Today I have the honor of presenting you with a new section of the Photographer's Blog, this is Literary Recommendation. A space in which we will review the photography books that we like the most. Interesting, right? Why a space of photographic literary recommendations? In addition to that in the team we are lovers of reading, we consider that books are a great source of inspiration, understanding of this wonderful art, entertainment and learning. They are more than enough reasons to talk to you, at least once a month, about those books that have impacted us most, in love or helped. I bet you stay To start, I bring you The Eye of the Photographer or Michael Freeman. The first book in a very interesting collection.
COMPOSITION AND DESIGN
This work intimately relates photography to design, which makes it really interesting. Teach to build an image. It guides you to ensure that all the elements that appear in it form a unity in harmony and create a visual interest. It is divided into 6 chapters:- Framing: tell everything you need to know about framing, dynamics, formats, reframing, and so on. It is perhaps the most basic part of the entire book but very complete and fundamental.
- The basis of the design: this chapter explains why some images cause certain impressions and how the effect caused can be predicted based on how the elements are organized within the image.
- Graphic and photographic elements: although it sounds complex they are nothing more than points, lines and geometric shapes. A part dedicated to the intimate relationship between them and how they form more complex structures that capture the viewer's attention.
- Composition with light and color: As important as the composition in a photograph is, it is not so important if it does not go hand in hand with good light management, the main theme of this chapter. And not from the point of view of exposure but of composition. Another topic discussed in this section is the composition through color.
- Purposes: planning or reacting, simple or complex, conventional or stimulating, clear or ambiguous are some of the dichotomies shown in the book that a photographer often faces. What is your purpose in your photography? Analysis and reflections on these concepts.
- Process: work that is not seen in a photograph, from search, reaction or anticipation, to processing, through how to combine photographs.
DETAILS
- Pages: 192
- Soft cover
- Dimensions: 23 × 25 cm approximately
IDEAL FOR…
It is ideal for you if you want to go one step further in your photographs, if the rule of thirds leaves you without thinking about it, you are able to skip the rules of composition and achieve images that work, but you feel that this theme still falls short, that you can achieve something bigger, more interesting, and you don't know how. Highly recommended also for photography or design students. It is not for you if you are a neophyte who has just landed in the world of photography and you are still familiarizing yourself with the basic rules of composition. If this is your case, I recommend the digital publication edited by the Photographer's Blog team: Composition for a Photography Full of Life .ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in England, in 1945, Michael Freeman is a prestigious photographer and internationally renowned writer, who has more than twenty publications, specializing in travel photography, architecture and Asian art. He has worked for Smithsonian magazine and for Time Life Books and National Geographic.THE BEST
It is very complete, all the compositional aspects that may come to mind (and those that do not), you find explained. It includes schemes and series of images of the same scene so you can understand why a photograph works or not. The photos, everything is explained with examples of photographs taken by the author. The quality of the edition is exceptional, both for the paper and for the images.WORST
The font size is quite small. It is the price to be paid for such amount of photos and of that size. It is not a fluid book that you want to read for pleasure to entertain you for a while, it can be somewhat dense. It is more didactic content or for those familiar with a more photographic or technical language.SOMETHING I'VE MISSED
Closeness. Emotion. It is not something criticizable, simply that I have felt a certain coldness and distance with the subjects photographed, it is probably because I am touched even with the flutter of a butterfly and this man must be so accustomed to everything that does not care what scene he has in front, an Indian cattle boy or an onion. Or maybe it doesn't matter, however, it is what it conveys. It focuses so much on the composition, that I feel that it distances itself from the history behind it, from what can thrill the viewer. Anyway, it is a book about composition, about the photographer's eye, not about emotions or the heart of the photographer, I suppose that's what other books are for, however, it is something that I personally have missed.OTHER PUBLICATIONS
You may be interested in these other publications of the author:CONCLUSIONS
I think it is a very interesting option when it comes to opening the mind to photographic composition. A very didactic work and a great option to discover why an image works or not. Also to know when is the best time to shoot. There is life beyond the three-thirds rule; P Reading makes us wiser, happy reading! And, if you found it interesting, don't forget to share it