Book on composition

[michael cockerham]

Although I have composed much music over the years, my composition skills in photography are woeful, and so I'm asking for recommendations please, for a single book to help me. (I have numerous books by photographers who impress me, but nothing much seems to rub off onto me.) Thanks in advance.

 

[Kodiak Qc]

•

Michael!

I have numerous books by photographers who impress me, but…

These are your best tools I think. Books are full of
rules that are meant to be broken anyway so why
don't you try something simple: objects or scenes.

Select three objects that are related like fruits or
glasses or sewing supplies and compose them on
a table top… or

Pick a building in the country, a square in town, a
cemetery, parked bicycles… even a tree and work
the shots. Move around, get closer etc and find for
yourself ways you like to approach your subjects.

…and don't forget to have a good time at it!

 

[kendo1]

There's an interesting photography blog that discusses various composition books, their weaknesses and strengths:

http://photographyintro.com/composition-books/

 

[Faldrax]

Personally I found 'The Photographers Eye', by Michael Freeman to be useful, but I don't think there is a single book that will teach you composition - it's more a set of guidelines to get you started on the path.

 

[StephenM]

One book is very difficult. My choice would be Perception and Imaging by Zakia. The problem with "learning the rules" is that it's ridiculously easy to cite any rule and then immediately show an image that would be completely wrecked by following it. When you have to juggle all of them, it's probably impossible to find a single correctly composed image anywhere. Hence I'd go for a book that shows the principles of how we see. And I'll admit that if asked tomorrow, I'd be recommending Arnheim in all probability.

Edward Weston said that “to consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a
little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk. Such rules and laws are
deduced from the accomplished fact; they are the products of reflection”.

 

[gramps]

Personally I found 'The Photographers Eye', by Michael Freeman to be useful, but I don't think there is a single book that will teach you composition - it's more a set of guidelines to get you started on the path.

 

[Ed Sutton]

I have numerous books by photographers who impress me, but nothing much seems to rub off onto me.

As @Kodiak Qc said, this is your best source. Study the pictures, one at a time, and analyse them to see if you can suss out why they work. Then look at some well known paintings.

If I had to recommend one title it would be Approaching Photography by Paul Hill.

 

[posiview]

The photographer's eye - Michael Freeman

Great book and one I return to often.

Cheers.

 

[droj]

Edward Weston said that “to consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a
little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk. Such rules and laws are
deduced from the accomplished fact; they are the products of reflection”.

I rather like that.

Also the above-mentioned two books are both accessible intros to photographic thought, and would do no harm to your bookshelf.

 

[droj]

Rather than thinking about 'rules' to be followed, it might be better to think of available 'principles' that might be drawn on. But overall I'd like to think that it's more about cultivating a general awareness, and trusting intuition.

 

[droj]

(I have numerous books by photographers who impress me, but nothing much seems to rub off onto me.)

Maybe the trick is not just to 'like' a picture, but to interrogate it. Why does it work, and how does it work? In other words, you have to make an input of effort to get somewhere - you have to engage. In a way thinking that to buy a book will provide answers could be a parallel to the common but willing delusion that to buy a new camera will make your photography skills better.