Table of Contents
Part I: The Basics of Composition
Part II: Elements of Photographic Design
Part III: Arranging the Key Elements to Compose a Successful Shot
Part IV: Composition in Action
Part I: The Basics of Composition
Chapter 1: Photographic Composition: The Overview
Getting a Grasp on Good Composition
Defining photographic composition
Leading the eye to important elements
Gaining Control of Your Compositions
Working your basic camera settings
Choosing the lens that fits your message
Using perspective to enhance your message
Pulling together the elements of composition
Chapter 2: Developing an Eye for Composition
Relationships between subjects and supporting elements
Revealing three dimensions in a two-dimensional medium
Paying attention to everything in the frame
Finding and Creating Effective Compositions
Chapter 3: Getting to Know Your Equipment
Making the All-Important Lens Choice
Taking a closer look at aperture, shutter speed, and ISO
Using a histogram to check exposure
Discovering your camera’s light meter
Relying on your camera’s automatic modes
Putting Together an Effective Toolkit
Finding a camera that fits your photography style and budget
Looking for a lens to suit your needs
Getting the right external flash
Part II: Elements of Photographic Design
Chapter 4: Introducing the Elements of Photographic Design
Grasping the Point about Points
Following Lines, Real and Imagined
Bringing More to the Mix with Shape and Form
Distinguishing between shape and form
Emphasizing shape or form in a composition
Adding Scale or Depth with Texture
Adding interest with sequence patterns
Leading your viewer by using repetition
Breaking patterns to grab attention
Chapter 5: Arranging Visual Elements in a Frame According to the “Rules”
Looking at Foreground, Background, and the Space Between
Enlivening Your Images with the Rule of Thirds
Dividing your frame to conquer composition
Using the thirds to their fullest
Interpreting the rule of thirds to make it work for your scene
Taking Advantage of Space to Get Your Message Across
Giving your subject more (or less) space
Allowing shapes room to breathe
Staggering objects within your frame
Containing lines inside your frame
Keeping an Image Simple or Unleashing Controlled Chaos
Chapter 6: Paying Attention to Color in Composition
Using complementary colors for contrast
Maximizing monochromatic color schemes
Creating harmony with analogous colors
Being aware of how your digital sensor sees light
Exposing your photo for black and white
Converting an image to black and white using the three channels
Color or Black and White? How Your Decision Impacts Your Message
Part III: Arranging the Key Elements to Compose a Successful Shot
Chapter 7: Using Focal Points to Tell a Story
Finding Your Focal Point and Helping It Take Center Stage
Making your focal point stand out
Using your camera’s focus control to select your focal point
Determining how much of the frame your focal point should cover
Enhancing Your Message with Selective Focus
Getting creative with your focal points
Adding a Secondary Focal Point to Your Composition
Chapter 8: Finding Your Perspective
Looking at Things from a New Perspective
Understanding how perspective impacts your message
Making choices about perspective
Selecting perspective according to light
Considering Techniques to Get the Shot
Moving the subject or yourself
Using focal length to achieve your goals
Rotating Your Camera to Create Unusual Angles
Putting the subject off center
Placing the subject in the top or bottom of the frame
Changing your camera’s orientation
Chapter 9: Backgrounds: As Important as the Subject
From Great Outdoors to Crawlspace: Considering Types of Backgrounds
Recognizing Problem Backgrounds
Backgrounds that merge with your subject
Preventing and Fixing Problems
Identifying poor backgrounds by reviewing your work as you go
Creating your own backgrounds to avoid problems
Using Background Elements to Support Your Subject
Chapter 10: Using Light to Tell Your Story
Understanding Light Quality and Intensity
Considering hard light versus soft light
Modifying the quality and contrast of light
The Relationship between Light Source and Subject
Seeing how distance makes a difference
Positioning your light source to create lighting patterns
