. Just tilt your camera down a bit and show more of what you want to capture. It will look much better.
The harmonious balance, most of the time, is simply a gut feeling. The balance and relationship between the elements is all about the story you want to tell, and the feeling you want to communicate.
3. Fly Low
Drone photography allows you to capture perspectives that are not accessible from the ground. However, this does not mean that you should always fly your drone as high as possible and take photos from that vantage point.
Some don’t even need to look like drone shots at all.
Doing so can make your portfolio look dull and repetitive.
A better approach is to vary your angles and heights, depending on the context of your shot. Sometimes, you may want to lower your drone to a few meters above the ground. This can create more dynamic and interesting compositions, with longer leading lines and richer backgrounds.
Of course, you can also experiment with different positions and see what works best for your subject.
4. Utilize Leading Lines
Leading lines are a powerful compositional tool in any genre of photography, and they become even more impressive when captured from a bird's-eye view with a drone.
Aerial photography makes leading lines more obvious because you can see so much more from above.
When seen from a higher vantage point, the interplay of roads, power lines, trees, roads, rivers, and shorelines creates strong lines leading the viewer's eye toward the main subject of your image and evokes a sense of motion.
These lines can add depth and interest to your composition, guiding the viewer through the scene.
5. Add a Human Element to Your Shots
Drones provide a unique perspective that allows you to capture vast landscapes, but it can be challenging to convey scale without a point of reference.
Combine your composition with prominent elements such as buildings, vehicles, or people to add a sense of proportion and context to your photographs.
6. Diagonals to Create Depth
Diagonal lines in photography composition add movement, depth, tension, and dynamism to images.
Unlike horizontal and vertical lines that create a static feel, diagonal lines guide the viewer's eye through the frame and create a sense of direction. They create the illusion of depth, especially when converging towards a vanishing point, adding a three-dimensional quality to an otherwise flat scene.
Diagonal lines also introduce tension to a composition, as their off-balance nature pulls the viewer along their trajectory, often intersecting with other lines for added visual interest.
In landscape photography, diagonal lines can be found in rivers, trees, rocks, or roads, and incorporating them into compositions enhances the overall visual impact of the image.
7. Embrace Symmetry and Patterns
Symmetry and patterns are two powerful compositional tools that can be used to create visually interesting and engaging photographs.
Symmetry is the repetition of elements on either side of a central axis. It can be vertical, horizontal, or radial. Symmetry creates a sense of balance and order in a photograph, and it can also lead the viewer's eye to the focal point of the image.
Patterns are created by the repetition of elements within a photograph. Patterns can be created by lines, shapes, colors, or textures. They can be regular or irregular, simple or complex. Patterns can add depth, interest, and visual rhythm to a photograph.
Aerial photography often reveals mesmerizing patterns and symmetrical formations that are not easily noticed from the ground. Utilize these natural and man-made symmetries to create visually appealing compositions.
Whether it's symmetrical landscapes, architectural geometries, or patterns in nature, capturing these elements from above can produce striking images.
8. Conclusion
Remember, these composition tips are just a starting point, and as with any form of art, experimentation, and personal style are essential. Enjoy the unique perspective that drone photography offers and good luck with your photography.
I’m Curious…
How do you approach drone photography? Do you have any specific technique you like to use in composing aerial images? Let me know in the comments!
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