Check out Black and White Photography section of our forum.
Composition - How do you approach it in your photography?
Jun 7, 2021 09:06:32 #
With all these "rules" for composition, I have started to wonder where these rules came from.
I think most of us agree, that leading lines, thirds, etc, do help to make a well composed photo.
When photography started... no, go even further back, when painting started, there were no such rules.
It is my belief that artists, and later on photographers, saw what they judged was a good painting/photo, and used the content of those images to make the rules, because they worked in the existing images.
I think it is something our eyes have become used to, and so we judge an image that meets these rules as good, without even having to consider what rules were applied.
I hope I explained that in an understandable way! Pressing the shutter release button is easier for me than explaining why I press it at exactly that moment!
I think most of us agree, that leading lines, thirds, etc, do help to make a well composed photo.
When photography started... no, go even further back, when painting started, there were no such rules.
It is my belief that artists, and later on photographers, saw what they judged was a good painting/photo, and used the content of those images to make the rules, because they worked in the existing images.
I think it is something our eyes have become used to, and so we judge an image that meets these rules as good, without even having to consider what rules were applied.
I hope I explained that in an understandable way! Pressing the shutter release button is easier for me than explaining why I press it at exactly that moment!
Jun 7, 2021 09:13:09 #
Morning Star wrote:
Someone in this thread mentioned it began with printing; however, it apparently goes way way back. Click here for some interesting history, as well as an explanation for why we often find the result pleasing.With all these "rules" for composition, I have started to wonder where these rules came from.
...
...
Jun 7, 2021 09:32:25 #
DJCard wrote:
It seems to me the “rules of composition” are a ro... (show quote)
Internalizing any skill makes it almost automatic. ALMOST. We still can — probably should — put some conscious thought into using it.
I’m reminded of that when I watch incredible musical performances like the Yes Symphonic Live concerts or Kinga Glyk’s incredible bass playing Live in Leverkusen, all of which are free on YouTube.
These are musicians at the peaks of their games, playing incredibly complex pieces with passion and skill. They put it all out there, just like the best artists always do.
I just watched some of Simone Biles’ winning gymnastics routines. Mind, blown! Watching Stephen Curry “in the zone,” sinking three-pointers one after another, is similar.
Performance of anything, including photography, at top levels requires lots of practice, along with a burning desire to do it well, to entertain, to say or do something important, or to prove a point.
Check out Digital Artistry section of our forum.
Jun 7, 2021 10:01:29 #
Picture Taker
Loc: Michigan Thumb
Yes, photography has given us an ability to observe unconsciously and that is a great gift,
Jun 7, 2021 10:24:49 #
“What do you think about when you approach a subject?”
“From a compositional standpoint?”
Composition? srt101fan
Henri Cartier-Bresson instilled a lasting impression about composition…
His sacred rule… Capture the “Decisive Moment”
Still photographers work in a rather static mundane two dimensional space…
Henri Cartier-Bresson showed the world imagery with compelling charismatic allure…
A window into a universe beyond what is typically revealed to the naked eye…
Have you given much thought to “Genre” srt101fan? Just saying…
On the Internet Fine Art Nudes get the most attention from males…
While High End Fashion & Beauty renderings get the most attention from females…
However at the end of the day… it is Portraiture that pays the bills…
Even Peter Lindbergh had to open a Portrait Studio to finance his journey into Fashion
Thanks all for sharing your diversified and epic thoughts on composition…
This thread has been a wonderful and intriguing read…
.
“From a compositional standpoint?”
Composition? srt101fan
Henri Cartier-Bresson instilled a lasting impression about composition…
His sacred rule… Capture the “Decisive Moment”
Still photographers work in a rather static mundane two dimensional space…
Henri Cartier-Bresson showed the world imagery with compelling charismatic allure…
A window into a universe beyond what is typically revealed to the naked eye…
Have you given much thought to “Genre” srt101fan? Just saying…
On the Internet Fine Art Nudes get the most attention from males…
While High End Fashion & Beauty renderings get the most attention from females…
However at the end of the day… it is Portraiture that pays the bills…
Even Peter Lindbergh had to open a Portrait Studio to finance his journey into Fashion
Thanks all for sharing your diversified and epic thoughts on composition…
This thread has been a wonderful and intriguing read…
.
