RAMBLINGS
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| Image © 2011 Jarede Schmetterer Student Christoph - The Art of Seeing |
What Makes A Good Photographic Composition?
I’m always being asked, “What makes a good photograph and composition?”
For those who know me and have attended my seminars or have taken my courses, this is going to be a little redundant. For those of you who are not familiar with my unrelenting verbal hammering about this subject, this could be a new discovery.
In fact, long before an artist can compose his/her oil painting, water color, sculpture or photographic image, there has to be an awareness of what leads to a composition – 2 processes which have to occur, before you can compose, articulate your vision or put your work of art together (the 3rd process).
These two processes are Perception and Definition. With a photograph, you perceive a subject or scene. Something about the scene arrests your attention and you take the picture. When you are back in the comfort of your studio or at the computer screen, you realize that the image you see is not at all as impressive as what you saw in the field. As a matter of fact, it does not come close.
You look at your photograph and your anticipations are thwarted, emotions are not moved and you stare at a lifeless image. You then begin to crop the image, manipulate it with software, change tones and add filters. You ask questions about what you should leave in an image or what you should crop out. You try this and you try that and you keep trying to make an image that will give you a “Wow” sensation. It never happens. You don’t understand why – it was so impressive when you saw it.
This confusion defines a solution – because you are trying to make an image, means you have an image you do not understand. You have perceived a subject or scene, but you are neither aware of what you have “seen” nor have you defined your perception. Most amateurs are at this stage and, unfortunately, too many “professionals” also suffer from this shortcoming.
Before you begin the process of composing an image, you must (1) have a clear understanding of the image you have, and (2) have defined all of the emotions you felt at the time you took the image. Even if you have researched and studied what elements, components and properties make a good image, it will do you no good to begin to compose, without first understanding what you have and what emotions you felt, when the picture was taken.
It sounds simple, yet this is a very complex and understudied subject and process. Not much literature, if any, is written for photographers about these processes. In this Rambling, I’ll introduce the basic definitions of the 3 primary entities which build a good piece of art or photograph. As far as I’m concerned every art form has to employee these processes, or the work will fail, or be lackluster at best. This subject will be discussed in much more detail throughout this blog and with future ramblings.
From now on, before and after you press the shutter, understand and enable these processes with every image you take.
a. Perception - (what is it that you see...?)
Every image provokes your emotions. Two photographers will look at a subject and create different images. This is because they each react with differing emotions. While one photographer perceives calm in a scene, another may sense turmoil. These perceptions create, define and mold the outcome of an image.
b. Definition - (define your emotions...)
The ability to recognize and define these emotions is one of the most significant skills every photographer must learn and hone over time. This single ability and skill lays the critical foundation toward accomplishing successful presentations of your visual impressions and feelings that compelled you to take the image in the first place.
c. Presentation - (compose your perceptions & definitions...)
Presenting perceptions and emotions through the principles of exacting composition is what every seasoned amateur or professional employs. It is the viewer’s window into your world.
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