Balance in Composition - the basics.

[Teresa_H]

Thank you so much Ian for taking the time to put this all together! (hope your vacay is going well!) I've bookmarked it too so I can come back and study it more.

I'm very techy... but also visually inclined. As an example, Algebra annoyed me in school because it's principles to learn, but not really seen - for me it was always "out there" type math. I loved Calculus because I could actually draw what it was I was looking for (the area under a curve - whatever that curve might be).

Having your drawings as reference will be a great help. When only photos are used, I end up being distracted by the details in the picture itself and lose my focus on the overall composition.

For us binary type people - it's good to bring it down to stick drawings
--
Teresa

http://tkhummel.smugmug.com/

 

[RomanJohnston]

of compositions...

Roman
--

'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who are we to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous.

Actually, who are we not to be?'

--Marianne Williamson

http://www.pbase.com/romansphotos/

 

[jkjond]

Hi Jeri

Ask away on any aspect - if you post it on here it may be as well to email me too as I'm trying to cut down on time here. Points raised should be of interest to many, so I'll happily contribute to any threads.

I seriously think that this is the only book anyone needs to read about composition, or maybe even the only book anyone should read.

John
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/leechypics/

Make your own mind up - there are no rules in this game.

 

[TheronFamily]

go to the masters ...

master, I need help; While I have read your instructions and appreciate them immensely, the visual stimulii seems lacking and uncoordinated in what I do.

Can you turn me into a worthy landscape shooter pls?
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=28887807
--
Kevin - Photos 'n Prose: http://the-photo-muse.blogspot.com/

 

[rhlpetrus]

I read this book from my English school in my 20s. Great stuuf, had about forgotten about it, will try to find a copy.

Thanks.
--
Regards, Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11435304@N04
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

 

[rhlpetrus]

go to the masters ...
master, I need help; While I have read your instructions and
appreciate them immensely, the visual stimulii seems lacking and
uncoordinated in what I do.

Can you turn me into a worthy landscape shooter pls?
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1034&message=28887807
--
Kevin - Photos 'n Prose: http://the-photo-muse.blogspot.com/

Talking about masters, yeterday I got my Edward Weston big book of images and looked at them using these ideas. They work almost in every pic, nude, onject and landscape.

Well, if Roman likes it and it comes from Ian, "that can't be bad" (she loves you ...).
--
Regards, Renato.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/11435304@N04
OnExposure member
http://www.onexposure.net/

 

[MaryGierth]

Thanks for this reference Mary, I love reading, and what I said, I
still have a lot to learn on photography!

I still remember a book I once read about the Gestalt theory applied
to chess. Having played chess for a large part of my life I could
recognize what was said in that book.

If I remember correctly (but it was years ago) the Gestalt theory
would say you recognize a face (or a favourable chess pattern, or
whatever composite) instantly, without going through some
intermediary phase (oh thats a blue eye, and small lips, that must be
John!).

I would translate that and say our brain has good parallel processing
capabilities, and uses concepts and patterns it previously have
learned to identify.
--
Adriaan

The section on Gestalt was brief as are all the sections but it did say that Gestalt theory says the mind can suddenly and intuitively grasp the meaning of the entire image. The book also said as far as photography goes, the Gestalt laws of organization have the most relevance.

If you google psychology of imaging and related phrases you get some interesting links on optical illusions that are kind of fun.

 

[MaryGierth]

If you google psychology of imaging and related phrases you get some
interesting links on optical illusions that are kind of fun.

Edit: should have wrote:
psychology of perception not imaging

 

[Dr Bill425415]

Ian, what a great idea. I haven’t visited the D40-D80 forum in several weeks because I’ve been over at onexposure trying to figure those people out (how silly of me). Your explanation is the first thing that I see when I return here and I am stunned by it. I have always loved your photography but never tried to dissect it. Shame on me! Now I understand a couple of things that have been puzzling me lately. Here is an example from a recent still life I did. To me the image is balanced in spite of the huge negative space on the right. How can this be? Well, following the discussion so far, it is because the white space has no emotional weight and is easily counter-balanced by a few dried twigs. What a great insight!

Regards,
BIll



--



Please visit my black & white gallery of early work at http://billm.zenfolio.com/p1994685/


My galleries: http://billm.zenfolio.com/
onexposure member: http://www.onexposure.net/?member=7869&bill-mangold

“There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.” – Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

 

[Jeri_]

Dr. Bill!

