Tom Clark - Digital Photography Composition For Dummies

compositional frame........183

Keeping a viewer in the frame........183

Choosing between the Horizontal and Vertical Formats...185

Understanding how your message influences

which format to use.........186

Determining format based on the subject......188

Letting the environment dictate format......190

Chapter 12: Exploring Other Compositional Ideas..193

Creating Harmony with Balance and a Sense of Scale....193

Keeping the elements balanced and properly weighted..194

Including a sense of scale.........197

Using Rhythm and Repetition of Elements.......200

Pulling harmony out of chaos........201

Shooting simple compositions.......202

Reinforcing your subject or intended message with repeating elements........204

Creative Ways to Break the Rules or Cheat the System...205

Experimenting with the tilt-shift lens......205

Taking multiple digital exposures.......208

Crafting soft, dream-like compositions.....210

Part IV: Composition In Action.... 213

Chapter 13: Showing People in Their Best Light...215

Showing a Person's Essence in Portraits......216

Capturing genuine expressions........216

Choosing your angle and your lens.......217

Adding interest by integrating your subject's hands

into the photo.........218

Taking advantage of a person's surroundings.....218

Getting Great Results from Both Candid and Posed Portraits..220

Making a case for candids........221

Taking control with posed shots.......222

Photographing People Together: Showing Connections....224

Overcoming the technical challenges of

photographing groups.........224

Composing portraits of couples......225

Setting up group portraits........226

Fabulous Darling, You're Gorgeous: Shooting Fashion Photography. 227

Chapter 14: In Nature: Landscapes and Wildlife...231

Recognizing Compositional Elements in Nature.....232

Expansive landscapes: Basking in your surroundings..232

Narrowing in on intimate landscapes.....234

Exploring fine detail through macro photography....236

Capturing Wildlife..........238

Finding animals to photograph........238

Getting the best-composed shot......239

Developing a Respect for Nature's Elements.....241

Photographing the Forest.........243

Determining what you want to photograph.....243

Factoring in light when in the forest.......243

Taking advantage of night in the forest......245

Chapter 15: Shooting Still-Life Photography...247

Making Everyday Objects Interesting.......248

Seeing objects as fine art........248

Selling objects with photography......249

Photographing Flowers in Studio and in Nature.....252

Producing images in the studio.......252

Capturing flowers in their natural environments....254

Cooking Up Beautiful Food Photos........255

Working with Architectural and Interior Photography....258

Crafting images of building exteriors......259

Taking a look inside: Composing interior shots....260

Chapter 16: Capturing (Or Stopping) Motion through Photography.....263

Following Compositional Principles When a Subject

Isn't Stationary.........264

Focusing on moving subjects.......264

Composing subjects in motion.......265

Deciding whether to freeze or show motion....266

Up for the Challenge: Photographing Subjects

Constantly on the Move..........273

Taking successful images of children.....273

Catching shots of the family pet......274

Tackling sporting events........275

Chapter 17: Artsy Photos: Fine Art, Composite Pictures, and Abstracts.......279

Classifying Photography as Fine Art.......280

Lighting your subject........281

Making the best of your situation......283

Composing Abstract Photos........284

Keeping the effects of color in mind......285

Using shapes and lines to create meaning.....285

Playing with tonality..........285

Putting it all together.........286

Combining Multiple Shots to Create a Single Photo.....287

Mimicking a made-up scene with multiple exposures..287

Creating collages..........289

Chapter 18: Improving Composition through Postproduction Editing.....293

Cleaning Up Your Composition.........294

Removing unwanted elements and flaws......294

Changing your perspective.......300

Editing Your Images to Draw the Viewer to Your Subject...304

Adjusting contrast in the scene using Curves Layers...304

Enhancing an image's light.......305

Sharpening your photos.........306

Part V: The Part of Tens ...... 309

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Improve Composition..311

Reveal Contrast with Complementary Colors.....311

Harmonize with Monochromatic Colors......312

Make a Subtle Statement with Analogous Colors....312

Use a Shallow Depth of Field to Tell a Story......313

Shoot Until You've Exhausted the Possibilities.....313

Choose a Background That Says Something......314

Tackle Transparent and Reflective Elements......314

Treat Light as the Subject..........315

Incorporate a Compositional Frame.......315

Create a Composite Image..........316

Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Finding Photographic Inspiration..317

Take a Walk, Take Photos, and Take Notes.....317

Try Something Completely New........318

Emulate Your Favorite Shots by Other Photographers....319

Watch a Good Movie...........320

Visit a Museum...........320

Compile a Wall of Inspiration.........321

Purchase a New Lens..........321

Head Out for a Nighttime Photo Shoot.......321

Reveal the Lapse of Time in a Scene.......323

Join a Photography Forum.........323

Chapter 21: Viewing Ten Compositions of One Scene..325

Choosing a High Angle to Show the Scene.......325

Selecting a Low Angle to Emphasize the Subject....326

Highlighting the Subject and the Scene with a Wide-Angle Lens..327

Showing More Scenery with a Wide-Angle Lens......328

Narrowing In on Your Subject with a Long Lens.....329

Creating an Intimate Portrait by Using a Long Lens.....330

Paying Attention to the Foreground Elements in Your Scene...331

Giving Your Photo a Compositional Frame......332

Finding Negative Space.........333

Backlighting Your Subject to Emphasize Shape......334

Index ......... 335

If you want to create interesting and aesthetically pleasing photographs, you need to understand great composition. You have rules (which can, of course, be broken) to guide you, decisions to make, and techniques and tools to get the job done. Put all these together, and you give purpose and meaning to your photographs.

After you realize why some photographs look better than others and more successfully tell their stories, you can create amazing images wherever you are and in any conditions. You can approach any scene in many ways, and each photographer will do so differently. You want to be sure that you approach a scene with the confidence of a person who understands how to compose great images — and has fun doing so.

Whether you're an amateur, pro, semi pro, hobbyist, scrap booker, traveler, artist, or someone who just received a camera as a gift, knowing more about composition will make your photographs better. Besides, if you're going to take pictures, they may as well be good ones.

In this book, I use the following conventions to make sure the text is consistent and easy to understand: