All fine artists share a common goal: to combine individual elements into a convincing, cohesive whole that tells a story or expresses an intention. Photography is especially suited to this pursuit because the photographer can create multiple, distinct images of a single subject using a variety of design techniques. The display on a digital camera instantly shows the arrangement of elements in an image, allowing the photographer to make changes and refine their creation as they work. Albrecht Rissler believes that a firm understanding of image design is as important as having an observant eye or having the technical knowledge to operate a camera. Photographic Composition presents the most important concepts of image design and offers 250 beautiful photographs to illustrate these concepts. By applying these concepts to your own work, you will greatly improve your photographic eye and your ability to compose an ideal image. This book's impressive images are in black-and-white, intentionally removing the distraction of color and making it easy to focus on compositional elements and form. With this book, photographers as well as all visual artists will learn how to infuse their own images with excitement, develop and hone their visual language, and express their personal artistic aesthetic. Topics include: The effect of various aspect ratios Perspective and composition Form and contrast Proportion and harmony Symmetry and asymmetry Brightness and darkness Structures and textures The "perfect moment"

Learn to take better pictures in this step-by-step, how-to photography guide filled with tips on lighting, equipment, inspiration, and more. Featuring more than 200 of master photographer Art Wolfe's stunning images, The Art of the Photograph helps amateur photographers of all levels break bad habits and shatter common yet incorrect assumptions that hold many photographers back. This is Wolfe’s ultimate master class, in which he shares the most important insights and techniques learned in four decades of award-winning photography. Along with co-author Rob Sheppard, Wolfe challenges us to stop focusing on subjects we feel we should photograph and instead, to “see like a camera sees,” seek out a personal point of view, and construct stunning, meaningful images. You’ll also learn how to: · Reexamine prejudices that define (and limit) what you photograph · See beyond the subject to let light and shadow lead you to the right image · Find inspiration, including the story behind Wolfe's own photographic journey. · Use formal art principles to build more compelling images. · Choose the right camera and lens for the image you see in your mind's eye. · Recognize the 10 deadly sins of composition—and how to avoid them. · …and even get a behind-the-lens look at Wolfe’s equipment and workflow.

50 Principles of Composition in Photography will reveal how to capture more creative, imaginative and inspired photographs using both film and digital photography. With Klaus Bohn's clear and practical guidelines you will discover how to heighten your visual acuity and take more artistic, appealing and captivating images.These principles of composition have been gained from a lifetime of learning and thousands of dollars spent in attending private courses given by the world's top professional photographers including: Joe Zeltzman, Monte Zucker, Donald Jack, Rocky Gunn, Yousuf Karsh, Arnold Newman, and many more.Learn the techniques to distinguish yourself from the photographers who simply take snapshots. Acquire the skills to give form and balance to your photographs by combining the elements harmoniously in order to see a subject in the strongest way. This book is sure to become a valued resource in your personal library, to be consulted and relied upon for many years to come.Klaus Bohn is a Professional Photographer with a Masters of Photographic Arts. He has been teaching the art of photography since 1984 to amateurs and professionals alike. Klaus has been commissioned to photograph many notable people over the years, a few of whom include: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, Norman Vincent Peale, Art Linkletter, Anne Murray, author of the best selling "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books Mark Victor Hansen, NHL All-Star of the Calgary Flames Theoren Fleury, and World Class Cyclist Roland Green."Just for a little while, let Klaus be your mentor. His struggling for creativity is revealing, is so evident. Reach out to grab it. Resolve to integrate this highly saleable touch of class into your daily output."Jack Curtis, author, "Wedding Portaits and Photography World""I was so impressed with what Klaus had to say that I had to restrain myself."Paul Castle, author, "Promoting Portraits""Klaus has been quite successful... and both he and his Photography must be given better than average marks. What follows are epitomized abstractions of some of Klaus' comments on how he operates, and I feel they could be of practical value to you."D. H. Moore, author, "The Practice of Modern Photography"

When looking at a photograph, too often a conversation starts–and, unfortunately, ends–with a statement such as, “I like it.” The logical next question, “Why?”, often goes unasked and unanswered. As photographers, we frequently have difficulty speaking about images because, frankly, we don’t know how to think about them. And if we don’t know how to think about a photograph and its “visual language”– how an image is constructed, how it works, and why it works–then, when we’re behind the camera, are we really making images that best communicate our vision, our original intent? Vision–crucial as it is–is not the ultimate goal of photography; expression is the goal. And to best express ourselves, it is necessary to learn and use the grammar and vocabulary of the visual language. Photographically Speaking is about learning photography’s visual language to better speak to why and how a photograph succeeds, and in turn to consciously use that visual language in the creation of our own photographs, making us stronger photographers who are able to fully express and communicate our vision. By breaking up the visual language into two main components–“elements” make up its vocabulary, and “decisions” are its grammar–David duChemin transforms what has traditionally been esoteric and difficult subject matter into an accessible and practical discussion that photographers can immediately use to improve their craft. Elements are the “words” of the image, what we place within the frame–lines, curves, light, color, contrast. Decisions are the choices we make in assembling those elements to best express and communicate our vision–the use of framing, perspective, point of view, balance, focus, exposure. All content within the frame has meaning, and duChemin establishes that photographers must consciously and deliberately choose the elements that go within their frame and make the decisions about how that frame is constructed and presented. In the second half of the book, duChemin applies this methodology to his own craft, as he explores the visual language in 20 of his own images, discussing how the intentional choices of elements and decisions that went into their creation contribute to their success.

In an age over-saturated with photographic imagery, Design Principles for Photography demonstrates how design awareness can add a new level of depth to your images. By adapting and experimenting with the tried and tested techniques used by graphic designers every day, you can add dynamism and impact to your imagery, whatever the style or genre - something that today's editors, curators and publishers are all crying out for.The second edition includes examples of unsuccessful compositions, annotated images highlighting key techniques and an expanded glossary. There’s also a new section on movements in photography and their reflection in composition, including modernism, expressionism, and surrealism and interviews with international practitioners discussing how they’ve included design principles in their work. Featured topics: Basic design theory; the use of space; positional decisions; the elements of design; line; shape or form; space; texture; light; colour; pattern; rhythm; contrast; scale and proportion; abstraction; movement and flow; containment; emphasis and emotion; justaposition; incongruity; mood and emotion.