Composition

Basics Photography #1

by David Präkel

Second to lighting, composition is the key ingredient for the creation of a successful photograph. Whatever other technical skill is involved, if the formal organization of an image is lacking, there is little to hold the interest of the viewer. But what makes a winning composition? Is it about following the rules-or about breaking them?

Basics Composition is divided into six core chapters that cover everything the beginner needs to know to improve their composition, including the basics of composition, exploring the formal elements, how to organize space and time, learning the real world 'rules' and, beyond that, how to use the ideas presented in the book to create original, compelling images. The book is illustrated throughout with photography to inform the mind and inspire the eyes.


Includes work

Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, James Nachtwey, Martin Parr, Marc Riboud, David Hockney, Duane Michals, Harry Callahan and John Darwell, and many more.

Includes the following

The basic rules of composition, including viewpoint, perspective and scale; the formal elements, such as point, line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone and color; how to organize space using frames, balance and space; capturing the passing of time and specific moments, the decisive moment and sequences; applications of composition, featuring landscape, still life, portraiture, documentary, the figure, action and sports, fine art and advertising; finally, finding your own view and the specific considerations of digital imaging.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Film

176 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2006

About the author

David was born and schooled in the North of England. After gaining a BSc in Psychology at the University of Manchester, he enjoyed a successful and diverse career as a freelance journalist and magazine editor, publishing and computer consultant, trainer and music critic.

Reviews

[Parisa forootan]

وقتی از مردم عکس رنگی میگیرید،دارید از ظاهرشان عکس میگیرید و وقتی از آن ها عکس سیاه و سفید میگیرید، از باطنشان عکاسی می کنید.

[Mohammad Sadegh Alizadeh]

بیشتر از تکنیک، نوعی نگرش و فهم برای کسانی که با تکنیک آشنایی اجمالی دارند. لاجرم برای امثال منی که حتی با تکنیک‌های عکاسی هم آشنایی ندارم به کار نخواهد آمد.

[Amirhossein]

کتاب خوبیه واسه افرادی که تازه میخوان شرو کنن.
نکته نکته است‌.
و خوندنش خالی از لطف نیست

[Amanda Morris]

If given the option, I'd likely have given this book 3.5 stars, definitely deserves more than three, so I bumped it to a four star review. A great book overall on the concepts of photo composition. It is very well organized. It introduces a topic of composition, gives a one page written description of this topic and provides a photo example of that concept. It is a very quick read, great for a beginner or someone who just wants an overview of photo composition concepts. This book does assume you already know some basics with the SLR like shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. Also assumes you know some things about various flash concepts and reflectors (I don't know a lot there, so I glazed a bit on those areas). One of the things I like about this book is that anyone can use these concepts introduced even with a point-and-shoot camera.

[Melissa]

3.5 stars. Rather than giving specific advice or formulas or rules for composing better pictures, the book explores composition from a conceptual framework. It starts by looking at viewpoint, perspective, and scale, then discusses the formal elements of point, line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone, and color (all elements that one would encounter in an art class), and then thinking about space and time. Very much a theory book, with a few examples. The main take away message from the book: think, then compose.

[Israel ramirez]

Good basic book for those who are starting in photography

[Charlotte]

More like a text book on composition. I really liked the diagrams and picked up some helpful ideas. I also like the quotes throught the book by different photographers.

[Kevin]

Good solid read for grasping the basics of the concepts. Not very technical and easy to absorb. Beautiful photos too.

[Andres Moreira]

Great book! Simple and clear, also with great photos from the best photographers!