The Photograph Composition and Color Design

[johnastovall]

Before you buy an more equipment or software or post questions about how to make your photographs better buy this book. Read, study and apply it to your work.

"Having learned th elements and principles of constructing a picture and its color design, one has the background also to make qualitative judgements about and criticisms of images. A pictures's design elements and color contrasts can be identified and explained analytically and used to evaluate the quality of the composition.....Knowing the grammar of art equips one to evaluate the qualities of an image or to produce images of high quality."

The Photograph Compostion and Color Design
Harald Mante

[JohnT]

I need to order some books anyway so I'll take you up on your suggestion. :-)

[barP]

thanks for the link, john! just ordered a copy....

wp.

[BrianY]

John, I've also seen you recommend a composition book by Brock (sp?). How does this one compare to it?

[johnastovall]

Originally Posted by byu

John, I've also seen you recommend a composition book by Brock (sp?). How does this one compare to it?

This is an order of magnitude better than the Brock book. I would say it's the best I've see to date.

It is based on the Bauhaus school of design and goes far beyonds Brack's classical approach.

The role of color is worth it alone.

[TXhummer2]

George Barr next?

Essay here:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/es...xt-level.shtml

[Crashoran]

Maybe sometime soon but I need to buy some strobes for class

[gmarblestone]

okay you sold me... it BETTER be good :)

[jeffkohn]

Originally Posted by TXhummer2

George Barr next?

Essay here:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/es...xt-level.shtml

This one's good, as well, although if you've been reading his blog for long some of the content will be familiar.

I've ordered the Mante book, thanks for the recommendation John. If the Barr book is any indication this will be a publisher worth checking out more books from in the future.

[thebeginning]

looks very interesting!


I like this kind of thing, as it has the potential to apply to all types of photography. Would you agree (I haven't read the book, I'm just assuming)?

[johnastovall]

Principles of design and composition are univerally independent of media and subject matter.

[AeroClassics]

Thanks, John. I haven't ordered the book yet but if it will help as much as you say, then I will look into it. You also, I think, have confirmed something I have been wondering about TPF. This is no place for beginners who might want to ask questions or have something critiqued. Advanced amatures, perhaps, but not beginners. There is a lot of good information here so it is certainly worth a beginners times to peruse the various forum topics. Lots can be learned when all the professionals here critique each others work.

Back to lurking and learning............

Doug

[barP]

i'm just starting my copy of the book, but i scanned thru quite a bit of it already. imo, this book is definitely not for beginners. it's going to be rigorous!

tpf, on the other hand, should be a great place for beginners. submit and learn!

wp.

[AeroClassics]

I agree it should be! I have submitted and asked.....but not much comes back. I am making, what might be a rash assumption, that the level of proficiency on the site is so high that there is more for those at that level to learn by C&Cing each others work than C&Cing real newbies. I can understand that, really. It appears to me that photography is as more of an art than a science. The science covers the mechanics (shutter speed, aperature, depth of field etc) and then the art takes over. Not everyone is interested in teaching folks who may still be struggling with the science (like me). They would rather apply their limited time to working with each other on the art. I can't say I totally blame them. I wish it was different but I suspect this is the way it is. Based on comments here I will not spend my money on this book because I have a whole lot to learn, I think, before I am at a level where this book will help me.

Doug

[johnastovall]

Why not learn both together? Then you don't have to unlearn bad habits?