9 Rules for Exceptional Photos: Kenny Gordon's Guide
Third in our series on improving your photography - Insights from Professional Photographers that anyone can apply. Here are nine photography principles which will transform your photos by Glasgow-based photographer, Kenny Gordon.
“I met Kenny at last year's Scottish Portrait Awards ceremony. He recently won the Portrait of Britain and was shortlisted for the Scottish Portrait Awards 2023. He has also featured in UK Landscape Photographer of the Year.
It was a pleasure to meet someone whose work was so startlingly beautiful but wasn’t full of bluster and ego either (as there can sometimes be at these events!). We’ve stayed in touch since and I was delighted when he agreed to jot down his tips for all of us to use to make better photographs.” - Jo
Kenny on his photography
“I love all types of photography including documentary, portrait and street photography but I’m most passionate about capturing moments in time with my family.
I would like to do more street portraits of strangers this year and capture more family moments to remember.”
Kenny’s 9 photo tips
1/ Understand The Rule of Thirds.
“The rule of thirds is a composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right, top of bottom third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open.” credit
I always have a grid display overlay on my screen to compose. Understand the intersection of lines to position your subject.
A personal example of the subject being placed according to the rule of thirds
2/ Look for repeating patterns; these are always very pleasing on the eye. Even better if you have an outlier from the pattern.
Look for satisfying patterns. And the odd one out.
3/ Listen to the experts but trust your feelings. Photography is subjective, if you love the photo that’s what counts. A photo doesn’t have to be technically perfect. Some of my favourite photos are blurry.
Trust your gut. “Some of my favourite photos are blurry”
4/ I saw this quote recently and it just clicked with me.
Shoot wide for context
Shoot mid to show a subject
Shoot close to show emotion.
Left to right: Wide, Mid, Close
5/ Sunrises and sunsets are always worth it. Get out of bed to capture that shot. It may seem like an effort but morning and evening light can make a photo.
6/ Become a weather expert – extreme weather makes for great landscape photography. Understand when to predict if a great sunrise or sunset is expected. Follow weather reports for fog, snow and even storms can give dramatic results.
7/ If you like reflection photography such as puddles get as low as possible to them to get a better reflection
8/ Experiment – long exposure, moving camera, double exposure. It's fun and some of the results will surprise you. You can even do these on your camera phone.
Image experiments: moving camera on left, long exposures on centre and right
9/ Don’t be afraid to approach strangers for photos, most are flattered you want to take their photo!
Street portraits of strangers - don’t be scared!
Also in this series
Mike Guest’s advice - featuring his glorious water and surf work - his advice focuses on joy, photographing friends and seizing the moment.
Or begin at the very beginning of this series- join James Robertson’s photo strategies in his ultracycling work - looking at different kinds of portraiture, the importance of patience and lateral thinking!