I’ve missed you My best friend just bought a D40 and the first site I sent her to was yours – specifically your macro work – she has an interest in macros and I told her not only were you the best, but you also used a D40 for much of it.

I love this still life and I agree that it is balanced.

Well, following the discussion so far, it is because the white space has no emotional weight and is easily counter-balanced by a few dried twigs

I have to go back and read this thread – I have obviously missed quite a bit – what you say makes a lot of sense and your photo does an excellent job of depicting it. I seriously love this photo – is that what you set out to do? Did you have a white back drop or was that done in pp? This photo, IMO, is wall worthy -- my highest rating .

Say – did you see my pelican shots? They are a few pages back now…

Jeri

--
Don't worry about making a mistake - - as long as you learn from it.

 

[Mogambo]

Ian,

A great post. I hope I can manage to put this to good use.

Thanks.

 

[lsro]

thanks nt

 

[LeungPhotos]

Nice documentation and explanation!!
I'm sure many will benefit from this!
--



http://photography.leung.us

 

[Fred Ferkel]

... but the composition of your images is fabulous, so I definitely will take the time to understand what you wrote, thank you very much.

 

[Dr Bill425415]

Dr. Bill!

I’ve missed you My best friend just bought a D40 and the first
site I sent her to was yours – specifically your macro work – she has
an interest in macros and I told her not only were you the best, but
you also used a D40 for much of it.

I love this still life and I agree that it is balanced.

Hi Jeri. Thank you for the generous comments -- I missed you too. In fact, I was wondering how you and your photography were doing the other day.

Well, following the discussion so far, it is because the white space has no emotional weight and is easily counter-balanced by a few dried twigs

Certain concepts are nearly impossible to quantify but I really think that there is an affective dimension here that is very important but illusive.

I have to go back and read this thread – I have obviously missed
quite a bit – what you say makes a lot of sense and your photo does
an excellent job of depicting it. I seriously love this photo – is
that what you set out to do? Did you have a white back drop or was
that done in pp? This photo, IMO, is wall worthy -- my highest
rating .

I did start out with the concept and set it up using a north window, a white cardboard background and a reflector made of cardboard and foil. I had to eliminate the thin shadow where the base and back came together.

Say – did you see my pelican shots? They are a few pages back now…

Yes, I did and they are terrific! Please look at my comments.

Regards,
Bill

Please visit my black & white gallery of early work at http://billm.zenfolio.com/p1994685/


My galleries: http://billm.zenfolio.com/
Member: onexposure.net

“There is no abstract art. You must always start with something. Afterward you can remove all traces of reality.” – Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

 

[RKadava]

Ian:

I went back to something I shot in August last year. This is full frame of my shot. Besides any PP changes which I am very poor at, what composition changes would you suggest for this picture.



--
Raghu Kadava
http://picasaweb.google.com/dee70s
An elephant is a mouse made to your clients' specifications.

 

[Baretoes]

As a typical left brained structural engineer I understand completely what you are saying. However, my mind will surely go blank the next time I look through a viewfinder.

Thanks for taking the time to explain this topic to us "artistically challenged" nerds.

Rob

 

[Ben_D]

As a typical left brained structural engineer I understand completely
what you are saying. However, my mind will surely go blank the next
time I look through a viewfinder.

LOL! That's exactly how I feel.

Ian, thank you for pulling this together; it's very helpful.

--
Ben

 

[LitoD80]

Fantasic post Ian, and the accompanying images are great as well.

Now that I have had the chance to carefully read your post and the thread, I can see how invaluable your contribution is.

I also agree with other opinions regarding colour, tension lines (diagonals), and psychology.

I particularly enjoyed viewing the images from Dr Bill and RKadava, which can be arguably called un-balanced. This too can contribute to composition depending on the message or overall intent.

Bringing tension to an image (or setting it out of balance), can also be a strong compositional tool when well used.



--
Lito
D80 + Mac



Bombing for peace is the same as f_ g for virginity

 

[Kathryne]

Ian,

I am wondering if you would allow me to use your examples in my Camera Club? It's very well thought out and will illustrate some of the concepts I will be trying to get across.

And thank you! I have learned something today
--
-------------------------------------------------
http://www.katscan.smugmug.com