Photographic Composition [Paperback]

Tom Grill (Author), Mark Scanlon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1990

Effective image design, a key ingredient in successful photographs, is a skill that any serious photographer must learn and master. In Photographic Composition, award-winning photographers Tom Grill and Mark Scanlon demonstrate a modern, clear, and easily understandable approach to composing great photographs. Combining straightforward text with instructive yet compelling images, they succeed in making composition not only learnable but enjoyable. This book can help all photographers gain more control over the design and productionof their pictures.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Amphoto Books (May 1, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0817454276
• ISBN-13: 978-0817454272
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 0.4 x 11 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,845 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

147 of 159 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The book is not complete and at times can be misleading, October 11, 2005

By 

Vladimir Antimonov (Moscow, Russian Federation) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photographic Composition (Paperback)

Being a student of photojournalizm in Moscow, Russia, I looked for the most complete book on photographic composition that is available. I had studied one book on the subject by the russian author, but knowing that photography in the US is much more developed and professional I was striving to get a book by a professional photographer.

I was disappointed by the book "Photographic Composition" by Tom Grill for a number of reasons:

1. It does not cover all important compositional elements, and those that it covers are not explained in full detail. It does not explain:
- how elements with the similar shapes, similar sizes or similar tone interact with each other,
- the reverse perspective effect and its uses,
- why right and left sides of the photograph differ and why, how it can be used on practice,
- how to balance "weight" of different elements of the photograph, it touches it briefly and furthermore provides an incorrect example,
- difference between compositional center and the center of interest, how to balance them if they are in different parts of the photo (does not match each other)
- all signs of perspective, it does not say anywhere that overlapping of objects is a clear sign of perspective (trivial as it may sound, it still should be marked in any complete work, especially when the author covers other three elements)
- and much much more.

2. It does not use photographs of the best masters to illustrate the topic, neither does it show how composition works in art, which I believe is very important.

3. Most examples are in color, while most ideas on composition are best explained using B&W photographs.

4. Last but not least, composition is about meaning, making a message, not just how to balance different elements within a frame. The book makes this statement, but in my opinion fails to provide poverful examples, while you can fully appreciate the power of composition only by studying powerful photos with good explanation why precisely this photo is good.

OVERALL: I believe that if you want to study composition you want to know all important considerations, not just a few and briefly explained "how-to-quickly-improve-any-photo-you-take". This books fails to provide complete approach to composition and at times can be misleading.

I'd be very grateful if you could recommend me (and other folks that look at our reviews) a more thorough book on composition, I'm sure there must be a good book in english on that subject. Thanks!

P.S. For those who can read in russian I advise a book by A. Lapin "Fotografiya kak..", which compared to the book by Tom Grill explains composition in full.

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps this book is meant for beginners?, March 11, 2006

By 

L. T. Beasimer "www.LBphoto.net" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photographic Composition (Paperback)

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.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well organized, and professional, June 13, 2003

By 

Armen Jamkotchian (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Photographic Composition (Paperback)

This is a very well organized and concise book on photocomposition. It has a very thoughtful progression of the covered subjects, taking the reader from basic concepts of graphic design to the practical presentational and psychological principals. From the 5 main chapters of the book I found chapters 2 "Graphic Controls" and chapter 5 "Total Control" the best chapters from the point of view of richness of presentation and its practical value. The other chapters seemed to me shallower and less focused. I share the dissatisfaction of other reviewers with the presented photographs. Even though I understand that those photographs are carefully selected not for their extreme photographic value, but rather for their association with the subject of the topic they are presented for, I assume that the authors could had done a better job of finding or making more appealing pictures. Without a rich set of photographs this books seems to be a bit more "theoretical" then a book on photography, I believe, should be.

On the other note, I noted that despite the very careful selection and sequence of presentation of the main subjects, most of them are not covered as deeply as they deserve to. This being a disadvantage on one hand could easily be considered as an advantage, because the book does not overwhelm the reader with details, leaving enough space for creativity.

Overall I consider the book to be very useful and educational, especially for high end amature and beginner professional photographers.

Despite some criticism presented, I still rate it with 5 stars, which I think the book fully deserves.