Breaking the patterns and creating your own look
Manipulating the Direction of Natural Light
Giving yourself the time of day
Appreciating different results in different seasons
Accounting for the Color of Light
Chapter 11: Adding Interest through Framing and Formatting
Giving your image a sense of depth
Adding interest by getting creative with your compositional frame
Choosing between the Horizontal and Vertical Formats
Understanding how your message influences which format to use
Determining format based on the subject
Letting the environment dictate format
Chapter 12: Exploring Other Compositional Ideas
Creating Harmony with Balance and a Sense of Scale
Keeping the elements balanced and properly weighted
Using Rhythm and Repetition of Elements
Reinforcing your subject or intended message with repeating elements
Creative Ways to Break the Rules or Cheat the System
Experimenting with the tilt-shift lens
Taking multiple digital exposures
Crafting soft, dream-like compositions
Part IV: Composition in Action
Chapter 13: Showing People in Their Best Light
Showing a Person’s Essence in Portraits
Choosing your angle and your lens
Adding interest by integrating your subject’s hands into the photo
Taking advantage of a person’s surroundings
Getting Great Results from Both Candid and Posed Portraits
Taking control with posed shots
Photographing People Together: Showing Connections
Overcoming the technical challenges of photographing groups
Composing portraits of couples
Fabulous Darling, You’re Gorgeous: Shooting Fashion Photography
Chapter 14: In Nature: Landscapes and Wildlife
Recognizing Compositional Elements in Nature
Expansive landscapes: Basking in your surroundings
Narrowing in on intimate landscapes
Exploring fine detail through macro photography
Getting the best-composed shot
Developing a Respect for Nature’s Elements
Determining what you want to photograph
Factoring in light when in the forest
Taking advantage of night in the forest
Chapter 15: Shooting Still-Life Photography
Making Everyday Objects Interesting
Selling objects with photography
Photographing Flowers in Studio and in Nature
Producing images in the studio
Capturing flowers in their natural environments
Cooking Up Beautiful Food Photos
Working with Architectural and Interior Photography
Crafting images of building exteriors
Taking a look inside: Composing interior shots
Chapter 16: Capturing (Or Stopping) Motion through Photography
Following Compositional Principles When a Subject Isn’t Stationary
Deciding whether to freeze or show motion
Up for the Challenge: Photographing Subjects Constantly on the Move
Taking successful images of children
Catching shots of the family pet
Chapter 17: Artsy Photos: Fine Art, Composite Pictures, and Abstracts
Classifying Photography as Fine Art
Making the best of your situation
Keeping the effects of color in mind
Using shapes and lines to create meaning
Combining Multiple Shots to Create a Single Photo
Mimicking a made-up scene with multiple exposures
Chapter 18: Improving Composition through Postproduction Editing
Removing unwanted elements and flaws
Editing Your Images to Draw the Viewer to Your Subject
Adjusting contrast in the scene using Curves Layers
Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Improve Composition
Reveal Contrast with Complementary Colors
Harmonize with Monochromatic Colors
Make a Subtle Statement with Analogous Colors
Use a Shallow Depth of Field to Tell a Story
Shoot Until You’ve Exhausted the Possibilities
Choose a Background That Says Something
Tackle Transparent and Reflective Elements
Incorporate a Compositional Frame
Chapter 20: Ten Tips for Finding Photographic Inspiration
Take a Walk, Take Photos, and Take Notes
Emulate Your Favorite Shots by Other Photographers
Head Out for a Nighttime Photo Shoot
Reveal the Lapse of Time in a Scene
Chapter 21: Viewing Ten Compositions of One Scene
Choosing a High Angle to Show the Scene
Selecting a Low Angle to Emphasize the Subject
Highlighting the Subject and the Scene with a Wide-Angle Lens
Showing More Scenery with a Wide-Angle Lens
Narrowing In on Your Subject with a Long Lens
Creating an Intimate Portrait by Using a Long Lens
Paying Attention to the Foreground Elements in Your Scene