Photographing Signs.
Signs are everywhere and as you travel to different destinations you will notice subtle and not so subtle differences between the signs you see.
Signs can tell a great deal about a country, instantly. They come in an enormous range of sizes, shapes and colors and are often very photogenic. Signs often tell the language, orientation, development status of a country.
Photographing signs is not particularly technical and can be quite simple, here are five quick steps to help you get the very best photographs from signs.
- Look for authentic signs.
If you travel to a very traditional place look for more traditional signs and NOT the sign for the newly built motoway! If the place is newly developed with lots of posh buildings, for example Dubai, photograph the shiny new shopping centre signs.
Composition.
1.Fill the frame with the whole sign to give real impact.
2.Shoot just a small part of the sign for a more arty photograph.
3.Photograph the sign with a background to tell a story or to give the sign context.
If your shooting the sign with a back ground think about using a smaller aperture to give you a larger depth of field, this will insure the back ground is in focus. If you plan to fill the frame with the sign use a larger aperture and shoot just a small amount of the back ground to give your photograph a border. Remember to mix up your shots with a range of different compositions.
- Context.
A sign will give your photographs context. Try and think about where the sign will go in relation to your other photographs in the album. If your traveling to many countries use a sign to start the beginning of the countries photographs. If your traveling in one country use a sign to mark a different region or place.
Many modern road signs can be reflective. By using a flash you can either enhance or ruin a photograph, depending on how the sign reacts to your flash. Try both with and with out flash and see what happens.
- Signs can be funny.
Wrong translations, a difference in customs or simple sarcasm means some signs are really very funny. Look out for the misuse of english or the politically incorrect notice.
Keep your eye out for signs, they can sometimes blend into the back ground but as we all know they are so important.
Have fun!
