The Eye Of The Photographer And The Art Of Composition, Michael Freeman, Evaluation, And Opinion

I like Michael Freeman you feel the urge to reject any reference to the fabric to consciousness on what makes an image.

If not… study on besides, you would possibly exchange your mind!

The eye of the photographer and the art of composition, presentation

There are authors that we now not present, Michael Freeman is certainly one of them. His works on photography have already been the challenge of several chronicles ( see 50 creative tracks ) and I am nevertheless a fan of this photographer.

Ten years after having posted the primary version of an ebook which changed into a real achievement of esteem, right here is the second edition which has the advantage of being to be had ( the primary is out of print ) although it rarely adjustments compared to the preceding.

The composition is, just like the exhibition, one of the two pillars of photography. Do you want to take a path, take greater attractive, more tremendous photographs? Forget the modern-day stylish SLR or the wide aperture lens of your desires. It isn't always they who will make you progress but the study of the composition.

I take once more the phrases of Paul Strand, himself quoted by way of the author within the new introduction due to the fact I think that they outline better than I couldn't do what composition is:

“… How you build a photo, what a photograph is fabricated from, how the shapes in shape there, how space fills it, how the complete makeup, in the end, a unity. "

You will apprehend, understanding what composition is, acquiring these standards and imposing what you do not forget is vital whatever your stage.

This is the object of this e-book, abundantly illustrated with images of the writer. Freeman develops his thesis in six wonderful parts.

1- The body of the photograph

Here you may discover what the body of a photo is, what shape it may take and how to fill it.

You can even examine that there's a dynamic associated with the body: vertical, horizontal, alignment ...

You will examine why you could crop and when ( opposite to what a few declare ). You will see the one-of-a-kind approaches to fill the frame whilst you are facing your concern.

Finally, you may discover what the "body inside the body" is and the way you could take gain of this on your compositions.

2- Basic ideas of composition

To make it simple, the composition includes assembling one of a kind elements inside the body.

You will research here to play with the principles of the composition together with comparison or balance of bureaucracy (do you know Gestalt theory? ), With the notions of shape and content material to paintings for your compositions. The instance of the image of the Burmese monk on web page 47 is telling.

Rhythm, angle, and depth also are at the application. You will see that photographing what is in front of you may be completed in exceptional ways to give distinctive views ( sure, we will flow! ).

I appreciated the presentation of the concepts relating to the visible effect like the whole thing concerning the look and the interest, the sturdy contents and the vulnerable contents.

3- Graphics and photographic factors

Did you realize that the factor is the simple photograph element? That you could discover a factor on your pictures and whether or not it's far centered, near the threshold or barely offset you may get one of a kind pictures.

Look intently on the photographs of the Thai farmer on pages sixty-eight and 69, you'll speedy recognize.

The strains, horizontal, vertical or curved are they sequences of factors that you ought to now not neglect either because of the triangles, circles, and rectangles so one can assist you to supply more potent pix.

Focus and motion affect your compositions. On page 102 you will recognize how the focal period of your lens affects the very last result. And you will then recognize the way to pick out your objectives with complete information of the records.

4- Light, coloration, and publicity

In this chapter, you may learn how to paintings with chiaroscuro as with the one of a kind tones of a scene. See pages 112 and 113 for viable consequences.

This is likewise where you may find out everything approximately the relationship between shade and composition. The black is white is quickly dealt with due to the fact it's far one of the standards which play on the composition but I propose the work committed to black and white of the same creator.

5- The aim

For Michael Freeman, it is the aim that ought to be the basis of any composition, not anything else. This is defined in an element in Chapter five.

Among the thoughts associated with the purpose, you'll see that the traditional or the unique go hand in hand with a spontaneous or, conversely, deliberate photo. It is a chapter that covers the varieties of photography also ( as an example documentary or expressive ).

Without going to date as to speak of minimalism expensive to Denis Dubesset in " The secrets and techniques of minimalist pictures ", you may ask your self the query of whether or not you're looking for easy or complex compositions, a clear or ambiguous imaginative and prescient and what fashion or fashion you observe ( or do not need to follow ).

6- The method

The ultimate chapter of this e-book makes a specialty of the photographic system. The method is this employer of ideas which you need to put in force if you want to integrate the previous factors, to apply them accurately whilst you are taking photographs.

From searching out the order ( of the components of an image ) to hunting for pix ( for instance for an image record ) you must be able to call upon a positive range of fashions which you'll have in memory if you have studied carefully the above.

It is by using the use of those references that you can great react to a given state of affairs, that you will be able to assume and discover the scene to be had to you to take pics that appear like you and aren't similar to those of others.

My opinion on this book

I took the problem to the element at the period the contents of this book because it's far for me a connection with having on your library. Timeless, nicely built, with qualitative content material, well-illustrated, this ebook will assist you to put in force your creative procedure if you have trouble moving forward ( or you do not even recognize what this expression way ... ).

Another Freeman? You have the proper to ask your self the question because I talk approximately it a lot and Freeman gives you other books in which he leaves method aside voluntarily.

"The eye of the photographer and the art of composition" does no longer, but, reproduction the others. The concepts mentioned fluctuate and supplement what's offered in different works by the same creator. A preceding model of this e-book changed into also very justifiably a part of the " Photo School " series. This collection is now not available to my fantastic regret but you may recreate it in part the usage of this new work.