Composition and all that Arty stuff - discussion thread.

[TooManyShots]

Here is one. I would normally delete this since no single riders were actually in focus but I thought I decided to play with it. There was enough focus that you can kind of tell who is who. It has enough motion blurs to convey a sense of speed.

[boingy]

Liking this thread a lot...I think once you build your foundation you can focus on the aspects of photography that are really important. Great to read peoples thoughts behind a photo...

[airfrogusmc]

Originally Posted by nicksan

See, that's the thing. I don't necessarily shoot or think that way. I can't tell you WHY I placed the 2 people a little off-center and not extremely off center. I just the saw the scene that way. Now did I see every single element in the frame? Of course not, and I am sure the photo could have been picked apart and ripped to shreds, like someones legs at the top of the frame. I am not as talented as Allen, for instance.

See my response to another thread: http://photography-on-the.net/forum/...5&postcount=27

That's how I shoot.

It's like in music. All the theory in the world won't help you if you have tin ears.

But if you have a great ear and understand the theory then ya really got something. See the works of Bresson for instance.

[nicksan]

Originally Posted by airfrogusmc

But if you have a great ear and understand the theory then ya really got something. See the works of Bresson for instance.

I wasn't suggesting that fundamentals aren't necessary. Of course they are. I was just saying obsessing over theory and rules can become blinding.

As I mentioned before, I shoot what I see. It's that simple. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. But I would rather approach it that way than to constantly have to think about the many rules that are out there.

It was the same way with music...or at least I thought it was. I tried to play what I heard, but I kept on obsessing about theory, always trying to learn more and more and I eventually burned myself out.

What I arrived at is that there's no right or wrong...

[nicksan]

Here's another example. This was inside a church and was during a prayer. I really wanted to isolate the bride with her closed eyes and use as much dead space as possible. So I put her on the lower left corner leaving all that dead space. Just saw the shot that way and it came out exactly how I envisioned it.



I liked the way the soft directional window light looked on this cake. I wanted to use the wallpaper as the backdrop.

[airfrogusmc]

Originally Posted by nicksan

I wasn't suggesting that fundamentals aren't necessary. Of course they are. I was just saying obsessing over theory and rules can become blinding.

As I mentioned before, I shoot what I see. It's that simple. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. But I would rather approach it that way than to constantly have to think about the many rules that are out there.

It was the same way with music...or at least I thought it was. I tried to play what I heard, but I kept on obsessing about theory, always trying to learn more and more and I eventually burned myself out.

What I arrived at is that there's no right or wrong...

We all shoot what we see but your vision can be trained as Bresson talked a great deal about but it takes a lot of practice to find the moment when all the visual elements come together and then having the skill to capture that vision. It takes time and a lot of practice to find your own vision and your own way of seeing. Understanding the language in which visual artists communicate is a great start. All the greats understand the language and you know they understand because you see it in their work. And what I'm talking about are not rules. In fact it frees you from rules and is what Weston talks about when he said " Following rules of composition can only lead to a tedious repetition of pictorial cliches" or when Brandt said "Photography is not a sport. It has no rules. Everything must be dared and tried" understanding how to visually but an image together in a fraction of a second and do it only the way you can do it takes practice and a clear and every present vision. Its not about making one good photograph but making great photographs that show a little piece of the photographer. Its about making meaning photographs and not so much about taking pretty pictures.

[airfrogusmc]

Heres a few images from the great American Southwest. I think and I've been told there is a visual thread that runs through most of my work.

[nicksan]

Allen, those look great, but I can't help but feel that I want to see them in color!

[airfrogusmc]

Ok Nick,

Heres some color work and from a series titled Facades.

The reason Facades is you see the face or the building and facade is what the world sees. Its how the building is projected and aren't humans kind of the same way? I think most of my photographs are ultimately types of portraits no matter what the subject matter.

Ok the first photograph is a produce company and if you notice the awning looks like lettuce. Some of these images are more obvious than others.

[brokensocial]

Lovely use of negative space in the bride shot, Nick!

[airfrogusmc]

And a few more

[airfrogusmc]

Originally Posted by brokensocial

Lovely use of negative space in the bride shot, Nick!

Agree not your typical bridal shot but two things Nick, dead space is just that and in this case (your bridal) the space is not dead but negative space and very alive because its important to the image and shes in the bottom right not left....

[sjones]

Some great photos here, underscoring earlier stated points that it's the interacting amalgam of tonal values, colors, lighting, shapes, shadows, space, and form that supports or affects composition. Placement of the frame---inclusion and exclusion---is all-important, of course, but the activity within carries a variety of elements and considerations. (And Allen, keep those great southwestern shots in wonderful monochrome! Although I dig the color shots from everyone here as well).

[chauncey]

[quote]underscoring earlier stated points that it's the interacting amalgam of tonal values, colors, shapes, shadows, space, and form that supports or affects composition. Placement of the frame---inclusion and exclusion---is all-important, of course, but the activity within carries a variety of elements and considerations. [quote]
I don't have a clue regarding the depth of your C&C...but I might submit that one of the criteria might be...would you hang it on your wall. In that context I would hang these:




.

[nicksan]

Originally Posted by airfrogusmc

Agree not your typical bridal shot but two things Nick, dead space is just that and in this case (your bridal) the space is not dead but negative space and very alive because its important to the image and shes in the bottom right not left....

Negative space...yes...sorry.

BTW, fantastic images Allen. I've always been a fan of your work. You really seem to have the ability to recognize the minute details and create compelling images.

Much to learn...much to learn.