Photography Composition Lessons

A technically perfect photo is nothing without composition…

Composition is the foundation of good photography.  You can take a technically perfect photograph (not so hard with today’s cameras), with amazing details, stellar contrast, rich dynamic range and color…. and still the image is not worth a hill of beans without good composition.  It’s not interesting, it’s not engaging and nobody likes it.  On the other hand, one can take a photograph full of grain, terrible light, lack of detail and yet it’s lovely.  It captures the imagination.  It pulls the viewer in and takes them on a journey.  How can this be?  It’s the power of Composition!

When someone views your photographs they have not had the privileged information that you had when you took the photo.  They cannot see the surroundings, smell the air, hear the noises and feel all the things that made that moment mean something to you.  So it’s your job as the artist to convey that sense of wonder, hate, joy, beauty or sadness through you image.  Mostly this is done through good composition.  Good composition is the process of arranging forms and tones in a way that is pleasing and that guides the viewer’s eye to bring attention to your subject. In a good composition, you will know precisely what the subject of the image is. In a poor composition your eye will wander and search.

Photography Composition Overview

Topics include:

  • Framing your subjects
  • Rule of thirds
  • Working with reflections
  • Background and foregrounds
  • Unique viewpoints
  • Leading Lines
  • Working with Textures and Patterns
  • and a whole lot more…

Prerequisites:

  • All you need is a camera.  Any kind of camera is fine.

This composition workshop is focused on one thing.  To make you aware of how much your decisions as a photographer impact the quality of your photos.  You will be introduced to many concepts, “rules” and methods which most likely eluded you in the past.  As your composition skills improve, not only will your everyday shots look better, but you will find that the world is rife with far more subject matter. Objects that had seemed mundane will become interesting because of how you arrange and order them within the frame.