After long I finally came across a photography book that covered exactly what I was looking for from quite some time. There are several books I have bought ever since I started earning, most have great pictures and some have certain aspect of composition covered, like the ‘rule of 3rd’ etc. but for quite some time I have been looking for the ideal book that teaches me all the key aspect of composition in a way that my ‘left brain’ can now actively participate to my ‘right brain’ activities in trying to find and take better photographs.
I posted the book cover and link to amazon for the book above, just in case you get excited to buy it after reading my note.
So what is this LSFTPC all about and why am I so excited about it after reading that now I feel the need to even write in my blog about it? I guess it’s the joy of discovery and its best enjoyed once shared with likeminded people. So sorry if you are one of those who has not interest in photography and just happened to come across this while searching for something else.
LSFTPC, without any further delay is the short from for; Lines, Shapes, Form, Texture, Pattern and Color. It’s the key for composition for any visual art, either done knowingly by the masters who have studied and practiced it or amateurs like us, who just happened to trust there ‘right brain’ and went about doing ‘trial and error’ and sometimes hitting the jackpot. I have a strong suspicion that some of you who took up fine arts might have covered this and might be rolling you eyes about my ignorance, hehehe. But still, I am sure there are so many others like me, who might still be looking around the logical side of the fine art and this is my small effort to help them in their journey.
Lines are just lines cutting across the frame leading the eye of the viewer, they could be diagonal, and they could be converging or diverging for the desired effect. Shapes are usually like the silhouette that we see or a similar effect that draw our attention or becomes the subject. Form refers to the three dimensional objects compared to ’shapes’ which are primarily two dimensional. Texture refers to the visual feel of a surface, rough, smooth, bumpy etc are all texture and relay their respective emotion to the viewers mind. Pattern on the other hand is created by grouping or repetition of anything. All of the above together or by itself creates certain impact on our mind when we view the output. The logic of what brings which effect is very well documented in the book along side with examples and very logical explanations. The most direct effect perhaps is caused by ‘color’ the last element. The warmer colors like orange, red, yellow and cooler ones like blue, green, cyan etc. has its desired impact obviously and subliminally. One aspect not touched is perhaps there is also a cultural and geographic effect on what certain color brings to mind of different viewers. It’s the neurological programming that stays with them for their life.
If I try to run you through each of the above elements and its various effects I might end up rewriting the book and definitely won’t be able to do as great a job. So I suggest anyone who is still reading this and want to know more, get a copy of this book and you will thank me forever. For now I am eagerly waiting for the chance to apply the learning to my future photographs, my ‘left brain’ is well feed and waiting to show-off to my right, stay tuned for the results.