This week we are tackling "Barriers to Seeing" and "Learning to Observe". Sadly, the library has not come through with the book I put on reserve, so I've relied on Katie's excellent synopsis of these chapters. Since I've committed to reading a book though, I thought that while I'm waiting for Freeman's book to arrive, I'd read another photographer's book: John Hedgecoe's New Book of Photography. In Freeman's book we were given the assignment of studying a subject for a period of time, taking in the details and learning to look at them differently. For me this works best if I do not take a lot of time "thinking" about the shot, but quickly shooting the most striking things in the scene before me. Freeman prescribed "breaking the rules" of photography to loosen up the shot. Hedgecoe's book featured some of those rules as a means to compose a better shot. So in this shot I put all those components together. I was sitting at my table working on some of my writing and at a random moment, I picked up the camera and looked straight ahead. Instead of putting what I saw within the "Rule of Thirds" grid, I deliberately composed the shot 50% on the left, and 50% on the right. I did not do much processing on this. I softened it a bit, but did not sharpen or fiddle with the exposure. Surprisingly (because I generally like balancing my shot in the Rule of Thirds grid), I like the results!
@espyetta Awww- it's really tough getting back in to the swing of things. Even if you do just one shot a week, it will be worth it I think. Remember- your project, your rules.
Thank you for sharing what you have read and considered. I like seeing the way you applied this to the image. I just ordered the Patterson book now, too. It sounds very inspiring!
I like the 50/50 here, works really well. I'm still waiting for my book to arrive so also relying on Katie's synopsis. I think I'm going to enjoy this book club and the book itself!
Cool result! I like the split down the middle of the shot too... (I seem to do this in my pics a lot without even realising!). I hope your book arrives soon - mine came just in the nick of time on 31st July!
I have my book and have started reading it and posted a couple of photos that, to me anyway, were rule breaking. (some are in the flicker group) I also usually either compose by rule of thirds or centering and I find it much harder than I would have expected to break these. I think your experiment turned out very well though. I find it inspiring and will work harder to see outside my little boxes. I actually just read an article on composition that said splitting a photo in half is the 'only' true composition no-no. Shows what he knows.
what great perspective, ann. it's like i am there trying to take a peek inside that room. the book is quite an eye opener. come to think of it, this is almost like going to class and yes, a book club! yay!
@bkbinthecity Thanks Brian! @taffy Thank you Taffy! @maggiemae Thank you Maggie! @pflaume Thank you Lisa! Still no news from the library but I'll be ordering the book sometime this week anyway. The other book has been interesting to read, but I think the exercises sound interesting so I'm looking forward to having my own copy. @salza Thank you Sally! I'm going to order it too. Hopefully it will come quickly. @sangwann Thank you Dione! @digitalrn Thank you Rick! @alia_801 Thank you Alia! I will be ordering it sometime this week, and hopefully it will come quickly. @stownsend Thanks Suzie! I'm enjoying the technical aspect of this challenge- technical in composition that is. @caroleb Thanks Carole! And thank you for the follow! I will be looking forward to your comments and insight. Isn't that interesting that you found that "no-no". I had always felt that splitting the shot like this was boring and static. But I have to admit, for this shot it works! @rah02 Thank you Lara! I'm looking forward to what this challenge brings! @daisy Thank you Kathryn! I'm glad to be a part of it. It's making me think too! @httpgeffed Thanks Colleen! It's going to be a good challenge- and I'm looking forward to what I'll be learning. @summerfield Thanks Vikki! Yes, it is! It's dry and we can actually walk on it now. But once it dried, we realized it was the perfect opportunity to paint the ceiling and walls- hence the minimalist décor right now!
@olivetreeann - Rob just painted our lounge room last night. We are having new furniture delivered later this month and again in October (I hate having to wait so long) and took the opportunity to clear out the room and paint it. It looks so much better.
@nicolecampbell Ours does too- but I'm really at the end of my patience with it. This project started back in May when the floor went down, or was it June? It's been so long I forget!
Nice shot, Ann :) I never heard of the rule of thirds till a couple of months ago so I've been winging it this whole time... You take great photos and this one is no exception. It's a fantastic POV and the b&w gives it depth. Good job
Thank you Bev and Katie! Yes, I think I need to explore this one a little bit more. I'm so used to putting things in the Rule of Thirds grid I do it without thinking.
August 6th, 2013
Leave a Comment
Sign up for a free account or Sign in to post a comment.
what great perspective, ann. it's like i am there trying to take a peek inside that room. the book is quite an eye opener. come to think of it, this is almost like going to class and yes, a book club! yay!
@taffy Thank you Taffy!
@maggiemae Thank you Maggie!
@pflaume Thank you Lisa! Still no news from the library but I'll be ordering the book sometime this week anyway. The other book has been interesting to read, but I think the exercises sound interesting so I'm looking forward to having my own copy.
@salza Thank you Sally! I'm going to order it too. Hopefully it will come quickly.
@sangwann Thank you Dione!
@digitalrn Thank you Rick!
@alia_801 Thank you Alia! I will be ordering it sometime this week, and hopefully it will come quickly.
@stownsend Thanks Suzie! I'm enjoying the technical aspect of this challenge- technical in composition that is.
@caroleb Thanks Carole! And thank you for the follow! I will be looking forward to your comments and insight. Isn't that interesting that you found that "no-no". I had always felt that splitting the shot like this was boring and static. But I have to admit, for this shot it works! @rah02 Thank you Lara! I'm looking forward to what this challenge brings!
@daisy Thank you Kathryn! I'm glad to be a part of it. It's making me think too!
@httpgeffed Thanks Colleen! It's going to be a good challenge- and I'm looking forward to what I'll be learning.
@summerfield Thanks Vikki! Yes, it is! It's dry and we can actually walk on it now. But once it dried, we realized it was the perfect opportunity to paint the ceiling and walls- hence the minimalist décor right now!
@la_photographic Thanks Laura!
Thank you Bev and Katie! Yes, I think I need to explore this one a little bit more. I'm so used to putting things in the Rule of Thirds grid I do it without thinking.