Composition eClass

"What's for Dinner?" © 2012 Sarah Ward

My younger sister and I were so thrilled with Kent Weakley's Night Photography eClass that I signed us up for his Composition class too. This class is equally as good but far more challenging, which I guess makes sense. Night Photography, in my estimation, was focused primarily on technique and execution, whereas, Composition is far more thought provoking in that we are trying to capture well-thought out images that combine photographic "ingredients" and "abide by the rules". "Ingredients?" you ask, "What sort of ingredients?" Well ... things like Contrasts in brightness, texture, shape or subject matter, Patterns, and Leading Lines. "Rules?" you ask. The ubiquitous Rule of Thirds, Leaving Space for Motion, and Depth of Field are three with which you are probably already familiar. 

Our assignment this week was challenging and frustrating at the same time. Take 5 well-composed photographs, and ONLY 5 photographs at a single focal length, for example 90mm or 18mm, within a 10'x10' space, indoors or outdoors, using the ingredients and rules that we've learned. Sally and I have crawled around the floor and climbed step stools trying to get interesting perspectives, converging lines, and good compositions. This is not easy within such a small space and without touching the zoom on our zoom lenses.

Focusing (no pun intended) so hard on the assignment at hand led us both to need a break, and these were the results. We hope they both tell a story ... of sorts. More later!

Dolphins at the Bow © 2012 Claudia Ward

Comments

[Ally de Groat]

very interesting, can't wait to see more.

[Claudia]

Thanks everyone!

[S.hughes]

Love the dolphins with the sail - beautiful composition!

[BAFA Studio]

So much goes into 'good' art, I LOVE the 'idea' 'concept' 'symbolism' of Dolphins at the Bow. Nice use of Notan and The Rule of Thirds. You have to know the rules to break them. Look up Godlove's Principle for kicks and grins... more fun.