com·po·si·tion

A series of short tutorials on different compositional techniques you can use to make images with stronger impact.

What is composition?

• The nature of something’s ingredients or constituents
• The way in which a whole or mixture is made up.
• The action of putting things together; formation or construction.

Composition is key to providing clean and compelling imagery and goes beyond using the simple “rule of thirds” or “leading lines”. A successful composition draws in the viewer and pulls their eye across the whole image so that everything is taken in. Your composition should support the story and mood you are trying to convey to your viewer.

In the posts below I explore different compositional components and provide tips and recipes for each compositional component.

Personal Documentary Photography

• What is Personal Documentary Photography and why you should do it.

Using Light

• Using Light – Morro Bay and Moon
• It’s still about the light
• Where is the light?

Using Gesture:

• Gesture on a mission
• Using Gesture
• Not all gestures are created equal
• Gesture is not a grab-shot (with tips for capturing Gesture)
• New The Unposed Portrait – tutorial
• New The Unposed Portrait – Challenge in Mongolia

Using Point of View

• Using Point of View, a short tutorial

Macro and Micro Composition – the teachings of Sam Abell

• Pigeons on 12th and Maple – On Composition
• Micro Composition – A lesson with Sam Abell

Using External References

• Using External References, a short tutorial

Using Layers

• Using Layers to add depth and movement – a short tutorial

Using Scale

• How to use Scale to create the feeling of size – a short tutorial

Using Tonal Contrasts / Figure-Ground

• Figure-Ground or Using Contrasting Tones (reprise)
• Composition Concept – Figure-Ground

Using Pattern, Repetition, and Rhythm

• Pattern, Repetition, and Rhytym – a short tutorial

Upcoming Topics

• Using Color
• Using Motion
• Using Framing