The hands-on instruction that digital photographers need to compose great shotsIntroducing readers to the basic elements of design, this full-color guide shows photographers step by step how to frame great compositions before they take the shot. Instructions, advice, examples, and assignments cover all types of photography. DISCOVER HOW TO COMPOSE THE PERFECT SHOT. How to compose a photograph can determine what your image communicates. Blue Fier is a master of composition technique, and the advice he shares in this essential book teaches you to bring together subjects, lighting, color, depth of field, and design elements to produce photos that make powerful statements. Study the techniques, complete the assignments, gather feedback at photoworkshop.com, and watch what develops. Understand how we see and how composition impacts the eye Learn how shutter speed, lighting, and depth of field affect composition Control colors and understand their symbolism Master the elements of design Discover special techniques for people, travel, and still lifes About the Author......Page 5 Contents......Page 13 Introduction......Page 21 CHAPTER 1: UNDERSTANDING COMPOSITION......Page 25 APPROACHES TO COMPOSITION......Page 26 HOW YOU SEE......Page 28 THE ORIGINS OF COMPOSITION......Page 32 UNDERSTANDING LINEAR PERSPECTIVE......Page 33 COMPOSITION AND PHOTOGRAPHY......Page 35 CHAPTER 2: THE ELEMENTS OF DESIGN......Page 41 UNDERSTANDING THE ELEMENTS OF DESIGN......Page 42 ARRANGING DESIGN ELEMENTS IN THE FRAME......Page 49 THE RULE OF THIRDS......Page 59 THE GOLDEN RECTANGLE......Page 62 CHAPTER 3: DEPTH OF FIELD DECISIONS......Page 65 UNDERSTANDING APERTURE......Page 66 SELECTING LENSES......Page 69 PREVIEWING AND PREDICTING DEPTH OF FIELD......Page 75 USING THE HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE TO DEEPEN DEPTH OF FIELD......Page 76 CHAPTER 4: SLICING TIME: DESIGNING WITH SHUTTER SPEEDS......Page 81 SHUTTER SPEED AND DEPTH OF FIELD: A DELICATE BALANCE......Page 84 FREEZE OR BLUR: HOW SHUTTER SPEED AFFECTS A SHOT......Page 86 USING A MOTOR DRIVE......Page 92 PANNING......Page 95 CHAPTER 5: CAPTURING LIGHT......Page 101 THE QUALITY OF LIGHT......Page 102 THE DIRECTION OF LIGHT......Page 104 THE INTENSITY OF LIGHT......Page 109 HARNESSING SUNLIGHT......Page 110 CHAPTER 6: WORKING WITH COLOR......Page 117 COLOR THEORY......Page 118 COLOR TEMPERATURE......Page 129 THE COLOR OF SUNLIGHT......Page 131 CONTROLLING COLORS BY USING FILTERS......Page 134 CHAPTER 7: THINKING IN BLACK AND WHITE......Page 143 THE ZONE SYSTEM......Page 145 METERING AND EXPOSING FOR BLACK AND WHITE......Page 146 WORKING WITH CONTRAST FILTERS......Page 151 CHAPTER 8: ARRANGING APPEALING PORTRAITS......Page 161 A LITTLE HISTORY......Page 162 FRAMING YOUR PHOTO......Page 164 LIGHTING THE SCENE......Page 169 COLOR VERSUS BLACK AND WHITE......Page 171 METERING THE SCENE......Page 172 POSING......Page 173 PHOTOGRAPHING KIDS......Page 181 CHAPTER 9: TRAVEL AND SCENIC PHOTOGRAPHY......Page 185 PACKING YOUR CAMERA BAG......Page 187 SCOPING OUTYOUR LOCATION......Page 188 PHOTOGRAPHING PEOPLE ON LOCATION......Page 198 CHAPTER 10: STILL-LIFE AND CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY......Page 203 PHOTOGRAPHING STILL-LIFE IMAGES......Page 206 MACRO AND CLOSE-UP PHOTOGRAPHY......Page 215 CHAPTER 11: IMPROVING YOUR IMAGES......Page 225 UNDERSTANDING FILE FORMATS......Page 227 CROPPING OR RESIZING AN IMAGE......Page 229 ADJUSTING AN IMAGE’S CONTRAST AND COLOR......Page 230 CORRECTING IMPERFECTIONS......Page 236 FIXING THE LIGHTING......Page 240 APPLYING SPECIAL EFFECTS......Page 242 TAKING THE NEXT STEP......Page 246 GLOSSARY......Page 251 INDEX......Page 259 "How to compose a photograph can determine what your image communicates. Blue Fier is a master of composition technique, and the advice he shares in this essential book teaches you to bring together subjects, lighting, color, depth of field, and design elements to produce photos that make powerful statements. Study the techniques, complete the assignments, gather feedback at photoworkshop.com, and watch what develops. [Features]: Understand how we see and how composition impacts the eye ; Learn how shutter speed, lighting, and depth of field affect composition ; Control colors and understand their symbolism ; Master the elements of design ; Discover special techniques for people, travel, and still lifes."--Back cover
The hands-on instruction that digital photographers need to compose great shots
Introducing readers to the basic elements of design, this full-color guide shows photographers step by step how to frame great compositions before they take the shot. Instructions, advice, examples, and assignments cover all types of photography.
