Improvement of composition?

Baaaark · 07-05-2009, 02:21 AM

Any good websites on photography composition?

What I'm looking for is a site that will maybe help me out with looking at things "outside the box."

Sachphotography · 07-05-2009, 04:09 AM

How to frame a picture correctly Tips. Sachphotography article written by Daniel Sach
Thats my take on framing/comp.
Hope it helps a little.
Cheers.

**Bitter Jeweler** · 07-05-2009, 09:47 AM

First you need to learn the box, before you can step out of it.

Samanax · 07-05-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bitter Jeweler

First you need to learn the box, before you can step out of it.

That's so true.

Digital Photography Composition Tips

Taking Better Pictures: Composition

Photo Composition - Your Photo As A Story

Good Photo Composition Is Essential

Learn Photo Composition

How To Make A Killer Photo Using 8 Simple Composition Rules

The Golden Section In Photo Composition

How To Improve Your Photography - 5 Easy Tricks

Baaaark · 07-05-2009, 11:58 AM

The box I was referring to was the typical snapshot. I want to know (like we all do), how to take a shot from looking normal, to looking interesting.

To me, this requires out of the box thinking, as most people do not bother nor care how about achieving this look.

Thank you so much for the links, though. These will be great, I'm sure!

farmerj · 07-05-2009, 12:47 PM

Some of the links I go and read every now and again.

Photography Composition Articles: Golden Ratio, Rule of Thirds, Golden Mean, Golden Section.

Digital Photography Tips and Tutorials

Photography - Composition

tsaraleksi · 07-05-2009, 01:41 PM

Some basics for composition--

Avoid centering stuff dead in the middle of the frame. Really, this is the most important thing to remember. There are exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking you just don't want to drop your subject dead in the middle.

Hand in hand with this is a second idea, that you should only put in the frame that which you are photographing. This seems like kind of an obvious one, but it runs deeper than you may think. How many snapshots have you seen where the subject is just a small part of the whole picture, and the rest of the frame is just the boring random stuff that happened to surround the subject? There are lots of ways to avoid this, but the most straightforward is to just get closer to your subjects than you would have done. Now, this is different if you're trying to show place/context/whatever, but not filling the frame with their subject is a very simple beginner composition error.

Another idea connected to these is that you generally want to have your action leading into space-- as in, a car on the left of the image should be driving towards the right, a person on the right should be looking left, etc. This draws the viewer into the image and holds them rather than leading their eye out of the frame.

One more thing to think about is checking for background elements that will distract from the final image. We see in 3-D, which means that it's easy for us to ignore a pole or plant behind someone. But when it is compressed into 2-D, background stuff can merge with people and look very bizarre. Keep an eye out for where this stuff is and how it is affecting the image.

c.cloudwalker · 07-05-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Bitter Jeweler

First you need to learn the box, before you can step out of it.

Amen to that.

What I would look for are books on the basics of design. Design rules apply to all forms of art. Some are medium specific but they can be good to know even if you don't work in this specific medium. You might be surprised.

Plus I think it makes it a bit easier to learn. By stepping away from photography for a while, you concentrate on the design thing.

Even the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards is excellent for photographer and should be available in most decent library. If not, I'm sure it can be had used at a very good price.

I mention books because I prefer reading on paper rather than on a monitor but to each is own.

Learn to Draw: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.

**Bitter Jeweler** · 07-05-2009, 03:25 PM

The box isn't the snapshot stage. The box is being able to apply basic composition skills effectively. Stepping out of the box is going beyond what "most" people are capable of (basic design rules). Thats what sets the "awesome" photographer apart from the rest of us.

07-05-2009, 02:21 AM	#1
Baaaark I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: May 2009 Location: North or South Pole... it depends Posts: 392 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Improvement of composition? Any good websites on photography composition? What I'm looking for is a site that will maybe help me out with looking at things "outside the box." __________________ Remember, the most important thing about a photo is that you HAD FUN TAKING IT! Life is too short to not enjoy your time outside of work :-)

07-05-2009, 04:09 AM	#2
Sachphotography I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Spokane Washington Posts: 781 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts My Gallery: (3)	How to frame a picture correctly Tips. Sachphotography article written by Daniel Sach Thats my take on framing/comp. Hope it helps a little. Cheers. __________________ Daniel Sach __NIKON__ www.sachphotography.us www.sachphoto.com www.tadbc.com www.pazilla.com I GO BY THE PACT!

