One captivating image a day, the reason it was chosen and how you can shoot similar pictures.
Photo tip for June 2: This is a great slice of life image. By using a wide angle lens and available light the photographer was able to capture a little of what it's like for this family to live in the dormitory and keep the picture very natural.
Photo tip for June 1: The repeating pattern of white lines on the different levels of the hillside really make this image stand out and grab the readers eye. By waiting for a person to walk into the frame the photographer has added a point of interest.
Photo tip for May 31: A great way to get your subject to stand out in the frame is to separate it from the background. Here the photographer uses the blue sky to get the woman to pop out of the frame. The sand and people walking out of focus add a nice second element helping to place the photograph.
Photo tip for May 30: Taking a low angle for this photo was the key to getting the right lighting, having the action fill the frame and increasing the amount of blue sky in the shot - all elements that make for a more interesting photo.
Photo tip for May 27: Alex Bruce shot this image at Toronto's Ashbridges Bay on May 21 and shared it to our Flickr pool in response to our call-out for photos of the Victoria Day long weekend. Why we chose it: This striking image was chosen for its strong composition and exaggerated contrast which creates an almost dream-like early summer day at the beach. While the modification of an image in this way nears the ethical limit for many newspapers, it is an interesting technique to employ to boost the visual impact of a photograph.
Alex Bruce shares how the photo was made:
I used a wide angle lens - 16mm with a polarizing filter to help define the cloud structure and positioned myself directly under the net and waited for the jump shot. The photo was then cropped in Aperture to highlight the play and converted to black and white using Nik Efex Pro software. Processing included contrast, structure, sharpening and tone. The shot - ISO 640, F/16, 1/250 to freeze the action and make sure I had proper depth of field.
Each weekday, our photo editors will select one compelling image for prominent play in the newspaper. On Friday, we'll publish in the newspaper our favourite reader photo on a weekly theme. This week's theme: Magic hour (a.k.a golden hour).