Basics Photography: Composition (Basics Photography) | 
 enlarge | Author: David Präkel
Publisher: AVA Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $15.26
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Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 436034
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 244
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.6
ISBN: 2940373043
Dewey Decimal Number: 770.11
EAN: 9782940373048
ASIN: 2940373043
Publication Date: October 11, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
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Product Description
Second to lighting, composition is the key ingredient for the creation of a successful photograph. Whatever other technical skill is involved, if the formal organization of an image is lacking, there is little to hold the interest of the viewer. But what makes a winning composition? Is it about following the rules-or about breaking them?
Basics Photography: Composition is divided into six core chapters that cover everything the beginner needs to know to improve their composition, including the basics of composition, exploring the formal elements, how to organize space and time, learning the real world ‘rules’ and, beyond that, how to use the ideas presented in the book to create original, compelling images. The book is illustrated throughout with photography to inform the mind and inspire the eyes.
Includes work by:
Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, James Nachtwey, Martin Parr, Marc Riboud, David Hockney, Duane Michals, Harry Callahan and John Darwell, and many more.
Includes the following subjects:
The basic rules of composition, including viewpoint, perspective and scale; the formal elements, such as point, line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone and color; how to organize space using frames, balance and space; capturing the passing of time and specific moments, the decisive moment and sequences; applications of composition, featuring landscape, still life, portraiture, documentary, the figure, action and sports, fine art and advertising; finally, finding your own view and the specific considerations of digital imaging.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
One-page, one-concept; Easy to read and reference December 28, 2007
The book is written in a one-page, one-concept fashion. Each page highlights a specific topic of Componsition, with the right mix of prose and photographic examples.
The chapters are short, and the book makes for an easy read, and available when you only have a few moments to devote to it. Informative enough to read several times and still learn something new.
A nice reminder December 22, 2007
Sometimes I like to read about instead of seeing photos. Some theory is always nice to feed the brain, but I like to take it in a fresh way, I don't take any theory as an unbreakable law, on the contrary.
That's why I bought this book - to feed my mind and let some theories about something I love to do light some sparks in a moment I'm not able to photograph as much as I'd like. Due to lack of time, I'm in an incubation period...
This book shows a lot of things in a very objective and fresh way, it was a reminder of many, many things I already knew, presented me some theories I even practiced but didn't knew they existed and showed me a few tricks. I can say it was a very nice reading, with the light approach I wanted. I believe when I'm photographing now, some things come to my mind and my pictures are improving thanks to this "reminding" effect.
I 've been photographing for more than 30 years and it's nice to review some thoughts and concepts from time to time. This is a book that helps in this way and I'll return to it in the future.
For these reasons I must say I found it a valuable acquisition and recommend it for those who know and those who wish to know more.
 More Details and Examples Needed December 16, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Left me wanting more. Some good tips on scale, perspective, lines, etc. But only one or two examples of each. Wanted a book with more examples and more discussion.
3 1/2 Stars November 9, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I would give it 3 1/2 stars if there was an option. It's a well-written short primer on the basics of composition. There are examples for most topics that the author is trying to explain. I have no complaints with the book or the material, although the explanations for each topic are very brief. For the size of the book, I think this is appropriate. It's also good for someone who wants a little information about a lot of topics quickly, in order to improve composition.
I am going to read more books in the Basics Photography series (Composition was one book in a series about a variety of topics, including "Lighting", "Colour", etc.)
However, for someone who wants an in-depth treatment of composition (and with more substantive analysis), I highly recommend Michael Freeman's book, The Photographer's Eye. Freeman was a photographer for the National Geographic and Smithsonian magazines, and really knows his stuff.
Buy this one: The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos
But stay away from John Szarkowski's book of the same name (also, The Photographer's Eye), as the reviews are very misleading. That book has almost nothing to do with a review of composition.
Do not buy: The Photographer's Eye
 Fantastic book July 30, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Despite the sheer number of photography books in the marketplace, finding one that defines, explains and teaches the basics of composition has been difficult - until now. David Prakel's fine book explains the fundamentals of composition in clear and understandable ways, providing examples and definitions. Far from being a mechanical "how-to" book, "Composition" provides the building blocks that a photographer can use to build a style, or simply improve casual picture-taking. This book is a must-have for photography students, amateurs interested in improving their photos (like me!), or people interested in the art of photography.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Is there a six-star button in here somewhere?
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