The Photographer's Eye: Graphic Guide

REVEAL

Sufi Qbas, El Kabbashi, Sudan, 2003

The reveal is a technique from the movies, and frankly difficult to achieve in a single still photograph, if not impossible. But let’s try anyway. In a reveal, the camera starts by showing the audience one thing, but then moves or zooms to reveal something else, often unexpected, that’s in the scene. Simple enough, but it can be very effective due to the element of surprise. The opening can lull the audience into thinking it’s in a certain situation, but then, from one side or corner, the real object of attention comes into view. The only way to come close to this in a still image is to arrange the framing, ...