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 enlarge | Authors: Tom Grill, Mark Scanlon
Publisher: Amphoto Books
Category: Book
List Price: $21.95
Buy Used: $5.34
You Save: $16.61 (76%)
New (30) Used (35) Collectible (2) from $5.34
Avg. Customer Rating:  24 reviews
Sales Rank: 65890
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 144
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.1 x 0.5
ISBN: 0817454276
Dewey Decimal Number: 770.11
EAN: 9780817454272
ASIN: 0817454276
Publication Date: May 1, 1990
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Dated February 18, 2007
1 out of 7 found this review helpful
This book was written before digital photography became mainstream. It reads like an art book (dull) rather than a photography book. In my opinion, there are many books and websites that contain more useful and up-to-date information.
Didn't appreciate the presentation nor the approach used January 24, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I didn't like to approach used in this book.
The photos didn't impress me.
I also found it hard many times to relate to the interpretation given by the photographer to his photos.
The black&white look and feel were also not appealing to me.
Sure, it covers quite a lot of the "standard approach" to composition. But for me it was like attending a boring class where the only correct answer was the answer that the instructor gave...
I was missing the *creativity* that is so attractive for me in other photography-books. I was also missing the feel of *fun*.
If you want a fun book, loaded with creativity and full with AMAZING photos, then check out Bryan Peterson's books. He has one about composition too which is a lot more useful and a lot more helpful than this book was to me.
 Great for the prosumer January 3, 2007
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book is great for the amateur who's taken a couple of classes but who wants to take their composition to the next level. It's true that the book is in no way complete, but each chapter is specific both in the text, which is clear, and the photos, which are illustrative. Going through each chapter has really helped my composition -- even my professional photographer friends have commented on it. Photographic Composition is no ending point for one's studies, but it's a great next step.
 A good introduction January 2, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This forms a very good introduction to the kind of things you need to think about while composing a photograph. It covers things like the emotional impact of different types of lines, shapes, colours, placements within the frame, and the like.
Unfortunately, it doesn't go into very much detail. It could have gone into more detail about how different compositional elements interact, or the like. In many case it says little more than "here's a design factor you'll want to think about", but doesn't explain in any detail how your choices will affect the impact of the final image.
Overall, an excellent book to begin with, bugt a little weak on the advanced topics.
Perhaps this book is meant for beginners? March 11, 2006
39 out of 44 found this review helpful
As a serious hobbyist with no formal training, I was a bit concerned about how much I could really learn from this book. My experience comes primarily from reading text books, how to books, and from hands on experience. I already compose my shots and have had some training on composition with an online class I took a few years back. I frequently shoot images with my Digital SLR as posted on lbphoto.net and want to improve my compositional skills.
I debated purchasing this book for about a year. The reviews worth considering seem to take opposite view points adding to my uncertainty. Leaving me to wonder what I would gain from reading this book, I left it listed on my wish list. When I received this book as a birthday gift, there was no question that I wanted to read it.
Like most of the Amphoto books I have seen or read, this book stays true to the standard formula. The topics are written in an uncomplicated manner and well organized. Inspiring color and black and white images are paired with each topic to help educate the reader.
Understanding composition is an important difference between a so-so picture and a great shot. The language of composition is explained with five main categories; Expressing Ideas, Graphic Controls, Photographic Controls, Color Controls, and Total Control. The topics within these categories touch on the basic associated principles.
Graphic Controls discusses the rule of thirds, lines, shapes, pattern, and the golden rectangle. While I understand the basic concept of the golden rectangle, this book failed to clearly explain the idea. I can see where people would easily be confused by the provided explanation.
Photographic Controls and Color Controls discuss topics that controlled with the camera or filters. Some topics are clearly universal for both film and digital shooters. Other topics are written exclusively for using film, although adaptable for knowledgeable digital photographers.
Total Control discusses the use of concepts and themes. It hardly takes this book to decide on and shoot multiple images based on a predetermined subject. The themes section may inspire a photographer to shoot a theme though.
This book attempts to translate the meaning of image details without attempting to teach how to photographically achieve the elements discussed. Most of the topics do not need further discussion and can easily be figured out. Others like "High Key/Low Key" will require the know how or another source of learning to obtain the desired results.
Every so often the pictures associated to a topic serve as poor examples, often adding nothing more than confusion. I found the discussion of using the color purple or magenta compared to the pink tinted landing jet image to be one of these cases. I can tell what the authors were intending to teach, but the image just doesn't support the topic very well. To me purple is a royal or power color while pink relates to sweet little girls.
After reading "Photographic Composition" I can say this book will affect the way I think before I shoot. In that respect, I have to say the book achieved part of its goal. However, the book fails to give any in-depth revelations. For that the book fails to achieve its entire goal.
If you have mastered composition, this book is not for you. If you already have a basic understanding of photo composition, this book may or may not be a big help. However, if you are a beginner who barely, if at all, considers composition when taking a picture, this may be the book for you.
PROS:
Well organized in-depth range of topics.
CONS:
Occasionally the pictures serve as poor examples.
Several topics written for film cameras, needs to be updated for digital cameras.
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