Book Club Topic: Composition - The Photographer's Eye, Chapter 1, The Image Frame

wuzzittoya wrote in post #14132504
I'm really struggling with trying to find anything I look at to be an especially amazing, breath-taking moment. Maybe right now I'm depressed, or maybe my standards are too high?

It might be related to high standards (can't comment on the depressed part but mood certainly affects how we see things). Photography is the closest thing I've ever done related to the arts and even though I'm pretty new at this, I notice I've been looking at pictures more critically. I hope I don't become too much of a snob about it, LOL.

I have "Learning to See Creatively" on my list of books to get. I hope to learn a thing or two from it.

wuzzittoya wrote in post #14132504
* * *

I'm really struggling with trying to find anything I look at to be an especially amazing, breath-taking moment. Maybe right now I'm depressed, or maybe my standards are too high?

Maybe the world's just too dull right now. I generally find that when I'm in a shooting lull, if I try something "different", whether with regard to subject, equipment, or whatever, it can help. For example, I bought the EF 400mm f/5.6L recently, and have been having fun with that shooting atypical subjects for the long lens, such as these:
https://photography-on-the.net …p=14102520&post​count=2555
https://photography-on-the.net …p=14102526&post​count=2556
https://photography-on-the.net …?p=14119204&pos​tcount=477
That revved up my photography interest motor.

stsva wrote in post #14132794
...having fun with that shooting atypical subjects for the long lens, such as these:

stsva wrote in post #14102520
And now for something completely different . . .

IMAGE LINK: http://www.pbase.com …image/142115960​/large.jpg

stsva wrote in post #14102526
One more non-bird pic - I really like the telephoto "compression" effect.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.pbase.com …image/142047848​/large.jpg

Hope you don't mind me "quoting" your photos into this thread, but both of these are relevant to our image frame topic. Both of these images are "welded" (for want of a better word) to one side of the frame. I'm not sure why this makes a photo more compelling but in the case of the second image, I'd guess it's because it connects the image with the frame as well as the screen displaying the frame, the monitor holding the screen, the desk, etc. etc.

cacawcacaw wrote in post #14132971
Hope you don't mind me "quoting" your photos into this thread, but both of these are relevant to our image frame topic. Both of these images are "welded" (for want of a better word) to one side of the frame. I'm not sure why this makes a photo more compelling but in the case of the second image, I'd guess it's because it connects the image with the frame as well as the screen displaying the frame, the monitor holding the screen, the desk, etc. etc.

I really liked the second one as well. Later you'll read that the mind tries to "resolve" things. I think that the various jagged zig-zagging leaves us unsettled compared to a softer curve. It brings more interest because of its unconventional nature. Neat captures.

I've gotten some pictures of peach blossoms with spring being here. I think I actually liked this one best even if it's "wrong."

Here is one I like in terms of its interaction with the lower right corner of the frame and exiting out the left side.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

My copy of the book should be here tomorrow. I hope to join the discussion, albeit a bit late.

TTuna Eye wrote in post #14136614
Here is one I like in terms of its interaction with the lower right corner of the frame and exiting out the left side.

Yes! In another chapter you'll read that human beings like curves.

It gives us a nice sweeping motion that allows our eyes to follow it through the photo.

Preeb wrote in post #14136717
My copy of the book should be here tomorrow. I hope to join the discussion, albeit a bit late.

Can't wait! Maybe if we get enough here it will be easier to have the conversations develop a bit more energy.

Here is a shot that I cropped to square for a no bias composition ala Chapter 1. I think it could also be a texture as discussed in Chapter 2 which I just finished reading. The subject is a section of Brain Coral.

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

TTuna Eye wrote in post #14137094
Here is a shot that I cropped to square for a no bias composition ala Chapter 1. I think it could also be a texture as discussed in Chapter 2 which I just finished reading. The subject is a section of Brain Coral.

Wow... neat. That's something that could be framed and hung with a lot of different decor actually.

Thanks. If humans love curves then that pic will keep them busy for a while!

TTuna Eye wrote in post #14137174
Thanks. If humans love curves then that pic will keep them busy for a while!

Definitely! Something about brain coral always makes me think of Escher.

wuzzittoya wrote in post #14137201
Definitely! Something about brain coral always makes me think of Escher.

I always want to grab a pencil and start trying to find my way through the maze.

TTuna Eye wrote in post #14137094
Here is a shot that I cropped to square... ...Brain Coral.

That's a great shot and works well with the square format. Do you suppose that there's a general rule for using the square aspect ratio? I wonder if a square frame works better with shots that don't have as much depth, where the eye isn't invited to wander between the foreground and background so much.

Here's a shot from my poor-man's whale-watching trip on Wednesday.

. . . . . . . .

HOSTED PHOTO
please log in to view hosted photos in full size.

That is cool, whatever it is. Did those rocks get in those cracks on their own? The square works fine though my eyes want to see more on the sides.