Learning how to improve composition

[SnappingShark]

Any reading material / youtube videos you guys suggest for this?

I don't want to just look at images, I want to read the sciences behind it, the way the mind works when viewing an image - all that kind of stuff!

Thanks for your time and suggestions

 

[Matt.Lacey]

I recently bought "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman following some strong recommendations. I really should get around to spending a weekend getting properly into it, but from my skim reading so far it deals with composition on a much more detailed level than in other photography books I have, so it might be something you'd be interested in.

 

[Designer]

You might be able to get something out of this:

The Best Way to Learn About Composition - Tuts+ Photo & Video Article

Some good suggestions:

3 Books That Will Improve Your Photography CompositionPhogropathy

BTW: I own "The Photographer's Eye", and will sell it to you, if you are interested.

More book suggestions:

The Top Five Best Books on Composition in Photography ? PhotoMoti

Another one:

Fundamentals of Photo Composition [Book Review] - Digital Photography School

And don't overlook the art world for books:

The Best Art Books ? Composition and Design

Also, remember to visit your local public library, and borrow anything and everything on the topic.

 

[KmH]

Take an art appreciation class at your local junior college.

 

[astroNikon]

You might be able to get something out of this:

The Best Way to Learn About Composition - Tuts+ Photo & Video Article

Some good suggestions:

3 Books That Will Improve Your Photography CompositionPhogropathy

BTW: I own "The Photographer's Eye", and will sell it to you, if you are interested.

More book suggestions:

The Top Five Best Books on Composition in Photography ? PhotoMoti

Another one:

Fundamentals of Photo Composition [Book Review] - Digital Photography School

And don't overlook the art world for books:

The Best Art Books ? Composition and Design

Also, remember to visit your local public library, and borrow anything and everything on the topic.

Which do you think is the best book to buy ?

 

[Forkie]

I recently bought "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman following some strong recommendations. I really should get around to spending a weekend getting properly into it, but from my skim reading so far it deals with composition on a much more detailed level than in other photography books I have, so it might be something you'd be interested in.

This, in my opinion, is the best book out there on the subject.

 

[Designer]

Which do you think is the best book to buy ?

That's a tough question, mostly because I think borrowing them would be in one's best interest until he finds one that he wants to use as a reference.

I guess if I were going to purchase a book on the subject, I would be tempted to get this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Pictorial-Composition-Art-Dover-Instruction/dp/0486233588%3FSubscriptionId%3DAKIAIAA4MWUJXHBYFRNQ%26tag%3Dsquidooa20540220%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D0486233588

And maybe this one:

Composition: A Series of Exercises in Art Structure for the Use of Students and Teachers: Arthur Wesley Dow, Joseph Masheck: 9780520207493: Amazon.com: Books

But really, your local library would certainly have enough to get you started.

 

[JacaRanda]

Any reading material / youtube videos you guys suggest for this?

I don't want to just look at images, I want to read the sciences behind it, the way the mind works when viewing an image - all that kind of stuff!

Thanks for your time and suggestions

Glad you brought this us BBN. I have "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman and decided to check it out on my phone. It was boring in my first attempt to read it. However, in reading the intro just now, I can tell it will be interesting for me this time around - mostly because the introduction directly relates to several debates and discussions I have witnessed here in the forum.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Like anything, you should read all the books on the subject you can get your hands on. Some people explain things differently, some make points others don't. They will all have different images explaining things, and you should take in that variety.
One book will only give you one point of view. Your knowledge will be limited to that one book.

You should also look at as many works of art, photography, movies, as you can, and analyze them. Find all the things you are reading about in them.
Study them to see how different people interpret the information, and make things work in different ways, and combinations.

To truly learn, requires study. Lots of it.

 

[JoeW27 1]

Any reading material / youtube videos you guys suggest for this?

I don't want to just look at images, I want to read the sciences behind it, the way the mind works when viewing an image - all that kind of stuff!

Thanks for your time and suggestions

Wow...composition. So much to say.

Let me offer a few comments and then my recommendation...

1. Composition has hundreds of "rules"...some of which contradict. Which is why this (photography) is an art and not a science. Sometimes you want a diagonal line. And sometimes you don't. Sometimes you look for complimentary colors and others instances it makes sense to clash. Or you use a narrow DoF to blur the foreground and background...except when you don't.

2. What this means is that it isn't enough to read and understand about composition...you need to then apply it. Good composition is more than just knowing about the rules, it's about choosing correctly which ones to ignore and which ones to apply. So as you read, you should be applying them (to see what works and what doesn't) and most importantly, to enhance your decision-making regarding composition. And that means the real value would come from a book that provides tests or applications or challenges for you.

My recommendation: Freeman's book is good, you'd definitely get value from it. Personally though, I'd recommend the book "composition: photo workshop" by Blue Fier. It's not that his discussion of composition is so incredible. It's that he'll cover an issue like lines and then the book has an assignment (go out and find natural "S" curves occurring in nature). What this does is not only give you practice applying the composition guidelines but you also start to train your "eye" to see (which makes you a better photographer). And most of all you start to make judgments about when to apply a ground rule or not. Take railroad tracks: perspective is a basic (composition 101) guideline. But not all railroad track pictures are effective even with that perspective in the foreground.

 

[Achaicus]

I didn't read a book, I used another hobby to work on it. I have kept aquatic plants in aquariums and done arrangements of those plants with other elements like rock and wood to develop my eye. It can get into things like forced perspective and leading lines, points of interest (subjects), and other things that matter to how the design is viewed from in front of the tank. It also provides a way to look at something you have tried to artistically arranged from other angles than just front and center. So if something visually isn't quite as strong from one angle you have time to make adjustments and fiddle with things to some degree.

If you don't want to get into that hobby you can still look at people's layouts in pictures on the web. Just search for Aquascaping pictures on google or view contest entries at AGA Aquascaping Contest