Guide to composition?

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ian-83

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Does anyone know any or know where i can find some good tips for composing my photos?

Struggling a bit recently that all my photo's look basic and don't show any consideration to the subject and just seem very average as when i look back through them nothing makes me think "wow i got a good shot there" just feel a bit :bang:
 
Visit your local museum and have a look at the Art.

There are many 'rules' to do with composition, but they are really only guidelines.

Thirds, lead in lines, S shapes, vgnetting, good lighting all help compositionally.
 
Cheers for the link i did have a look in the guide area but forgot about looking also for stuff relating to RoT
 
See if your local library has any books - There's loads around on composition, my favourite is The Photographers Eye by Michael Freeman, but you may not want to go out buying. Also keep an eye out for magazines, they often do some items on composition that you may find useful.
 
A good book I keep referring back to is The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman. But as suggested already, there are plenty of wider art references that also cover the subject of image composition.
 
The RoT and leading lines are sooo important, braking the rules works on certain occasions too, but learn the rules first.

Teach yourself by looking at a photo that YOU really like, and ask yourself why it works. Remove areas of the pic by putting your hand over different areas of the image (eg, to mask the foreground rock or whatever) and see if this “works” or not. Or use your hands/fingers to frame the same photo in a different way, to see if it “works”.

Paul :)
 
My camera will display the RoT lines in the view finder and i have just realised i switched it off the other day by accident so will turn it back on to help me out a bit next time i take some pictures.
 
I have found that spending some time on TP going through threads and both reading and writing comments help. You see what other people see in a photo and work out what you see. Whether this is simple to remind you not to chop the top of peoples heads off, or another part of their body out the shot, through to colour choices, processing styles, and different compositions.

Then when you are shooting you have all the crit rolling around in your head, don't chop the foot off, cover up the fire escape sign, move the rubbish from the floor, wait till the woman has walked past, what if I sit down, what if I climb up onto the bench and many other things.

The trick is then to remember these things without it taking away from the syle and photos you want to acheive, and forgetting the parts that you think are pretty pointless.

So get your post count up, and get commenting!
And if you did post some of your own shots, it gives people a chance to critique yourwork, which will help you improvre
 
Cheers i do sit and look through all the photos posted up on the subjects i am most interested in but never sure if i am brave enough to post my own up. Will get some up tomorrow after i have been out for the day to get peoples views :)
 
Yv said:
you could start by having a look at the RoT guide CT wrote a couple of years ago, its HERE in the tutorial section. There are plenty of other guides there too to give you ideas and inspriation :thumbs:
Click to expand...

Yv, not seen that one. Really good. Just printing it out for Cameron :thumbs:
 
Alastair said:
A good book I keep referring back to is The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos by Michael Freeman. But as suggested already, there are plenty of wider art references that also cover the subject of image composition.
Click to expand...

I also have this book and highly recommend it above all others.
 
Think before you shoot. I used to just snap and snap and never think. Think about foreground/background/negative space

When you realise the amount of time for certain shots you appreciate the compostition element more.
 
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