Developing your Eye and Composition

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Developing your Eye and Composition - 8/5/2005 1:27:34 PM

VisualModality

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Joined: 7/30/2005
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This is the ultimate basic start to photography. The bells and whistles of techno language, F stops, Shutter Speeds, Metering..all are second. Reason I say this is because without a good composition all the rest means nothing. Think of developing your "photographic eye" as working out a muscle in your body..without proper excersie the muscle will be weak and ultimately effect your performance.

I will explain some information that you should always keep in your mind when shooting anything!

The first step is to answer three questions to yourself before you shoot an image:

1- What is the Subject--Theme--I want this picture to be about?

2- How can I Focus Attention on my subject and draw the viewers eye to it?

3- Have I Simplified? Have I included only what draws attention to my subject and have I elimated everything that is non essential or distracting?

There are the keys: Subject/Theme, Focus Attention, and Simplicity; Three main questions to ask to form a great photograph!

An example situation...everyone loves to shoot flowers..beautiful colors and emotional feelings can be captured with a flower. Let's say you come across a field of Crocus Flowers. You would like to take a pic of one close up enough for detail. Think of the first question...what is the Subject or Theme..well we already thought to ourself I would love one close up to capture details. Now think of the second question..how can you focus attention..well one way is we can compose the shot by filling most of the frame in the view finder with the flower. (Typical of Macro Photography), or you can focus on the one flower semi close up, and make the background out of focus as to bring attention to the one flower in a sea of flowers. Now third question..to simplify...if there is a garden hose in the shot lets say..well we would have to recompose because who wants to see a water hose next to the flower bed :) .

Always pay attention to WHAT is in the image and if it is needed to be there.

Next step to developing your eye is Composition. Meaning the way the subject sits in the frame. Now most rules are meant to be broken sometimes for certain images..but most times photographers follow the "Rule of Thirds". This rule means picture in your mind a grid of 3 Vertical Lines seperating the image in the frame into thirds. When you figure out what the Subject/Theme will be..try and offset the subject either off to the right of the frame by a third..or off the left of the frame by a third..basically NOT keeping the subject in the middle.

For example:
There is this great old barnhouse on this farm land property..and a great mountain landscape behind it. Most people will shoot that barnhouse in the center of the frame..not a bad idea..but offsetting the barn to the left or the right of the image will draw a visual line for the viewer to follow.

Remember all rules are not set in stone..but they aide in training your eye!

If you have any questions about this topic..lets talk about it!

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< Message edited by VisualModality -- 8/5/2005 1:28:36 PM >

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Tina M Maravelis
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Five Rules to Happiness:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

Post #: 1

RE: Developing your Eye and Composition - 8/5/2005 5:30:31 PM

krisjean

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From: Fort Worth, TX
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You said these rules can be broken and I love to break rules.........

Can it also be done effectively on the horizontal? While still achieving the same effect?

Kris

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(in reply to VisualModality)

Post #: 2

RE: Developing your Eye and Composition - 8/5/2005 5:48:19 PM

VisualModality

Posts: 1624
Joined: 7/30/2005
Status: offline

Yes it can work also horizontally..but you have to always remember the subject and how it is composed. Bringing attention to that subject! You dont want a viewer looking for what you tried to portray.

Here is a note also to remember with point and shoot cameras vs. SLR cameras...when you look into the viewfinder of a point and shoot..you are seeing the same exact view as your eye sees it. When you are looking thru a SLR viewfinder you are seeing it as the LENS sees it..not your eye anymore. That is one big pointer with SLR cams. When you start to venture into filters, adjusting shutter speeds and aperature..that will start to change the image in the view..here is an example:

Subject:
Butterfly
Location: Sitting on a leaf surrounded by other flowers and leaves

Idea on this shot to to apply out of focus to the background and clear sharp focus to the butterfly.

With an SLR you can say shoot with an F5 aperature (less depth of field, will explain that in another intro thread) and a shutter speed at say 1/250 of a sec. What will happen is the F# will decrease my depth of field view..making the background less in focus than the butterfly in the foreground and the shutter speed will be fast enough to capture the butterfly before it flys away or moves.

Now with an SLR camera..I will see as the lens sees the out of focus area in the background..where as with a point and shoot you will not see that adjustment change..u see as u do with your own eyes still. NOT thru the lens. So you are hoping at this point the shot comes out as planned as opposed to seeing it first.

That is just one of the many factors on why SLR cams are better for control than point and shoot.

But to get back to your question..yes you can apply the rule of thirds horizontally as long as the 3 main questions are answered and applied. Rules are always meant to be broken or bent

< Message edited by VisualModality -- 8/5/2005 5:50:06 PM >

_____________________________

Regards,
Tina M Maravelis
Raptor T-Shirts and ETC Store:
www.cafepress.com/visualmodality

Five Rules to Happiness:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

(in reply to krisjean)

Post #: 3

RE: Developing your Eye and Composition - 8/7/2005 11:54:52 PM

wkevinmurray

Posts: 1296
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: behind the lens
Status: online

I must confess, I still have a terrible problem of placing my subjects in the center of the frame. It's a tough habit to break. Another great reason for my love of digital photography, you see your mistakes Instantly!
Now with this image for example, I didn't have time to compose the shot. If I had, I probably would have just captured only the first two geese about to land, but they would have been right in the center of the image though.

Including all four geese gives this image good depth and because of the arch they form your eye can follow them down to their reflections in the water.
As Tina said you have to exercise your "photographic eye" and she broke it down into 3 easy steps, after a time, you'll be finding yourself rearranging nic-nacs in your home so nothing is centered... or is that just me

(in reply to VisualModality)

Post #: 4

RE: Developing your Eye and Composition - 8/8/2005 9:45:18 PM

VisualModality

Posts: 1624
Joined: 7/30/2005
Status: offline

Kev...
This shot is great...it has leading lines for the viewer to follow and another great photo technique...repetition...which creates a focal point for the viewer. I happen to love it!

I happen to off center most things in my house

has become the habit now

so your not alone

_____________________________

Regards,
Tina M Maravelis
Raptor T-Shirts and ETC Store:
www.cafepress.com/visualmodality

Five Rules to Happiness:

1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

(in reply to wkevinmurray)