artist statement examples photography
Composition in photography can be a difficult topic to teach others. Because the composition can be a very personal thing. What I like May not appeal to you.
However, many photographers, beginners in particular are not happy with how their photos look. But often, they can not put my finger on any reason.
There are many rules and guidelines to help the composition. Perhaps the best known is the rule of thirds. This rule states that your membership must be divided into a grid of nine parts, by running two lines horizontally (third top and third from bottom) and two vertical lines (third from left and third from right). By rule, large objects (trees, buildings, etc.) should be placed on these lines, and small objects are more effective if placed where the lines intersect.
Photos composed around these guidelines have a balanced view. The objects seem to appear exactly where the eye expects to find them. So when you create a composition around the rule of thirds, your photo meets the viewer's natural sense of proportion.
Some people have an innate sense of visual balance. They have a natural flair for creative composition that does not need to be guided by rules. However, if you were to review their files, you'd be sure to find that most of their photos equipped rule perfectly – even if they are unaware.
If you are a beginner in photography and still struggling with the composition, the rule of thirds is a good place to start. I recommend to all beginners to learn it, practice it, get familiar with if you start to apply it without even thinking. Then, once you are really comfortable with the rule of thirds – ignore half the time.
Recently a man came into my gallery, and before even saying hello I've heard tell his friends: "You see, it's a good picture because it is the rule of thirds. This is a bad picture because that the kangaroo is in the middle. The sunset is not good because the horizon is too low when she should be here, one third of the height … "
This man was obviously a fervent devotee of the rule of thirds. For him, everything that stepped outside the bounds of the rule is automatically a bad photo. But the composition is really simplistic? Of course not.
The real world is not as carefully constructed and the rule of thirds. More important still being creative ways to find your own way to express the character of a subject, which may not always require a traditional approach.
I can give you two simple examples from my own collection. One of my photos Outback has a very detailed plan, and some large bushes in the background. I placed the horizon line through the center of the photo. If I raised it higher, I lost at first. If I left fall below the tops of the bushes would be cut. In this case, the composition was influenced by circumstances.
The Another example is a photo sunset. The sky in this photo is truly spectacular. I left the horizon very low, if the colors of the sky fill the frame. If the horizon was fixed third of the way, it would mean one third of the image is black. Not only would this waste of space that has nothing to the photo, it would also reduce the impact of the sky.
Choosing to ignore the rule of thirds is not the same as not being aware. In each case, when taking a picture I think the rule of thirds, and judge whether its implementation will my picture better, or worse. If I chose to ignore, it is a deliberate method of adding the impact of the composition, possibly by drawing attention to a feature particular, as the sky in my photograph the sunset.
So, back to my previous statement. If you're struggling with composition, Rule of thirds may be the best thing we always learn. Not because you need to use the pictures (you should not) but because you should have the decision about when to use and when to ignore it. That way, when you choose to compose your photo differently, it is not only a mistake, but a creative choice to improve the impact of the photo. Once you cross that threshold, your photography will become a true expression of your artistic eye.
About the Author:
After 20 years as a professional nature photographer, Andrew Goodall has turned his attention to writing and teaching. Thousands of beginners have learned the art and skills of good photography with Andrew’s ebook “Photography In Plain English.” Check it out at http://www.naturesimage.com.au
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Composition and the Rule of Thirds: Rules are Made to be Broken
Garry Winogrand/street photographer
