Good book on composition

[zvos1]

Does anyone know a good book on learning/improving composition? Recent Robert Capa thread reminded me how important the composition is. I didn't want to hijack that thread so I am posting it here.

Any suggestions welcome....

Also, added benefit is that it reading the book will de-focus my attention from gear and my GAS problem.

 

[NeeZee]

'The Photographer's Eye' by Michael Freeman is a very good book imo.
See also here for a list of five books regarding this topic:
http://photography24seven.com/the-top-five-best-books-on-composition-in-photography/

 

[peter_n]

Composition in Art by Henry Rankin Poore, Dover Publications 1976, ISBN 0-486-23358-8.

Design & Composition Secrets of Professional Artists by the editors of International Artist magazine, International Artist Publishing 2001, ISBN 1-929834-09-8.

 

[Steve M.]

Most any art book from the library should be fine. Painting and photography share the same rules of composition. One thing to learn, which is best done on your own and not out of a book, is how lens focal length can affect both composition and meaning in a photograph. Compositional rules are easy to remember, and you can see how things are going in the viewfinder, but you have to know from experience how a particular lens is going to affect your photo's composition and mood. Painters don't have to worry about this, as they can just change things throughout the work. When you choose a particular focal length lens, you're stuck w/ the results in that photo.

One of the best ways to put the GAS Beast at bay is to go out and shoot lots of photos, then study the results and see how things are progressing. Don't be afraid to break compositional rules too, just to see how you like the effects.

 

[zvos1]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I guess it is time to put my reading glasses on....

 

[Roger Hicks]

Look at pictures, whether in books or at exhibitions. Very few analyses are worth more than the proverbial pitcher of warm spit, once you get past the basics, for example as described in http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps quality composition i.html.

Making a set of pictures that hangs together is often more important, and you might find http://www.rogerandfrances.com/subscription/ps critique.html useful on that topic.

Cheers,

R.

 

[Aristophanes]

'The Photographer's Eye' by Michael Freeman is a very good book imo.
See also here for a list of five books regarding this topic:
http://photography24seven.com/the-top-five-best-books-on-composition-in-photography/

+1 to Michael Freeman's whole series.

 

[dap]

Honestly almost any general book on composition will do - all of them that I have paged through (maybe 4-5) are variations on the same theme (for obvious reasons - these "rules" have been in play forever).

The one photographic composition book that I have read that offers a different take is an old one from the 50s..."The Command to Look" by William Mortensen. He lays out a theory based on how the basic layout of the image triggers basic primal fears of the human subconscious (which make us take notice of the photograph). I can't tell you if his theory was based on fact or flights of his own imagination, but his own personal work definitely grabs your attention (regardless of whether you love it or hate it) so he must have been doing something right. Unfortunately the book is relatively rare and has a bit of a cult following so second hand copies tend to be very expensive ($300+). It is worth tracking down a library copy though (or search ebay every so often - occasionally really good deals on the book turn up).

 

[gns]

Why not try something like Shore's, The Nature of Photographs or Szarkowski's, The Photographer's Eye and Looking at Photograph's? They aren't about composition really, but they do discuss how photographs "work", and use a lot of great photos as examples.

Personally, most of the stuff I've read about composition is gibberish, and the accompanying pictures are usually bad which doesn't help.

Gary

 

[petronius]

Harald Mante

 

[menthel]

'The Photographer's Eye' by Michael Freeman is a very good book imo.
See also here for a list of five books regarding this topic:
http://photography24seven.com/the-top-five-best-books-on-composition-in-photography/

Its a good book but not a good read. I found it rather like wading through treacle! The examples are good though.

 

[Sarcophilus Harrisii]

David Präkel and Ernst Wildi have both authored books that, after reading them, improved my understanding of the topic, if not my results...
Regards,
Brett

 

[Steve Ash]

http://www.adammarelliphoto.com/category/great-compositions/