This is one of your videos that makes me want to go the computer and dig into storage for the photos I have that are similar to your examples. But. It’s Sunday morning, the day I bake bread so I will have to wait til this evening to play with your concepts on my photos. Thanks for ideas.
I've been through learning all the rules of composition when I first started out and I think it gave me a kick start for the first couple of years but after a while I felt like they were just holding me back and my images were becoming very generic looking. Now I think the most important thing is mental state and having a clear head space, maybe that's what some people call being in "the zone". There's a quote by John Gossage that I really like - "I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing anymore and I'm totally sure of it".
I do agree with you - I myself rarely calculate the rules. BUT... In order to be able to follow your gut feeling you have to develop your feel, and go with the rules help you to better see, and develop your feeling. At least that did it for me. But you have to internalize these rules to use or break or ignore them at a subconscious level - and thát is called gut feeling. Isn't it the same with music: if you are improvising on a piece of music you don't have to overthink the next note you're playing and whether it fits in the scale or not: you just do it 'on feel'. Yeah right, but only after hours and hours of study.
Great video Alister! I had the privilege of visiting Iceland for the first time last month with my daughter. It was a bit overwhelming at first when it came to shooting. There's just so much that catches the eye. I was too hung up on the "rules" in the beginning. Once I shrugged that notion off, it made it easier for me to just go with my gut and shoot when I wanted as we drove around the island. I came away with some of my favorite photos I have taken thus far. Both because of the otherworldly landscape and how it made me feel in the moment, but also the fact that all of those images were also taken with my daughter shooting beside me. Such an awesome time was had.
"I had to create an equivalent for what I felt about what I was looking at, not just copy it". Georgia O'Keeffe. Interesting essay on line, Equivalence by Minor White. There are many apertures in composition and the rule of thirds is but one, and sadly over used by many. If you don't feel it don't photograph it! Another great episode Alister.
You have a wonderful way of putting into words what I kind of already use in my photography. My preferred rule of composition is trying to capture what I feel rather than what I see.
So interesting! Somewhere in the middle of the video a thought came up in my head- I always think that music stems from feelings (I’m not in any way educated on music) not from rules, but when I think about photography I see a lot of rules (that I don’t necessarily follow). This was an eye opener for me! I think I’ve lost that way of thinking because it’s so difficult to show with a picture what I was feeling at that time, in comes out flat or messy, and in a way I end up surprising myself (in the wrong way) thinking- what on earth was I thinking of 😅
Thanks to the input from these videos, I've largely given up trying to make images that conform to the roolz and much prefer the freedom of experimenting and discovering. That last image (in its original crop) to me was all about the light blazing down on the ocean and is really exciting, but I'm not going to tell you how to crop your photos. Splendid stuff! I do find the theories of composition useful in explaining, after the fact, why this or that image appeals, but not when looking for them.
I must admit that I have been cropping many of my images to 16-6 for a while now and enjoying the results. I am sure happy to see that I am not the only one that enjoys the results of this format. Thanks for the reassurance that breaking the rules is ok. (Not that I am one that is adverse to thinking outside of the box 😊 ) Great stuff Alister!
I definitely shoot more based on feel than anything planned and mathematical. I find it does help sometimes to know how you'd like to edit a particular scene in the future while shooting.
If you have a strong feeling that’s great, go with it. Equally it is also good not to have the pressure of must knowing what you’re going to do with it.
I like to think photography composition is similar to music: there's repetition, loud vs soft, silence (gap between notes) etc. I know photographs can affect my mood (like music) even though can't cerebrically define it. E.g when looking at Hiroshi Sugimoto's photos (or Rothko's paintings), I can sense calmness. Those photography rules/guidelines maybe useful as starting points. BTW, I mostly shoot in 6x6 format these days, and pretty sure I ignore "the rule of thirds". Why? Personal taste. It doesn't give me the feel I want to achieve.
Thanks for an interesting video. I find that I become more observant when I use feeling instead of looking for a specific subject or composition.I see you are using the Black Mist filter. If you haven't already made a video about this filter, I look forward to one.
Agreed but just so you know the four years at RIT and getting my BFA they never discussed the rules there, so I guess it does depend on the teacher also 😉
How do you feel about Ekphrastic Poetry? What if someone wrote one on one of your works? Do you think this kind of Poetry would help people feel the photograph? Or is it best left as two separate works?
'Don't think, just feel' ! That's it! Because the feel is the quintessence of the individuel experiences, concious or subconcious. Great !
This is one of your videos that makes me want to go the computer and dig into storage for the photos I have that are similar to your examples. But. It’s Sunday morning, the day I bake bread so I will have to wait til this evening to play with your concepts on my photos. Thanks for ideas.
Thanks.... I never grow weary of seeing your videos on aspect ratio and composition by feel.
Many thanks for this one, Alister!
