Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > General discussions > Photography in general

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 2nd January 2011, 08:05 PM
MartyNL's Avatar
MartyNL MartyNL is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: based in The Netherlands
Posts: 3,341
Default Is your eye for composition getting better or worse?

I've been asking myself this question for a while, for quite a while actually but I already know the answer.
I have the definite feeling that my eye for composition has gone "off", and it's not a good feeling. I don't remember when or where but looking back through my contacts I see 2 things very clearly;
A deterioration in compositional quality caused by some very bad judgements at the picture taking stage. Generally a combination of both poor standpoints and poor framing.
And secondly, it all seemed so much easier 20years ago! (a student, single, no kids etc.)


I'm hoping that spending more time reading my new books and in the darkroom will help my 'eye' improve.
Or maybe, as I sometimes fear, I've already reached my peak and it's all downhill from here?


How's your eye for composition, these days?
__________________
MartyNL

“Reaching a creative state of mind thru positive action
is considered preferable to waiting for inspiration.”
- Minor White, 1950
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 2nd January 2011, 08:17 PM
StanW's Avatar
StanW StanW is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Invercargill, New Zealand
Posts: 581
Default

I'm a believer in the advice of Fred Hunt, FRPS, of Brisbane, Australia.

"There's no such thing as 'composition'"
__________________
Alive and clicking Down Under.
A sad case of GAS - 8x10 pinhole down to 35mm slr and rf
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 2nd January 2011, 08:25 PM
Jon Butler's Avatar
Jon Butler Jon Butler is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: London
Posts: 776
Default

Marty I think we all get this at some time, try a different format/aspect ratio it helps you see in a new way and you will cured. Your be OK, promise.
JON.
__________________
JB-Creative Imagery
Jon Butler.

http://real-silver-prints.com/

"I Prefer it in the Dark"
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 2nd January 2011, 08:38 PM
Richard Gould Richard Gould is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Jersey Channel Islands
Posts: 5,433
Default

Happens to us all from time to time, we all get though it,and generaly when things improve then you get better than ever, and remember that rules are made to be broken, and some of my best shots have been when I though the rule book out of the window,Richard
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 2nd January 2011, 08:45 PM
cliveh's Avatar
cliveh cliveh is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: West Coornwall
Posts: 937
Default

Marty, I’m not sure that spending time in the darkroom will help you regain your eye for composition, but looking at the work of other artists may be useful. I don’t know if this is any help and I’m not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but I know that some Colleges and Universities sometimes use a project for students called alphabet shapes. The idea is that you go out and try and record as many letters of the alphabet from shapes you encounter. This sort of project encourages students to look at shapes objectively rather than in a subjective reference. Also if you are using LF and I don’t know what your preferred format is, but the fact that with LF you usually view the image upside down, often helps in viewing the scene objectively.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 2nd January 2011, 09:05 PM
Steve O's Avatar
Steve O Steve O is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Kelsall, Cheshire
Posts: 379
Default

For me the best solution is to get out more and shoot more, it's the same as exercise and you can definitely train your eyes to pick out good compositions. If I find myself struggling I go out regardless of the weather and try to make it happen. Looking back I can see how the best pictures came when I was shooting the most.

Steve
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 2nd January 2011, 09:15 PM
Ian David's Avatar
Ian David Ian David is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Brisbane of the Antipodes
Posts: 179
Default

Hi Marty

It seems unlikely that your compositional ability is getting worse. Much more likely is that your notion of a good composition has changed a bit so that you are currently preferring your earlier work. Give it some time, and keep putting film through the camera, and you will probably find that your compositional preferences will continue to change and evolve. At some stage you may discover that your current work is your favourite.

Ian
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 2nd January 2011, 10:11 PM
Trevor Crone's Avatar
Trevor Crone Trevor Crone is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: London
Posts: 2,609
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by StanW View Post
I'm a believer in the advice of Fred Hunt, FRPS, of Brisbane, Australia.

"There's no such thing as 'composition'"
Interesting; Edward Weston said the complete opposite, "the strongest way of seeing is through composition".

Personally I think its over-rated and I love composing badly.
__________________
"To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which will never be seen again" Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Timespresent
Arenaphotographers
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2nd January 2011, 10:15 PM
Nabhar's Avatar
Nabhar Nabhar is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 179
Default

I like to visit Art galleries, on and offline, when I'm in need of inspiration. If you study the work of the Master painters and photographers and their techniques, then by simple unconscious absorbtion, your compositional skill will only improve...guaranteed !!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2nd January 2011, 10:22 PM
cliveh's Avatar
cliveh cliveh is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: West Coornwall
Posts: 937
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor Crone View Post
Personally I think its over-rated and I love composing badly.
I would be interested to know what you mean by this statement. Badly is a subjective term.
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
David Bailey EYE B&W Neil Books 4 2nd November 2010 03:33 PM
Print Dry Down vs "Eye Down" Victor Krag Monochrome printing techniques 8 11th April 2009 04:37 PM
Composition and Perspective photomi7ch Art and aesthetics 15 27th January 2009 07:22 PM
Subject selection and composition Argentum Photography in general 7 22nd January 2009 03:32 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:20 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.