Varying brightness, contrast and structure for depth

Walden Ponds, Winter Trees. Boulder, Colorado, 2014

I’m not yet as successful as I would like to be, but I am trying to work on creating more depth in my images. One way of doing this is to vary the brightness, contrast and structure/clarity (and other things) in selected areas of the landscape. If done correctly and effectively this can give the photograph more of a layered effect and you can make your primary subject(s) stand out a bit more from the secondary and tertiary subjects. The idea is to be subtle enough so that the viewer doesn’t consciously realize their eyes are being guided by you through the picture.I have found Nik/Google Silver Efex Pro to be a very effective tool for doing this, specifically their neat little doohickeys called “Control Points”. You can set one to change the previously-mentioned variables (and more) in a certain area. Just as important, you can also set others to “anchor” these variables in place if you don’t want them to change. Don’t be afraid to use ten, twenty, thirty or more control points to get the effect you want. I find it to be a lot easier than using multiple layers in Photoshop.

The images in today’s post are examples of some of my practice work to this end. Can you detect what areas I might have darkened? Lightened? Added contrast? Do I point you effectively to the primary subject?

Obviously, this is a journey. You and I will never get to where we want to be with this…but we can always improve, and that is the point. Relentless forward motion at all times!

Sawhill Ponds, Winter Trees #3. Boulder, Colorado, 2014

Walden Ponds, Winter Abstract. Boulder, Colorado, 2014