Unlock the essence of compelling photography through the art of composition with "Composition & Photography," a guide by renowned photographer and bestselling author Harold Davis. This book transcends traditional attempts to define "good composition" and liberates you from rigid rules. Instead, it encourages you to own, use, and make composition your own in your photographs.
In the world of successful photography, composition stands as the most fundamental yet elusive elixir. What makes a composition "good" is challenging to pinpoint, but we instinctively recognize it when we see it—a visceral response to a composition resonating with and enhancing the subject matter. Harold Davis dispels the notion of strict rules, emphasizing that experimentation and spontaneity are vital for crafting compelling, dynamic, and exciting compositions. The only true "rule" is to expect the unexpected, recognizing that composition is a process, not a fixed outcome.
In this enlightening book, Harold Davis guides you on perceiving patterns and abstractions, incorporating them into your image-making process. If the goal of photography is to present viewers with new perspectives, then thoughtful composition is the key. Discover how to distill your subject matter to its fundamentals and showcase familiar subjects in novel, unfamiliar ways. Explore topics such as lines, circles, rectangles, combinations, repetition, symmetry, asymmetry, abstraction, entering and exiting, vanishing points, perspective, emphasis, designing within a frame, and creating order from chaos.
"Composition & Photography" equips you with the tools and visual vocabulary to creatively design your photographs. Regardless of your photography genre, you'll learn to craft powerful compositions that enhance your images. Harold shares his own work related to each compositional element, offering valuable insights. The book features exercises on flexibility and process, sparking your creativity and initiating an internal creative dialogue.
Harold Davis concludes, "My goal as a photography teacher and writer about photography is to inspire and help you become the best and most creative photographer and image-maker that you can be." Take a transformative journey into the world of composition and photography, where rules yield to creativity and each image becomes a unique expression of your artistic vision.