The “Decisive Moment”
(Download)
The “Decisive Moment”
(Download)
The “Decisive Moment”
(Download)
The “Decisive Moment”
(Download)
Jun 7, 2021 10:45:24 #
As far as I'm concerned, composition is king. Assuming you're able to have a good aperture, shutter speed, and focus, what really matters is what you see in the viewfinder.
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+importance+of+composition+in+a+photo&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS925US925&oq=the+importance+of+composition+in+a+photo&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30j0i390j69i64l2.8408j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+importance+of+composition+in+a+photo&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS925US925&oq=the+importance+of+composition+in+a+photo&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30j0i390j69i64l2.8408j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Jun 7, 2021 10:46:04 #
DonVA
Loc: British Columbia and New Mexico
When it looks good in the viewfinder I push the button. If it looks better when I zoom in on the screen I crop.
I've read the rules but mostly I just look at pictures. If one evokes a response I try to understand why so I can learn from it. If it doesn't it fails no matter how well it follows the rules.
There are definitely a few things to be learned from billnikon's shot above.
I've read the rules but mostly I just look at pictures. If one evokes a response I try to understand why so I can learn from it. If it doesn't it fails no matter how well it follows the rules.
There are definitely a few things to be learned from billnikon's shot above.
Jun 7, 2021 10:54:42 #
Henri Cartier-Bresson for him it was all about the geometry of the scene. So composition must mean geometry. Not the math but geometric shapes. How simple but how profound.
Jun 7, 2021 10:56:31 #
The concept of positive/negative composition isn't something you see mentioned much, so I thought I'd share a few more thoughts on it.
Some of the attributes of positive composition that come to mind are balance and harmony creating a feeling of rest.
Negative composition can have the attributes of imbalance and disharmony creating a feeling of tension.
You may wonder "Why negative compositions?" All of the pleasant (desirable?) attributes seem to be positive. Imbalance and disharmony can be very effective in creating visual tension which in turn can be very effective in giving an image a dynamism and energy that it wouldn't have had otherwise. But it's only in very specific situations that you would want that effect. It's more common to want photos that are pleasant to look at.
Some of the attributes of positive composition that come to mind are balance and harmony creating a feeling of rest.
Negative composition can have the attributes of imbalance and disharmony creating a feeling of tension.
You may wonder "Why negative compositions?" All of the pleasant (desirable?) attributes seem to be positive. Imbalance and disharmony can be very effective in creating visual tension which in turn can be very effective in giving an image a dynamism and energy that it wouldn't have had otherwise. But it's only in very specific situations that you would want that effect. It's more common to want photos that are pleasant to look at.
Jun 7, 2021 11:10:59 #
nikon123 wrote:
I wanted to add an image taken recently where the woman dancing in the park touched me for her joy and the ease at which she expressed herself. As COVID restrictions are being released and in combination with Spring and pleasant weather, it is important to capture the joy because we know of all the pain and suffering that has been endured during this past year and a bit.
Aristotle said long ago that we learn what to do first through discipline and being told, but after we form good habits we don't have to think about it much. I imagine in taking the picture of the woman dancing that you aligned the porch post vertically without thinking about it much. Some things in pictures are like anchors that hold the rest in place. (The light pole was crooked so you did not align with that.)
Jun 7, 2021 12:21:50 #
...I tend to think too much, so I *consciously* temper my thoughts and just shoot. Sure, there are the mechanical (camera) things which may take some time, but ordinarily I work pretty fast. Of course this approach is derived from years of experience, which includes study, so you could say there's a whole lotta info fighting below the surface. ;0)
Check out Astronomical Photography Forum section of our forum.
Jun 7, 2021 12:22:56 #
Jun 7, 2021 12:28:07 #
Picture Taker wrote:
What you see in the camera is good enough to hang on you wall?
Many, some are simply mementos.
Jun 7, 2021 12:32:01 #
Picture Taker
Loc: Michigan Thumb
That is the difference to me. One is a picture and the other is a documentary shot.
Jun 7, 2021 12:56:18 #
I may be beat up for this but I look at subject and light. I then do most of the composition and balancing in post. I’ll do a few different ideas and pick a treatment that appeals to me. Surprising the directions your mind can go when you look at an image and can let go of all the rules and experiment and still have the original image intact.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Check out Travel Photography - Tips and More section of our forum.