Photographic Techniques - Shoot For Meaning

Do you know your photographic voice and which techniques matter to you? If not, let us help you find it.

Learn visual techniques. Apply them. See yourself improve.

Visual techniques are the language of photography — the vocabulary and syntax you use to say what you mean. Learn how each technique works, train your eye to recognize it, and upload your photos to find out how well you're using it.

Choose a technique below to start learning, practicing, and getting feedback that makes your next shoot stronger.

Learn

Concept tutorials

Train

Recognition practice

Master

Build mastery of your work

Choose a technique below to learn, train your recognition, and get feedback on your work.

High Contrast

Use large differences in brightness to direct attention. Separate elements to show clearer relationships. Hide details to create mystery. Create stories of search and discovery.

1 Learn the Concept 2 Train My Recognition 3 Build Mastery

Master this technique. Sign up to start today.

Try This

Frame Within a Frame

Using elements within the scene to frame and organize other elements within the scene to establish visual priorities. Create stories of relationships between the framing and the framed.

1 Learn the Concept 2 Train My Recognition 3 Build Mastery

Master this technique. Sign up to start today.

Layering

Arranging scene elements along the depth/z-axis to increase a photo's 3-dimensionality and draw the eye from layer to layer to create spatial and narrative relationships.

1 Learn the Concept 2 Train My Recognition 3 Build Mastery

Master this technique. Sign up to start today.

Motion

Using blur and elements frozen in time to convey movement and change.

1 Learn the Concept 2 Train My Recognition 3 Build Mastery

Master this technique. Sign up to start today.

Perspective

Positioning the camera and tilting or angling the lens to create a specific—often unusual—point of view that uses orientation of the viewer to emphasize elements and relationships within a scene.

1 Learn the Concept 2 Train My Recognition 3 Build Mastery

Master this technique. Sign up to start today.

Reflection

Use reflections from glass, water, metal, and reflecting surfaces to layer elements on top of each other, create 3-dimensional depth, show parallels, symmetry, and division, and draw relationships between the sides of elements that can't all be seen from a single point of view. Create layered, complex stories of connection and separation.

1 Learn the Concept 2 Train My Recognition 3 Build Mastery

Master this technique. Sign up to start today.

Scale

Using differences in apparent and actual size to create hierarchies of priority and comparisons that suggest differences of importance.

1 Learn the Concept 2 Train My Recognition 3 Build Mastery

Master this technique. Sign up to start today.

Silhouette

Eliminating detail in complete shadow to emphasize character form and narrative role by removing specific identity.

1 Learn the Concept 2 Train My Recognition 3 Build Mastery

Master this technique. Sign up to start today.