Central composition is considered by many as downright boring. Here is what I say in return: cliché. When used well, I absolutely adore central composition, there's nothing else quite like it. Of course, there is a strong reason why so many photographers, when giving advice to beginners, start with the...
Composition and Art Category Archive - Page 11
Improve Your Photography
As with every skill, be it conscious or instinctive, your ability to choose composition for any given moment you wish to capture improves with time, practice and experience. And it's not just composition, of course, but the sense of light, peak moment, emotion. I strongly believe our photography, from a...
Creating and Using Leading Lines
One of the most important considerations any photographer makes is determining compositional lines in images they create. In this short article, I will be discussing how various elements can become leading lines and add to the visual flow of your images. NIKON 1 V2 + 6.7-13.0 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ ISO...
The Importance of Straightening The Horizon and Aligning Lines
One of the most common mistakes I see when reviewing images submitted by our readers, or when reviewing portfolio images during our workshops, is a rather simple case of crooked horizons or badly aligned lines. Although most photographers are very well aware of this one, for some reason many simply...
Using Foreground Elements to Create Added Depth
Often when we are creating images, especially landscapes, we can get so focused on the main subject that we forget to think about incorporating a foreground element to help add depth and drama to our scene. There are a number of different approaches we can use. In this short article...
The Weston Dream
She posed atop a sand dune with wind-gnarled cypress trees clinging to a rocky precipice in the distance. She was nude of course, and sitting on a bedpan. A dead pelican lay at her kelp-entwined feet. In one hand she held a nautilus, in the other the most sensuous bell...
Attempting Fine Art Style B+W Landscapes
‘Attempting’ and 'style' being the salients word here! Nope, not any kind of expert on this subject either but the style and simplicity of fine art photography is greatly appealing to me, and by explaining why we may consider some important aspects of making compelling images. I have not often...
Challenging Yourself to Improve
I believe it was Cartier-Bresson who said that your first 10,000 photographs are your worst. For many hobbyist photographers, myself included, it may be much more than that, as improving our craft means constantly shooting, experimenting, reassessing, and continually culling our very best from our best. (more…)
Open and Closed Composition: Assignment Discussion
A few months ago, I started the Mastering Composition series of articles. The goal of these articles was not only to give some useful composition tips for beginners, but to also engage our readers with small assignments. The assignment given to you in the first article of the series has...
Composition in Photography: Assignment Discussion
A few months ago, I started working on our Mastering Composition" series articles. The idea behind them was to cover all the basics of composition in photography (and, consequently, visual arts in general) starting with some extremely simple concepts, and also provide assignments for beginner photographers to make the educational...