Have you been into a bakery lately? Have you seen some of those incredible wedding and birthday cakes out there? You know, the ones that are 3 feet tall! Have you ever wondered how they do it? How do those masters of baking create such a delight, a feast for both the mouth and the eyes?
They do it in layers. A 3-foot cake would be difficult to make, and probably fall in on itself, otherwise. I’m sure you’re wondering where I’m going with this, maybe into Photoshop? Worse, maybe I’m just a sugar hungry fool?
No, I’m introducing the concept of creating your image in “layers.” After you’ve visualized the image you desire, after you’ve put some thought into the composition, the light, and the subject, you have to work on creating your vision. One of the simplest ways is in “layers.” Examine your background; make it match your vision. Move on to your middle ground, then the foreground. At each step, make it match your vision. Check the elements, one “layer” at a time, and build your next “layer” upon your last. End your “layers” at the subject you are trying to feature, your center of interest. Along the way, make sure to check your lighting and exposure throughout the entire range, and in each “layer.” Here’s an example how you can use “layers” in your work.
Here you can the following layers; the sky, the statue, the pedestal, the bridge running behind the statue and pedestal, and the trees. By moving around until I got the scene I visualized, and looking at each element as a layer I was able to get something nice.
ISO 200, f/8, 1/100
Your “layers” can be something other than foreground, background, and middle ground. You can set up your “layers” to match your vision. Maybe for you, it’s the top third, middle third, and bottom third. Start seeing you’re visualization, and you composition, in “layers,” and you’ll start seeing a whole new world of creative opportunities open up. Just like the master baker, building those masterpiece cakes, you’ll build some masterpieces of you own. Trust me, yours can be every bit as impressive as that baker’s can.
Hohenfels, and our little part of the world, have enough layers to build a cake and ice it, too. Just keep your eyes open and building your photographic “cake.” Don't forget to share your pics and questions by posting at the Hohenfels Volks Facebook page, or by commenting here!
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