Basics Photography: Composition [Paperback]

David Präkel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 11, 2006 | Series: Basics Photography (Book 1)

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.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Prakel has enjoyed a diverse career as a journalist and magazine editor, a publishing consultant, music aficionado and latterly, as an educator. He runs his own photographic training workshops in Northumberland and is a part-time lecturer at Cumbria Institute of the Arts. His books are internationally recognized as ideal started texts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Ava Publishing (October 11, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2940373043
• ISBN-13: 978-2940373048
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Explained a Complex Subject Well, July 25, 2007

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Remaining Anonymous ahaha "flickr user and am... (CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Basics Photography: Composition (Paperback)

I am an experienced amatuer photographer who has done work for school classes and I've also been offered jobs by the local newspaper. [...]

This book is awesome. At least enough for me to write a review. I bought this book after reading a review of it in Advanced Photoshop magazine, and it was definitely worth it. It is smaller than I thought in cover size and font size, around the size of a national geographic magazine, and much thicker.

It covers all the details of composition from the basic everyone knows (but only very little about) like the "rule of thirds," and goes on to formal elements of point, line, shape, form, texture, pattern, tone, and color. It discussing organizing space through balance and different aspects of its appearance, and even explains more complex concepts such as "negative space." It goes into how each rule can be applied to real-world jobs and setups such as journalism, documentary, portraiture or advertising. Finally it sets you in the right direction for developing your own "look" for photography so that you don't have to rely on mimicing others.

Bottom line: The book is almost like a mini-course in compositional photography, and covers the conceptual and technical aspects of all, with plenty of examples from a wide variety of photographers, as well as famous photography quotes. The way this book is organized it reads like an interesting textbook and is immediately applicable to experienced photographers and newbies alike.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic book, July 30, 2007

By 

Brian A. Schar (Menlo Park, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Basics Photography: Composition (Paperback)

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?

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 3 1/2 Stars, November 9, 2007

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. "just another customer" (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: Basics Photography: Composition (Paperback)

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