A Book on Composition

FM Forum Rules
Wedding Resource List

FM Forums \| Wedding Photographer \| Join Upload & Sell	Search Used
1 2 3 end

Archive 2009 · A Book on Composition

Evan Baines
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #1 · A Book on Composition

Composition seems to be one of the most difficult things to teach in the world of photography. There are about 10x more books on lighting than there are about composition, and most of the books on composition seem content with just re-explaining the rule of thirds or CCOI.

Anyway, I thought some of you folks might be interested to see what I consider to be the best book on basic composition out there... and the added bonus is that its CHEAP!

Molly Bang created Picture This: How Pictures Work as a learning tool to help teach art to children, but soon found that it was useful for artists of all ages and backgrounds because it distills composition into its most basic building blocks. A large portion of the book is devoted to telling the story of little red riding hood using construction paper cutouts, and how manipulations of size, color, and shape alter how we (the viewers) feel about each image.

This book was assigned reading in one of my high-school art classes, and I rediscovered it recently. You'll breeze through the book, but its worth coming back to as it does such a wonderful job of graphically illustrating how to impart feelings to your images with just the basics of composition.

No reason for this post, other than I've seen a bunch of people asking for help learning composition... this is the best inexpensive resource of which I'm aware.

http://www.amazon.com/Picture-This-How-Pictures-Work/dp/1587170302/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258644818&sr=1-1

Nov 19, 2009 at 03:43 PM

deepbluejh
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #2 · A Book on Composition

Great post. Got any suggestions for a book on posing?

Nov 19, 2009 at 03:51 PM

DB
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #3 · A Book on Composition

Awesome, awesome! Can we make a stickies on suggested reading? Or maybe you could add a number to the noobs post?

Nov 19, 2009 at 03:57 PM

Mr. Malik
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #4 · A Book on Composition

Yes a stickie for suggested reading will help us all. Noobs and Pros alike.

As always, Solid work Evan!

Nov 19, 2009 at 04:03 PM

ai3x
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #5 · A Book on Composition

deepbluejh wrote:
Great post. Got any suggestions for a book on posing?

That's what I really want. Strobist et Al has done wonders for my lighting but there seems to be a dearth of information about how to create interesting modern poses.

Nov 19, 2009 at 04:22 PM

p150
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #6 · A Book on Composition

Evan, I just sent a PM about this, then saw the thread.

Nov 19, 2009 at 04:24 PM

Ziffl3
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #7 · A Book on Composition

Evan - Have you checked out the 'Photographers Eye' by Micheal Freeman?

A little deeper - includes Art background.
Starts with the frame and works inwards.

Will have to check out the book you reference.

Nov 19, 2009 at 04:28 PM

Kyle Yu
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #8 · A Book on Composition

hey i have that book. it was one of the first books i read when i was getting into photography. it very simple reading since it was written for kids. it did teach me a lot cuz i was a n00b (still am

)

Nov 19, 2009 at 04:30 PM

njjuliano
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #9 · A Book on Composition

Can never have enough resources. Thanks for posting, Evan.

Nov 19, 2009 at 04:54 PM

Chris Fawkes
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #10 · A Book on Composition

Thanks Evan, i just ordered a copy.

Nov 19, 2009 at 04:54 PM

cbres00
Online
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #11 · A Book on Composition

I also bought the book based on Evan's recommendation. So far so good.

Nov 19, 2009 at 05:13 PM

Scott Mosher
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #12 · A Book on Composition

Dude, I just use Evans site as my book on composition

(ok, I'll wipe that brown off my nose!)

Nov 19, 2009 at 05:40 PM

Ziffl3
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #13 · A Book on Composition

Scott Mosher wrote:
Dude, I just use Evans site as my book on composition

(ok, I'll wipe that brown off my nose!)

I got some comet on a scouring pad for-ya!

(guilty myself )

-Mark

Nov 19, 2009 at 05:45 PM

Pandacat
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #14 · A Book on Composition

On my way to Books A Million. They have one in stock at the local store.... In the Kids section.

Twelve bucks.

Nov 19, 2009 at 06:35 PM

ksmahgrts
Offline
Dedicated FM
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #15 · A Book on Composition

evan should get royalties. the author is going to wonder why there's such a rush on the book!

Nov 19, 2009 at 06:46 PM

littleme
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #16 · A Book on Composition

Evan thanks for linking me to this-- I'm a children's librarian by day, and I know we have this book. I'll take a peek tomorrow. Very cool connection-- I bet I'll understand the paper cutout reference after I read it.

Nov 20, 2009 at 12:56 AM

Quan
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #17 · A Book on Composition

bought

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:00 AM

McGrattan
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #18 · A Book on Composition

Current bedtime reading is "Pricing for Profit" by Dale Furtwengler.

If you haven't read "How to win friends and influence people" at least twice, you couldn't do yourself a bigger favor.

Nov 20, 2009 at 01:19 AM

heartaches
Offline
Upload & Sell: Off

p.1 #19 · A Book on Composition

ditto the above.

How to win friends and influence people taught me many invaluable life skills.

Will check out this amazon book on composition.

Nov 20, 2009 at 05:45 AM

mosier
Offline
Upload & Sell: On

p.1 #20 · A Book on Composition

Good stuff Evan, good stuff

Nov 20, 2009 at 06:15 AM

1 2 3 end
FM Forums \| Wedding Photographer \| Join Upload & Sell 1 2 3 end