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07/28/2013 05:59:28 PM · #1 |
I have spent my photographic journey so far on some of the technical aspects of photography... the Exposure triangle and getting good focus. I feel that I know my camera enough and can use the meter to come up with a well exposed photograph to the point were I am not adjusting the exposure more than a half stop or so in lightroom and I am no longer looking to use post processing to "rescue" my bad shots. Also my focusing has gotten to the point where the amount of "Keepers" is to the point where I am not really throwing any shots away due to poor focus. When I am weeding out my photo stack at the end of shooting, I am finding that I am more or less rejecting shots more due to poor composition and missing the shot.
I wanted to ask others of you out there, do you feel that composition is a technical skill to master,or is it more of an inspired, creative process that you go through during a shot. Do you find your subject and set up the shot with the compositional rules in mind, or do you go out to shoot a subject and merely explore with multiple shots until you find a composition that works?
For you, is composition something that you do prior to taking the shot, or is it a process that you explore during a shoot?
The reality for me is that composition begins with the Rule of Thirds and continues with any other method I can work into the shot given a particular scene. What I am trying to say is that I am having trouble getting out to a scene and coming up with a great composition. Is there a method or a process you go through to compose your shot?
I am hoping for an insightful discussion on the subject!
Message edited by author 2013-07-28 18:01:07.
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07/28/2013 06:08:33 PM · #2 |
Originally posted by EL-ROI:
The reality for me is that composition begins with the Rule of Thirds and continues with any other method I can work into the shot given a particular scene. |
I think this is an issue right there, "rules" and "methods". I try to be unfettered by such thoughts, but to be fair, I've internalized them long ago. I suppose it's a good idea to systematically explore specific, classic compositional modes until they are a part of your seeing, rather than of your thinking. |
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07/28/2013 06:21:09 PM · #3 |
It is both. As you know, I shoot a lot of cycling. When shooting an approaching rider I will usually set the camera in burst mode and I find the difference between the keeper and the throwaway can be just a foot of two change in the subject's position. I usually have a mental idea of what I am trying to achieve. Some of it is variables that I am not in control of, such as how close the subject comes to me. I just know what looks right an what is a little awkward. Often the slightly awkward shot is the best of the bunch and I'm sometimes my own worst critic. (Other times you guys are.)
Message edited by author 2013-07-28 18:22:45.
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07/28/2013 07:21:20 PM · #4 |
composition doesn't have rules. It has gimmicks. Composition is art and feeling, I'm afraid. The rest is hokum.
Proper exposure has rules and techniques. There are rules for focus, DOF, lighting, but not composition. |
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07/28/2013 07:36:45 PM · #5 |
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07/28/2013 07:45:17 PM · #6 |
| learn the rules and then learn to break them. The truly great photos work but not because of technical rules. I do think it is good to know and understand the rules and why they are there but if you stick by them you will miss out and so much. |
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07/28/2013 09:28:18 PM · #7 |
I will often shoot many variations of a scene or subject, so that I'll have options later. As mentioned, when the subject involves action the choices are fewer. I shoot a lot of photos when traveling by train, and having a "successful" compositon involves preparation, timing, and a lot of luck.
Sometimes, you won't "see" the "best" composition until later; the one big advantage of more megapixels is the ability to find the composition you want later within an existing shot. For one of the site's earliest challenges (Without The Hand Of Man), I found this ...Entry:  original frame  from which I extracted my entry. |
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07/28/2013 09:56:25 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by posthumous:
composition doesn't have rules. It has gimmicks. Composition is art and feeling, I'm afraid. The rest is hokum.
Proper exposure has rules and techniques. There are rules for focus, DOF, lighting, but not composition. |
Ya know, I usually call hokum when you post stuff like this one...
This time though? Absolute and total agreement. Well said Don, well said. |
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