Nature Photography Tips 15
We’ve been covering photo composition in our Nature Photography Tips for some time now. The last photo composition technique in the series is the tunnel effect. Granted, a parapet from the ancient castle grounds in Amakusa Japan isn’t exactly a form of nature, but it does a good job of illustrating this type of photo compostition.
You can achieve this same effect by using, of course, a real tunnel or covered bridge. A classic tunnel effect can also achieved in nature photography by simply finding a narrow opening between the trunks of two trees, boulders or even leaves of a tree. The idea of this photo composition technique is to achieve a sense of looking out onto the bright world from inside a tunnel shaped, darker area. The main subject can be the ‘tunnel’ walls such as a mossy stone or log, or, as in our example, it can be the bright world outside the tunnel.
The tunnel effect emphasizes a sharp contrast, and invites direct concentration on the subject. It’s also possible to express the feeling of looking at a subject from a great distance, and serves to distance the viewer emotionally as well, thus producing a sense of calm and objectivity.
Nature Photography Tips:
Do you tend to take advantage of the tunnels and holes you find when you have your camera out? Check you files to see if you have used the tunnel effect in the past, and try it if you haven’t.
Next time we’ll list all 14 photo composition techniques we’ve covered in the Nature Photography Tips series. Thanks for staying tuned, and do leave a comment!
Tags: nature photography, nature photography tips, photo composition, photography tips, tunnel effect
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I like your tunnel effect, but as I look at my pictures, I see that I have never used it. It seems like a great way to really “zero in” to what you want someone to look at in a picture. As I was reading your blog, I wondered about the use of “artificial tunnels” like a pipe or something you could carry around and use when you wanted that effect. …..just thinking. It seems like it has real possibilities. Thanks for pointing this out. Carol W