(click on the image to see larger version)

This post marks the beginning of a new editorial schedule entitled Technique Tuesday.  Each Tuesday, I will post a photographic tip or suggestions with the goal of develop your understanding of photography and the skills necessary to create the pictures you want.

This week we will begin with a simple concept that has resulted in some of my best images: fill the frame with something interesting.  Everywhere we look, potential photographs exist.  Too often, however, we include too much and the resulting image lacks focus.  Viewers become confused about our message and loss interest.  The solution?  When you find a subject, fill the frame with it.  Cut out everything but the subject.  If it is a person, get up close and personal until their face is all you see (make sure they are OK with this before you try).  For wildlife, pull out the telephoto lens and creep forward as close as possible.  Getting closer, either physically (move those legs) or optically (pull out the telephoto lens) helps eliminate the distractions and focus all of the attention on your subject.  This is not to say that you should never include the surroundings as part of the photo, but include them because they are important, not because you got lazy and didn’t fill the frame.

The above image of a Cheetah was captured in the Northern part of the Serengeti, Tanzania.  The image was created using a Canon 1D mark 2, 500mm IS lens with a 2x teleconverter attached, at 500 ISO.  The image was made from a vehicle and a beanbag was used to stabilize the lens.