I've been through learning all the rules of composition when I first started out and I think it gave me a kick start for the first couple of years but after a while I felt like they were just holding me back and my images were becoming very generic looking. Now I think the most important thing is mental state and having a clear head space, maybe that's what some people call being in "the zone". There's a quote by John Gossage that I really like - "I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing anymore and I'm totally sure of it".
Thanks Alister. No arguments from me on this one!
Love the video especially at 18:35
I do agree with you - I myself rarely calculate the rules.
BUT...
In order to be able to follow your gut feeling you have to develop your feel, and go with the rules help you to better see, and develop your feeling. At least that did it for me. But you have to internalize these rules to use or break or ignore them at a subconscious level - and thát is called gut feeling.
Isn't it the same with music: if you are improvising on a piece of music you don't have to overthink the next note you're playing and whether it fits in the scale or not: you just do it 'on feel'.
Yeah right, but only after hours and hours of study.
Great video Alister! I had the privilege of visiting Iceland for the first time last month with my daughter. It was a bit overwhelming at first when it came to shooting. There's just so much that catches the eye. I was too hung up on the "rules" in the beginning. Once I shrugged that notion off, it made it easier for me to just go with my gut and shoot when I wanted as we drove around the island. I came away with some of my favorite photos I have taken thus far. Both because of the otherworldly landscape and how it made me feel in the moment, but also the fact that all of those images were also taken with my daughter shooting beside me. Such an awesome time was had.
another great video - many thanks Alister.
"I had to create an equivalent for what I felt about what I was looking at, not just copy it". Georgia O'Keeffe. Interesting essay on line, Equivalence by Minor White. There are many apertures in composition and the rule of thirds is but one, and sadly over used by many. If you don't feel it don't photograph it! Another great episode Alister.
Thanks for posting! Good points. Sometimes I've been able to make two shots out of one photo by cropping differently.
You have a wonderful way of putting into words what I kind of already use in my photography. My preferred rule of composition is trying to capture what I feel rather than what I see.
That’s great to hear, thank you very much
I watched this and thought of Obi Wan: Use the Force, Luke. (Another great video. Thanks.)
Wonderful Rant! You are definitely specialer 😁
So interesting! Somewhere in the middle of the video a thought came up in my head- I always think that music stems from feelings (I’m not in any way educated on music) not from rules, but when I think about photography I see a lot of rules (that I don’t necessarily follow). This was an eye opener for me! I think I’ve lost that way of thinking because it’s so difficult to show with a picture what I was feeling at that time, in comes out flat or messy, and in a way I end up surprising myself (in the wrong way) thinking- what on earth was I thinking of 😅
Loved this Alister! This is how I felt for a long time and it is always nice to hear somebody who agrees with you! And it makes sense...
Awesome. Tell me what else you believe and I’ll make more videos confirming it 🙌🏻
Thanks to the input from these videos, I've largely given up trying to make images that conform to the roolz and much prefer the freedom of experimenting and discovering. That last image (in its original crop) to me was all about the light blazing down on the ocean and is really exciting, but I'm not going to tell you how to crop your photos. Splendid stuff!
I do find the theories of composition useful in explaining, after the fact, why this or that image appeals, but not when looking for them.
I must admit that I have been cropping many of my images to 16-6 for a while now and enjoying the results. I am sure happy to see that I am not the only one that enjoys the results of this format. Thanks for the reassurance that breaking the rules is ok. (Not that I am one that is adverse to thinking outside of the box 😊 ) Great stuff Alister!
Art is not about rules but about evoking a reaction. I don't consciously think of rules but go with what I feel and tend to be very instinctive..
It's the feel for me, then composition and settings will usually follow after, just to help "elevate" the feel, if that makes sense...
I definitely shoot more based on feel than anything planned and mathematical. I find it does help sometimes to know how you'd like to edit a particular scene in the future while shooting.
If you have a strong feeling that’s great, go with it. Equally it is also good not to have the pressure of must knowing what you’re going to do with it.
I like to think photography composition is similar to music: there's repetition, loud vs soft, silence (gap between notes) etc. I know photographs can affect my mood (like music) even though can't cerebrically define it.
E.g when looking at Hiroshi Sugimoto's photos (or Rothko's paintings), I can sense calmness. Those photography rules/guidelines maybe useful as starting points. BTW, I mostly shoot in 6x6 format these days, and pretty sure I ignore "the rule of thirds". Why? Personal taste. It doesn't give me the feel I want to achieve.
Thanks for an interesting video. I find that I become more observant when I use feeling instead of looking for a specific subject or composition.I see you are using the Black Mist filter. If you haven't already made a video about this filter, I look forward to one.
The same could be said of lifestyle in general.
Agreed but just so you know the four years at RIT and getting my BFA they never discussed the rules there, so I guess it does depend on the teacher also 😉
I truly enjoy the 'rants'; and learn much from them. I concur with "matsfotografi". :)
How do you feel about Ekphrastic Poetry? What if someone wrote one on one of your works? Do you think this kind of Poetry would help people feel the photograph? Or is it best left as two separate works?
There is one rule though - if it feels right it is right ( not meant to sound profound )