Composition card

siejones

siejones

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I have no idea if this has been done before in some form or other but I am going to create myself a composition card.

The card will have a cut out of 6cm by 4cm to represent proportions of a photo for composing a scene by moving it closer or further from my eye e.t.c. It will also have a colour wheel on it (until I learn them better) and a checklist I have knocked up so far that I should consider before taking a shot.

I will mount it on durable card that will fold ok. I could waterproof it somehow as well but havn't decided how yet.

I can carry it at anytime in my pocket just in case I spot a potential shot that I can come back to at a later date when I do not have my camera with me. If I do have my camera with me I can compose a shot to see if it works without setting up first.

I am sure I have read that photographers have done something similar to this before but I didn't look into it.

Here's a prototype I quickly knocked up :)

The white box is where I wil cut out...the rule of thirds lines obviously be but out with it but will leave guide lines outside the box.

http://www.ukmountains.com/forumpics/Comp_card.htm

Any suggestions?
 
I can understand how good it would be to have prompts and reminders, but are you not equipped with fingers which give a good representation of a view finder?

The "techie" checklist ain't a bad idea.
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
I can understand how good it would be to have prompts and reminders, but are you not equipped with fingers which give a good representation of a view finder?

The "techie" checklist ain't a bad idea.
Click to expand...

Yeah that never quite works for me...As I move my arms my fingers tend to move and distort the box and I can see immediately outside which kind of ruins the effect and the rule of thirds guide might be interesting. Also the colour wheel is not stamped in my head yet and I really need the checklist. I get too excited when I am out and forget some of the compostional things I should consider. :)
 
:lol: ...me too, getting excited and forgetting. It’s a wonderful thing this photography lark.


I think it’s a great idea, I pondered on something similar myself a while back in a bid to make myself construct compositions out of things I see

Mounting the frame within a larger card is defiantly the way to go, Love the check list :D very useful.

The only trouble I can see with your design is the thin strips of card representing the 'thirds' ...those are going to break...... so, I’m thinking stuff, horse hair...etc. Then, ah,...the answer, leave the lines out, laminate the card in clear plastic... and draw the lines back on with a pen. :D

I think I'll make myself one... I'll copy your check list too if that ok. :thumbs:
 
I think thats a great idea - I wonder how many of us get carried away in the moment without properly preparing or composing.....? A fair number I'd hazard.

FB's horsehair / laminating innovation sounds good. Reckon you should knock up some proto-types for the TP shop :thumbs:
 
Great idea about the card.

Have you thouht of using an elastic band for the rule of thirds?

Jas
 
Cool I am glad other people like the idea :)

I did think about what I could do for the rule of thirds lines and I thought about clear plastic or even somekind of thin glass with the lines drawn on but it may reflect light too much and would be fragile in a pocket.

Any other kind of strands would also fragile and might break in my pocket but the elastic band idea might work hmmmm :thinking:

First I want to try and see if the over lapping lines are enough and if the mind will join them in the empty space anyway.
 
If elastic bands are too wide, you can actually buy elastic thread from most haberdashery type stores.

Would be very interested to hear how your experiments work out in the field.
 
Jas said:
If elastic bands are too wide, you can actually buy elastic thread from most haberdashery type stores.

Would be very interested to hear how your experiments work out in the field.
Click to expand...

Cheers for that :)

I have printed out my attempt so far and cut out the square. It is suprising easy to visualise the lines with just the overlapping lines. I think it may be enough.
 
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