Using people in your composition.

[GHPhotographer]

Hi all--

Well, I have been doing photography now for like 18 mos. I jumped in head-first, had a lot success with composition of observed, tangible things, like colors, architecture, still-life, etc! Even managed to win a couple of awards, locally...

However...

The other night, I went out and shot an art gallery opening. It looked exactly that--people talking in huddled like groups, trying to get that "shot" of them observing the pictures, etc. It was so typical. I realized, although to talk to, I am seemingly outgoing, I get a lot of personal anxiety when in public situations, although, I settle in and adapt, eventually. Hence, it translates through my pics that I am hanging in the back, hoping it will just "pop" in front of me. Understandably, I have not been shooting but for the last year and half. However, I was a professional orchestral musician, had a horrible stage-fright issue, which is why I am a stay-at-home mom now! (Its all good--LOVE MY KIDS!)

And on top of it all--the photographer I aspire to most is, Annie Liebovitz! She knows how to catch the essence of a being--and that is something I don't think is taught. So--

--with all that being said--since it seems when shooting people in a VERY public setting, how do I learn to get that essence of the moment and not the typical, what you would expect feel of a shot?

And what are your suggestions for getting to that point of comfort and strong composition?

BTW, I do shoot with some great stuff-- a Canon 5D, 24-70 f/2.8 and a 70-200 f/2.8 IS. I have other lenses, but those are my two main.

Thanks for all your help, folks...

A

[windrider86]

practice, practice, practice,
With every image you take, study it and decide what could you have done differenlty? What would have made it better? What is it lacking? And then decide how to improve. Make a game plan

[Jim Bryant]

Just takes time being there waiting for something to happen, a certain expression, body language, etc. Most of the time it's 95% being there and 5% dumb luck. It's also having the experience to know when to press the shutter and capture the moment.

Remember like everything else, practice, practice, practice. The more you take photos, the better trained your eye will become and then comes the knowledge as to when to make "that" story telling photo. Good luck!

[Triglav]

I can only add to the above that you just have to hang around in the situation a long time before ppl stop noticing you. If possible, talk to the people around you...after that hang back and shoot..