Learning Photographic Composition

[mOjO]

I'm not really new to photography as I've taken a few classes ages ago in high school, but what I'm finding now is that I'm losing a bit of compositional awareness in my photos. As a remedy for this, I thought I'd start a thread where every two weeks or so a new compositional task is provided. Throughout the two weeks members would share their interpretation of the task for constructive review (or no review and just sharing if that’s what you’d like). At the end of the two weeks a new set of tasks would be provided and we’d start over.

Thoughts:
- A list of possible tasks can be created by everyone and chosen at random.
- We can start off by following the lessons listed on this webpage: http://morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php?lesson=1
- In the interest of the forums it'd be prudent to keep the compositional subjects related to Mazda/cars, but I have reservations that it may limit people’s creativity. My recommendation would be to look to those subjects first for ideas, then to others if you’re at a loss.
- If this becomes popular, it’s likely that this one thread is going to become a total mess. If/When this becomes the case, a sub-forum of our own may help mitigate the organizational problems. A primary thread with a list of tasks, then other threads to post our results. You get the idea.
- We could provide multiple levels of tasks per bi-week period so that members of all proficiencies can participate. Learning shouldn’t be limited to people with DSLRs and a magic eye.
- Members who do not wish to receive feedback on their photos should state so when posting a photo or link to a photo.
- I’m thinking that to preserve Forum bandwidth, links to photos should be provided instead of posting the photo itself. I’ll need feedback from an Admin to verify this.
- Although I'd like as many people to be able to participate as possible, camera phones or cameras that are significantly out of date should not be used.

My ultimate goal for this thread is that each participating member learns something in an enjoyable, supportive manor.

To keep on-point, questions or comments in this thread should be related to the process, current/future tasks or posted photos. All other photography questions should be answered here: http://www.mnmazda.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1342

[mOjO]

**Placeholder for future themes/ideas/tasks**

[mOjO]

Compositional Theme: Macro Simplicity
Time frame: 8/6 - 8/20

As mentioned in the first post, I thought that using some ideas gained from Here (http://morguefile.com/archive/classroom.php?lesson=1) would help get us started. So here we go.

Description:
The goal of this theme is take a photo of your subject in very close proximity with as little background distraction as possible.

Thoughts:
- Macro photos are best taken with a high aperture (produces a soft blur around your subject). Aperture Priority Mode on DSLR's works well as does the Macro preset on P&S (Point and Shoot) cameras.
- If you don't have a Macro Function or a aperture priority mode then try zooming in as far as you can (without digital zooming). That should set your aperture higher to reduce depth of field.
- Flash fails in macro, use a tripod or other method to steady your camera or find another source of light.
- If you don't have a tripod or in an awkward situation, use the timer and get yourself nice and solid for when it takes the photo. Pressing the shutter button is a major source of movement.
- Subject focus is a primary factor in great macro shots. What IS in focus should be limited. Example Here (http://picasaweb.google.com/nesbitthome2/Barcelona5/photo#5221578630769224802) That is an example of a shallow Depth of Field. Conversely, most landscape photography has a very deep Depth of Field where virtually everything is in focus.

Alternate Task (Difficult): Macro Simplicity using light to highlight your area of interest.

Thoughts:
- A macro shot using light to determine the primary focus instead of depth of field.

[mOjO]

http://picasaweb.google.com/nesbitthome2/Projects/photo?authkey=Xi6IX7z1UZo#5233808814966670482

[YSOSLO]

that's a pretty cool pic man. it looks like the focus is high on the branch though, rather than on the object front and center. It might be a little more on the artistic side, but it may confuse the viewer. Nice use of an out-of-focus background to highlight your subject for sure. I'll have to see if I can track down one of my own.

[DrWebster]

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/DrWebster/bolts.jpg

[YSOSLO]

Nice Collin! The rust adds such a great texture and the lighting adds so much to the feel of the photo.

