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PROJECT | 17 The art of graffiti


Many people will see graffiti as an act of vandalism, but there are some stunning examples that can be used to create fantastic images. Graffiti can be used as an urban background for a portrait image, but equally it can be photographed in its own right. If you do come across some colourful artistic efforts, try using your PEN’s Pop Art filter to boost the colours further. Position yourself at a right angle to the artwork to make sure you get it all in one plane of focus and look closely to pick out details and shapes.


CREATE A SILHOUETTE


If you’re shooting a building with a distinct outline, try capturing it as a silhouette. This works particularly well on churches but can also be effective on more modern architecture. Switch to spot metering mode on your camera for a precise exposure measurement and take a reading from a bright area of the sky (not the sun!). Make a note of the aperture and shutter speed readings, then set them using the camera’s Manual exposure mode. For further creativity, try changing your Olympus’s white-balance to add a colour cast to the shot.


Compose yourself


When shooting buildings, one of the most common mistakes is to ignore the need for foreground interest in a picture – but including this will not only lead the viewer’s eye into the picture, it can also add a sense of scale to your shot. Suitable foreground objects include walls, signs and even flowers – so have a good look around your location before you start shooting.


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