Books about composition - recommendations

[Nicola.P]

Hi,

I have recently read and re-read Bryan Petersons 'Understanding Exposure' which helped an enormous amount in my understanding of the basics.
However having just got back from holiday and looking at my photos I am quite disappointed and I am sure they could have been better so i am looking at books about composition.

I have seen another from Bryan Peterson called 'Learning to see creatively' http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0817441816/ref=sib_rdr_dp

Some reviews are really good, others say it is quite a simple very basic book.

Then theres this one by Micheal Freeman: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Photographe...r_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214464811&sr=1-11

Plus all the other books out there to wade through.

Any recommendations?

 

[markta]

I found Mastering Composition by Chris Rutter very useful.

Try getting it from the library first, see what you think

 

[Jamougha]

I have both those books.

Petersen's has nothing that you can't find on a dozen websites, except his bragging about how much money he's made on various shots and nice pictures of his wife in a bikini. I read it once and tossed it asside.

Freeman's book is a revelation I'm still readind and re-reading it. There is so much information and it goes way past the normal trite 'do this this this and you'll have great photos'. Anyone who has any interest in composition, buy this book!

 

[Nicola.P]

I have both those books.

Petersen's has nothing that you can't find on a dozen websites, except his bragging about how much money he's made on various shots and nice pictures of his wife in a bikini. I read it once and tossed it asside.

Freeman's book is a revelation I'm still readind and re-reading it. There is so much information and it goes way past the normal trite 'do this this this and you'll have great photos'. Anyone who has any interest in composition, buy this book!

Thanks that has confirmed the reviews about those books. The Peterson one some people love and others hate. I really enjoy 'Understanding Exposure' so it's a shame. Have just ordered Freeman's one

 

[Graphic-Addict]

There are lots of coffee table 'inspirational photos' type books out there, but not much on composition.

I've just bought the Michael Freeman - The Photographer's Eye - Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos. Not read it yet but it looks amazing and looks at photography from a composition and design front.

I'd like to take the OCA distance learning course - The Art of Photography - which I understand delves quite deeply into this area, but cant quite bring myself to spend that much money.

 

[subseasniper]

Ditto the comments on the Michael Freeman book. It is written in such a way that pretty complex theories and tips are presented in a way that is easy to grasp. Very, very inspirational book.

subseasniper

 

[Nicola.P]

I think that is the problem with my photos. I can see something I want to take a photo off and I try and use the rule of thirds and some line to draw the eye into the picture and all I get back is a field, with a fence randomly at the bottom and a lone tree looking silly :bonk:

I need to learn some more about composition and gain some new ways of looking at things.