[YSOSLO]

Here's a couple of my favorites http://lh3.ggpht.com/ysoslo/SKTnQ4-3okI/AAAAAAAAA0g/vwguDp0--PU/daisy%20close.jpg?imgmax=912

http://lh3.ggpht.com/ysoslo/SKTmQSCt6lI/AAAAAAAAAy0/pBYBVqe0cxQ/4x6_butterfly.jpg?imgmax=912

[mOjO]

YSOSLO, that link doesn't work for me.

Collin, great photo. That was your duluth trip?

[AJ]

one of the first taken with my new camera.

[DrWebster]

Collin, great photo. That was your duluth trip?

Yep, Gooseberry Falls IIRC.

[ZoomZoom Diva]

AJ, cool picture. Is that cropped/edited or how it came off the camera?

[YSOSLO]

Fixed the link above....sorry

[ZoomZoom Diva]

Nice shots, Pete. Nice Corgi too.

[AJ]

AJ, cool picture. Is that cropped/edited or how it came off the camera?

That's how it came off the camera in raw.

[YSOSLO]

Thanks James.

Yeah, AJ that's a great shot. That type of flower might look really great on a dewy morning or something too, to generate more visual interest. The lighting adds a lot to flower petals when we get that close up.

[AJ]

Just took this one tonight. Shot in Raw.

[DrWebster]

Shot in Raw.

Yep, always shoot RAW if you can.

[Big Nate]

WOW i need like a 50" monitor to se that pic AJ LOL.

Great looking shot from what i can see though.

[Jana]

WOW i need like a 50" monitor to se that pic AJ LOL.

Great looking shot from what i can see though.

Huh? Did you click on it to see the full version?

[Big Nate]

Yes I did and that is the issue. It is too big to see the entire pic thus I can't see the composition that said picture has.

[Jana]

Wow...what size monitor do you have? I'm on a 17 and had no problem.

Anyway, sorry to go OT.

[StealthSpeed3]

i might as well get in on this since i need to refine my skills and learn some new tricks.

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/SilverBullet98_77/Macro%20Shots/P8120021.jpg

and

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/SilverBullet98_77/Macro%20Shots/P8120011.jpg

[dmention7]

Wow...what size monitor do you have? I'm on a 17 and had no problem.

Anyway, sorry to go OT.

Some browsers will automatically resize pics to fit the current window (mine does). If you click the image it will display full size. That pic is something like 2100x3000px, about 4x the size of what a 17" monitor will display natively.

[AJ]

Another I took in the morning, trying the idea that the dew will add a little. It did, I really like the way this one came out.

[dmention7]

I like it, but the one thing that seems lacking IMO, is something tying the sharply focused foreground with the heavily out of focus background. Maybe a well-planned crop would help?

Just my $0.02

[dmention7]

Here is one I grabbed on the camping trip earlier this month. Some minor tweaks in Picasa, as the original was a bit washed out due to the bright overhead sun.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/dmention7/SKizc1ptkxI/AAAAAAAAAIY/Ru_pQtxc1fg/s144/DSCN0288.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dmention7/CampingAugust2008/photo#5235631874837943058)

Here's another macro I hoped would turn out better, but I couldnt get the background (line of cars) to be more than a blurry blob. It also would've been better if I was in boost instead of coasting.... lol
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dmention7/SKiz3X9DV_I/AAAAAAAAAHs/2HvgoxDNBbo/s144/DSCN0385.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dmention7/CampingAugust2008/photo#5235632330722465778)

[ZoomZoom Diva]

I did a few others, but here are my favorites. Personally, I think the third pic is the best one...

http://picasaweb.google.com/ZoomZoomDiva/CampAndCars02/photo#5236043504008706194

http://picasaweb.google.com/ZoomZoomDiva/CampAndCars02/photo#5236041353420257314

http://picasaweb.google.com/ZoomZoomDiva/CampAndCars02/photo#5236041334643840562

http://picasaweb.google.com/ZoomZoomDiva/CampAndCars02/photo#5236041288073663170

[dmention7]

heh... I took a few of a bee on that same kind of flower, but none came out well.

