Composition - What in the world does it mean?

In the world of photography what does COMPOSITION mean?

Well, by definition it means, 'putting together'. Or think of it as organization.

In the field of photography, organization is key to good art. Like I always say, you can't take a bunch of food, throw it in a bag, shake it up and expect a delicious meal to come out of it.... it takes effort and work and organization. You have to know just how much or how little to add of each ingredient. Relating to photography, you have to have all the correct ingredients, put in the right place at the right time, at the right angle in order to have a good photograph.

Depending on the photographer you ask, there are rules to composition. But, really they are more like guidelines, since, sometimes breaking the 'rule' is what is needed to create the end desired product.

So, here are some of the guidelines, I suggest for those of you who are interested in developing your skills, to take each one and research, practice, practice, practice it until you are comfortable with it and find your groove. Keep in mind, there are more composition guidelines than I have listed, this is just to give you a start.

1. Rule of thirds. This is, in my opinion, one of the more important guidelines you must master and understand completely what it means and what it DOESN'T mean!
2. Pattern. Just like a meal with no spices is bland and boring, a photograph that doesn't capitalize on available patterns looses it's potential pizazz!

3. Texture. Closely related to pattern, you must fully understand what it is, and how to apply it.

4. Angles. If your angle is off just a touch, you can loose the whole effect to the photograph. Especially in portrait photography, angles can either enhance the subjects or create a less attractive appearance. So, be cautious, and again, practice, practice, practice! Some angles work, but only in certain light, and circumstances.

5. D.o.F. - Do you know what that is? Depth of Field. Look it up. Depending on what you are trying to accomplish, DoF will either enhance, or reveal your subject, or isolate it. It's not something that you can read about and simply have it mastered, again, practice!

One suggestion for those of you who feel the need to better your photography skills, either for personal use or if you are considering a career in photography, is get familiar with good photographers. Learn what made the greats so great, such as Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, Dorothea Lange, Bernice Abbott, Anne Geddes, Edward Weston, Henri Cartier-Brensen, Richard Avedon... to name a few. Don't repeat their work, but feed off of their greatness, soak up their legacy. Have fun! Don't make it harder than what it is.

As far as my collection goes, I look forward to adding to my portfolio this Summer. I will be doing a lot of portrait work, but I have also set out to enhance my landscape portfolio. So, look for it this Summer as I do, I will be putting into practice the composition guidelines in this blog post. Let's see how well I do this year, following my own advice!

A good photograph, doesn't happen by chance. It's the product of good design and technique.

That's the way I see it anyways! Until next time, stay Snap Happy my friends!