How to Add a Sense of Depth to Digital Photos

Every day millions of digital photos are taken, most of which are low in artistic quality. Adding a sense of depth to your digital photographs is one of the most effective ways to add visual interest for your viewers. Achieving a sense of depth in photography is possible with the application of composition and lighting techniques. The use of expensive equipment is not necessary.

• 1

  Compose your pictures with background, middle ground and foreground elements to create a sense of perspective for the viewer. Imagine a travel picture of a family on an RV trip. The family is in the foreground. The RV is behind the family in the middle ground. The background is a distant mountain range behind the RV. The three elements together create the illusion of objects that are close up and far away.

• 2

  Set your aperture to the widest F-stop setting (usually 2.8 or 3.5) and place your subject in front of a simple background. The low depth of field from your wide aperture will create a background blur and make the in-focus subject pop.

• 3

  Find a window inside, preferably one on the north side of the building. A tripod would be helpful, as you probably will be working in low light. Place your subject by the opening, letting the light in from the side. The mix of light and shadow will make your subject look tangible.

• 4

  Place or instruct your model to face east while outside at dawn. As the sun rises, shoot a frame every couple of minutes. At some point during your shoot the best looking light will appear and your subject will be enhanced with luscious golden light and beautiful shadows, making your subject come to life.

• 5

  Avoid using the on-camera flash if you want to create depth in your pictures. The flash evenly lights your subject, eliminating the shadows that create the sense of three dimensions.