07-05-2009, 11:44 AM	#4
Samanax TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kaneohe, Oahu Posts: 2,559 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 64 Times in 64 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by Bitter Jeweler First you need to learn the box, before you can step out of it. That's so true. Digital Photography Composition Tips Taking Better Pictures: Composition Photo Composition - Your Photo As A Story Good Photo Composition Is Essential Learn Photo Composition How To Make A Killer Photo Using 8 Simple Composition Rules The Golden Section In Photo Composition How To Improve Your Photography - 5 Easy Tricks __________________ Gear List / My Flickr

07-05-2009, 11:58 AM	#5
Baaaark I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: May 2009 Location: North or South Pole... it depends Posts: 392 My Photos Are OK to Edit Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts My Gallery: (0)	The box I was referring to was the typical snapshot. I want to know (like we all do), how to take a shot from looking normal, to looking interesting. To me, this requires out of the box thinking, as most people do not bother nor care how about achieving this look. Thank you so much for the links, though. These will be great, I'm sure! __________________ Remember, the most important thing about a photo is that you HAD FUN TAKING IT! Life is too short to not enjoy your time outside of work :-)

07-05-2009, 12:47 PM	#6
farmerj I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 507 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts My Gallery: (5)	Some of the links I go and read every now and again. Photography Composition Articles: Golden Ratio, Rule of Thirds, Golden Mean, Golden Section. Digital Photography Tips and Tutorials Photography - Composition __________________ Don't be surprised if I don't respond. Taking a hiatus

07-05-2009, 09:47 AM	#3
Bitter Jeweler *** Tool Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,878 My Photos Are OK to Edit** Thanked 124 Times in 110 Posts My Gallery: (0)	First you need to learn the box, before you can step out of it.

07-05-2009, 01:41 PM	#7
tsaraleksi I spend too much of my life on TPF! Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Greencastle Indiana Posts: 947 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Some basics for composition-- Avoid centering stuff dead in the middle of the frame. Really, this is the most important thing to remember. There are exceptions to the rule, but generally speaking you just don't want to drop your subject dead in the middle. Hand in hand with this is a second idea, that you should only put in the frame that which you are photographing. This seems like kind of an obvious one, but it runs deeper than you may think. How many snapshots have you seen where the subject is just a small part of the whole picture, and the rest of the frame is just the boring random stuff that happened to surround the subject? There are lots of ways to avoid this, but the most straightforward is to just get closer to your subjects than you would have done. Now, this is different if you're trying to show place/context/whatever, but not filling the frame with their subject is a very simple beginner composition error. Another idea connected to these is that you generally want to have your action leading into space-- as in, a car on the left of the image should be driving towards the right, a person on the right should be looking left, etc. This draws the viewer into the image and holds them rather than leading their eye out of the frame. One more thing to think about is checking for background elements that will distract from the final image. We see in 3-D, which means that it's easy for us to ignore a pole or plant behind someone. But when it is compressed into 2-D, background stuff can merge with people and look very bizarre. Keep an eye out for where this stuff is and how it is affecting the image. __________________ Canon 1D-Mark II N \|\| 5D mark II \|\| 17-40 F4L \|\| 24-70 F2.8L \|\| 35 F1.4L \|\| 50 F1.8 \|\| 85 1.2L \|\| 70-200 F2.8L \|\| 300 F4L [borrowed] \|\| 580EX speedlite \|\| 2x Alien Bee B800 strobes \|\| Epson P3000 viewer \|\| 8x 2gb SanDisk CF cards \|\| 8x 2gb SanDisk SD cards \|\| Think Tank Airport International http://turcophoto.com

07-05-2009, 01:57 PM	#8
c.cloudwalker TPF Junkie! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Europe Posts: 1,878 My Photos Are NOT OK to Edit Thanked 64 Times in 61 Posts My Gallery: (0)	Quote: Originally Posted by Bitter Jeweler First you need to learn the box, before you can step out of it. Amen to that. What I would look for are books on the basics of design. Design rules apply to all forms of art. Some are medium specific but they can be good to know even if you don't work in this specific medium. You might be surprised. Plus I think it makes it a bit easier to learn. By stepping away from photography for a while, you concentrate on the design thing. Even the book "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" by Betty Edwards is excellent for photographer and should be available in most decent library. If not, I'm sure it can be had used at a very good price. I mention books because I prefer reading on paper rather than on a monitor but to each is own. Learn to Draw: Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain.

07-05-2009, 03:25 PM	#9
Bitter Jeweler *** Tool Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 1,878 My Photos Are OK to Edit** Thanked 124 Times in 110 Posts My Gallery: (0)	The box isn't the snapshot stage. The box is being able to apply basic composition skills effectively. Stepping out of the box is going beyond what "most" people are capable of (basic design rules). Thats what sets the "awesome" photographer apart from the rest of us.

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