Composition

Basics Photography #1

by David Präkel

‘There is a vast difference between taking a picture and making a photograph’ said photographer Robert Heinecken. In this thorough and visually exciting guide to composition, David Präkel leads the reader, step-by-step, through the essential elements to consider when composing an image, including viewpoint, perspective, symmetry, scale and balance. A detailed, engaging and practical introduction to the process of identifying and arranging visual elements, Basics Photography: Composition demonstrates how different techniques can help photographers to develop professional images and create a distinct personal style.

Taking examples from both classic and contemporary photographers, Basics Photography: Composition (second edition) advises readers on how to select the most appropriate composition for capturing a subject or communicating a message.

• This title is the second edition of the first title in AVA’s extremely popular Basics Photography series, newly designed with fresh case studies, practical exercises to explore a photographer’s creativity and carefully selected imagery.
• Illustrated throughout with classic images from the masters of photography and creative work by contemporary practitioners, including Harry Callahan, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, Marc Riboud, David Hockney, Martin Parr, Lu Guang, Claire Martin and Claudia Rogge.
• Images are accompanied by a technical summary, detailing the camera, lenses and settings that were used in each photograph.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction

184 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2006

About the author

David was born and schooled in the North of England. After gaining a BSc in Psychology at the University of Manchester, he enjoyed a successful and diverse career as a freelance journalist and magazine editor, publishing and computer consultant, trainer and music critic.

Reviews

[Parisa forootan · Rating 4 out of 5]

وقتی از مردم عکس رنگی میگیرید،دارید از ظاهرشان عکس میگیرید و وقتی از آن ها عکس سیاه و سفید میگیرید، از باطنشان عکاسی می کنید.

[Mohammad Sadegh Alizadeh · Rating 1 out of 5]

بیشتر از تکنیک، نوعی نگرش و فهم برای کسانی که با تکنیک آشنایی اجمالی دارند. لاجرم برای امثال منی که حتی با تکنیک‌های عکاسی هم آشنایی ندارم به کار نخواهد آمد.

[Amirhossein · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب خوبیه واسه افرادی که تازه میخوان شرو کنن.
نکته نکته است‌.
و خوندنش خالی از لطف نیست

[Amanda Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

If given the option, I'd likely have given this book 3.5 stars, definitely deserves more than three, so I bumped it to a four star review. A great book overall on the concepts of photo composition. It is very well organized. It introduces a topic of composition, gives a one page written description of this topic and provides a photo example of that concept. It is a very quick read, great for a beginner or someone who just wants an overview of photo composition concepts. This book does assume you already know some basics with the SLR like shutter speed, ISO, and aperture. Also assumes you know some things about various flash concepts and reflectors (I don't know a lot there, so I glazed a bit on those areas). One of the things I like about this book is that anyone can use these concepts introduced even with a point-and-shoot camera.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Rather than giving specific advice or formulas or rules for composing better pictures, the book explores composition from a conceptual framework. It starts by looking at viewpoint, perspective, and scale, then discusses the formal elements of point, line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone, and color (all elements that one would encounter in an art class), and then thinking about space and time. Very much a theory book, with a few examples. The main take away message from the book: think, then compose.

[Israel ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basic book for those who are starting in photography

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

More like a text book on composition. I really liked the diagrams and picked up some helpful ideas. I also like the quotes throught the book by different photographers.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good solid read for grasping the basics of the concepts. Not very technical and easy to absorb. Beautiful photos too.

[Andres Moreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Simple and clear, also with great photos from the best photographers!