Steve Silverman Imaging: Shooting for Composition Workshop Images, Part 3

Jack Young. Technique: Rule of Thirds

Stunning image; an excellent example of Rule of Thirds. The panoramic cropping adds considerable value to this image.

Jack Young. Technique: Fibonacci Ratio

This image doesn't work as an example of Fibonacci. Even though this example and others following are incorrectly described, they are still good images. I just want you all to understand what you are or are not doing. It's still a great image.

When you apply Fibonacci, the heart of the Joe Pye Weed should be in the middle of the small box. You can't crop this image to Fibonacci. It needs to be composed from further away. It does, however, work as a an example of the Golden Ratio or Phi.

Jack Young. Technique: Converging Lines

Not an example of Converging Lines (the lines don't converge) but it is an example of Framing. The boat house structure, in silhouette, frames the horizon and sky. What I find interesting about this image is that the Framing essentially acts as a cropping device to turn this into a panoramic. Great job!

Jack Young. Technique: Camera Movement

I love this image....BUT! It isn't an example of camera movement. There is no camera movement. Rather, it is an example of Depth of Field used as a compositional technique. The foreground, although radically out of focus, draws your eye to the sharply in focus Center of Interest. Wonderful texture.

Jack Young. Technique: Build Foreground

This is a nice image but is NOT an example of Build Foreground. The foreground, the rocks and plant material, are too underexposed. I tried lightening them but there really isn't enough digital information to make it work. HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography would have saved this image by adding dynamic range to the foreground. It's really more an example of Horizontal Lines (water and horizon) with interrupted by one strong Vertical Line.

Carol Jacobson. Technique: Framing

This is a mildly interesting image. It does illustrate framing with the structure of the pergola framing the image for the Roman columns on the left.

Carol Jacobson. Technique: Framing

This is a gorgeous image. The framing of the tree wrapping around the top of the image is excellent.

I thought the foreground material below the foundation of the boat house was superfluous. I straightened and cropped this image. Unless you are an absolute purist, realize you have ample opportunity to improve an image in post processing. Ansel Adams was the king of post processing.

Carol Jacobson. Technique: Depth of Field

This is the opposite of using Depth of Field as a compositional technique. Everything is in focus; the image was shot at f/14. The Converging Lines as well as Building Foreground of the rail draw your eye through the image which makes it pretty interesting.

I used the Photoshop Plug-In OnOne Focal Point 2 to selectively focus on either the front of the image or the back of the image simulating the effect of shooting wide open. You decide which one is better.

Carol Jacobson. Technique: Converging Lines

This is not a drop dead photograph but it does demonstrate the technique and the bench, the Center of Interest, is at an intersecting point of the Rule of Thirds. The Converging Lines draw your eye right to the Center of Interest.

Barb Tholkes. Technique: Contrast

Indeed, this is a good example of using contrast as a compositional technique. It also employs framing by using the boat house structure as a foreground silhouette. I'm wondering about the center of interest. If it's the background horizon, it isn't a strong choice. Remember, decide "what" before you decide "how."

I decided to make some adjustments to see how I could improve this image in post processing. First, I straightened the horizon and cropped it in CS5 to make it symmetrical. Then I applied 3 tools in OnOne PhotoTools 2.6 Pro. I used a tool called Velveteen to add texture, detail, and murkiness on the lower right side of the image. Next, I used Golden Hour Enhancer to add a bit of color to the sky. Finally, I added an effect called Crayon to give it a bit more texture and a more painterly look.