[mOjO]

James, I like all of those. Soft bokke (the blur in background), and slightly underexposed producing a bit more detail.

I've got some good flower shots from Barcelona....but I'll exclude those since they were taken a while ago.

What do you guys want to do next? I was thinking about a photo that uses lines to highlight your subject.... any other suggestions?

[YSOSLO]

No suggestions, but I definitely think it helps to give us an example of the objective, so we can see what the goal is.

[DrWebster]

OK, since everyone seems to be posting flower pictures...

These first three are from Descanso Gardens outside of Los Angeles, including the seemingly obligatory shot of a flower with a bee in it:

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/DrWebster/descanso012-1280.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/DrWebster/descanso014-1280.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/DrWebster/descanso022-1280.jpg

These two are from this summer at the Minnesota Zoo (no, the second one isn't a flower, but an example of watching your timing when shooting):

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/DrWebster/mnzoo07-1680.jpg
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee298/DrWebster/mnzoo03-1680.jpg

[YSOSLO]

Awesome pics Collin!! The detail is excellent. I especially like the butterfly in motion shot.

[mOjO]

If you're going to twist my arm and everything.. :)

All flowers were in Barcelona, Spain.
http://picasaweb.google.com/mojomadness/Misc/photo#5236449227433247042
http://picasaweb.google.com/mojomadness/Misc/photo#5236449314312395218
http://picasaweb.google.com/mojomadness/Misc/photo#5236449613115331362
http://picasaweb.google.com/mojomadness/Misc/photo#5236449770491839714
http://picasaweb.google.com/mojomadness/Misc/photo#5236449979110951426

Bug!
http://picasaweb.google.com/mojomadness/Misc/photo#5236450228165479474

[mOjO]

Compositional Theme: Guiding Lines
Time frame: 8/22 - 9/5

This week I thought we'd simplify it a bit..... Since I'm having trouble putting an effective description together I thought I'd use more examples for you all.

Description:
Use lines to draw the viewers eyes towards the subject.

Thoughts:
- Lines are everywhere
- In shots close to macro they bring an interesting focal dynamic to the shot


Examples:
http://morguefile.com/lessons/lesson_images/CountryR.jpg
http://www.fotosearch.com/photos-images/leading-lines.html

[mOjO]

http://picasaweb.google.com/mojomadness/Misc#5239384410304714866

[dmention7]

These don't necessarily fit with a particular them, but they were a couple of the more interesting ones (IMO) that I took on the beer cruise today.

I kind of like the way this one contrasts a tiny bug climbing up a small concrete post against an expansive background. (The bug could be a bit more in focus, but with a foreground that angles away from me, it was tough to get the camera to autofocus on the right distance)
http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/226/dscn0497nq4.th.jpg (http://img337.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0497nq4.jpg)


I just like how the fall colors looked reflected off my shiny new carbon fiber goodness.... lol
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/9899/dscn0451cs8.th.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0451cs8.jpg)


I guess this one isn't really about composition, this particular shot of this tree intrigued me because it looked like an exploding firework... I dinno.
http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/9795/dscn0466sy6.th.jpg (http://img515.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscn0466sy6.jpg)

[StealthSpeed3]

let's get this going again, time to drop in some of my stuff from my assignments that fit with the criteria.

using lines to draw the viewer to the subject - shots from my photo design final:

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/SilverBullet98_77/Dealership%20shots/_MG_4485.jpg

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k78/SilverBullet98_77/Dealership%20shots/_MG_4398.jpg

[DrWebster]

Came across this gallery a while back; the more I look at it the more I'm blown away by the composition. The photographer is a teenage girl.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bunnyrel/sets/72157615647396658/

[mOjO]

She's MOST awesome!

[AJ]

Wow, very cool!

[VTEC8YA]

Im in no way tricky with a camer, but just thought I would share a couple pictures I took with the new Canon.

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/llumley/IMG_0074.jpg

http://i638.photobucket.com/albums/uu106/llumley/IMG_0090.jpg

I really like the second one, talk about getting lucky with the timing. The cats texture on its tongue is just unreal!!