Compression

What is it and why do I want to know?

This links back to the subject of perspective, in many ways, and most assuredly it injects drama. That is desirable often, but not always. Ask yourself what feature in your view do you want to be the hero? Or, where am I leading the eye in this composition? Then ask yourself why you want to go to that composition location and what feeling do you want to invoke about that feature?

The best place to find the answers to these questions is your heart. It will be filled with what you see as a focus of your intent. Then of course you must set about implementing yours heart’s desire. Not so easy really, because you firstly must determine where you need to be to best achieve this;where you need to locate yourself relative to your target. But I digress, what of compression?

In essence when you arrange features in alignment within your frame and then change the depth between those features, with focal length. This brings the background forward and enhancement to depth, increasing drama.

In landscape, IMHO shooting in such a way that, drama present in the frame is reduced or removed, is often counter productive. And it serves no purpose - what a waste of effort. And frankly where is the heart? I might seem to be coming down on this a little heavily, my apologies if that causes any suffering. That is certainly not my intent, this is just my passion talking, everyone has their own wondrous perception … and yes heart, in their focus of intent.

Compression is a tool, just a tool. But a very powerful one.