Happy New Year!

An English Autumn: Photo Tips

Condensation forms inside the Palm House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond, England

[ Desktop and laptop viewing: Click on any photo for a slide show of 16 images ]

Welcome to the fourth blog in our UK 2016 series! Our creative team's October holiday included visits to museums, gardens, churches, historic buildings and parks. Great Britain, literally.

S U B J E C T S

Kew Gardens

The British Museum

St Bartholomew the Great 

Greenwich Park

St Paul's Cathedral

Courtauld Gallery

Chelsea Bridge
Abbotsbury, a village in Dorset on the southern English coast

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A N   E N G L I S H   A U T U M N :

P H O T O   T I P S 

C O L O R

L I N E

T E X T U R E

F O R M

B A L A N C E

These are the principles of design. While not "set in stone," (we're artists, after all!), these key points are helpful when taking pictures:

• Look for interesting angles, details and color. 

• Crop as you shoot and frame your image.

• Notice texture — capture dimension effectively in a 2-D format.

• Find the light source, set up your shot, and think about what you wish to achieve.
• Use flash fill in portraits of people. Position subject close enough to camera so face is illuminated. 

• Consider converting a few color shots to black and white later. Nice for vintage architecture.

• Don’t just take endless photos. Focus your thoughts (and the camera!), and be discerning.

• Train yourself to see differently. 

Diffused Light

England is well-known for diffused light. Skies can be stormy and grey. Watch for the sun — light changes quickly, especially after a storm.

To see masterful depictions of England's diffused light, visit the JMW Turner collection of paintings at Tate Britain. 

Remember, the camera does not see exactly what the human eye sees… Take your time. Compose your shots. Be smart. And have fun!

The Rule of Thirds

Divide your photo into three equal sections and place your subject to one side for visual interest. A subject can be anything — a person, a classic building, a tree, a dog, a big red bus. You get the idea. Following the rule of thirds makes for more interesting photos.

Grandeur

I like to shoot verticals — towers, monuments (Big Ben, St Paul’s, Kew's 300-year-old trees). LOOK UP!

High resolution

Use any camera, but always take photos in high resolution for best quality and clarity.

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Emilie Pallos Graphic Design, a Los Angeles-based design studio

We design projects for clients in a range of professions: Corporate identity, logos, website design & development, marketing communications, advertising. Get in touch with Emilie at studio@emiliepallosdesign.com to talk about new marketing materials and upgrading your online presence. View our website HERE.

Good design is good business.

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New photos from England

Photos by Emilie Pallos except where noted

October 2016

Chelsea Bridge

Battersea Park

Egyptian Bastet Cat, The British Museum

Here, kitty, kitty... Photo by Vic Pallos

Great Central Court, The British Museum

Interior staircase, Courtauld Gallery

Autumn color at Kew

Kew cobblestones

Maple tree, Kew. Photo by Vic Pallos

The Hive at Kew

Greenwich Park. Britain's seafaring history, remembered.

Abbotsbury, England

St Bartholomew the Great, an 11th century Norman church north of St Paul's Cathedral. The letter box is a bit newer, I think! Lovely patina and Roman letterforms.

IHS monogram: "Jesus" in Greek. St Bartholomew the Great, London.

Sir Christopher Wren's masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral.