Archive notice: This article was originally published on May 20, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Knowledge of aperture and ISO is certainly as necessary as confidently handling shutter speed and other technical aspects of photography in order to create a good photograph. But what use is it if image statement and composition do not harmonize, or if the subject is, at best, poorly placed in the viewer’s focus?
It is certainly not enough to say that a photograph is good because it was taken using the golden ratio. Nevertheless, this and other rules are important starting points for harmonious photographs. The book by photographer and author Michael Freeman deals in detail with design guidelines for optimal photographs. Is the image framed correctly in the camera viewfinder? Is the viewer’s eye directed toward the important elements? Does depth of field support the image’s message?
The aim of the book is to help readers “see” subjects and to give them fundamental rules of composition and design for guidance. Its themes include composition with light and color, rhythm, intention, design psychology, balance, visual weight and the search for order.
The book by the renowned photographer should be part of every book collection of advanced and committed camera owners whose photographs already turn out well but still have room for improvement. Numerous photos vividly explain the different possibilities of visual expression using the same subject. Naturally, a basic understanding of fundamentals such as perspective and depth of field is essential, so the book is really suited to photographers who have already made their first 10,000 exposures.
On the other hand, it does no harm to get used as early as possible to doing more than simply pressing the shutter release, and to consciously bring subject and statement into harmony. The book’s subjects are primarily travel photography, which naturally includes landscapes, reportage, people and details. Although more negative examples would have been welcome, it is understandable that an author would prefer to show successful pictures.
The Photographer’s Eye
Michael Freeman
Publisher: Markt + Technik
192 pages
ISBN 978-3-8272-4288-4
Further links:
- Further information and sample chapter:
