Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots, Second Edition

Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots, Second Edition

by Laurie S. Excell
Released April 2014
Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
ISBN: 9780133813821

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Book description

Now that you’ve bought an amazing new DSLR, you need a book that goes beyond the camera manual to teach you how to take great shots. That’s where Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots, Second Edition, comes in, teaching you the fundamentals of composition—the creative arrangement of elements in the shot, and the way a viewer’s eye travels through an image—so you can get great shots no matter what gear you use.

In this book, author and professional photographer Laurie Excell starts with the basics of composition—such as the popular rule of thirds—and illustrates how elements like color, shape, angles, and contrast work to create compelling images. In the process, she covers all key camera features that affect composition (regardless of what type of DSLR you have), including the ability to freeze and convey motion depending on what shutter speed you choose, and the correlation between aperture and depth of field.

In addition to dozens of brand-new images and more in-depth coverage on topics such as patterns and textures and arranging elements in a frame, this revised edition features several completely new chapters. These will include a chapter of step-by-step examples that highlight the compositional technique used to get just the right shot; a new chapter on black-and-white photography; and a chapter on what to do after the shot—enhancing and editing the images in post-processing.

Beautifully illustrated with large, vibrant photos, this book will help you bring your own unique artistic expression to any situation whether taking portraits, action shots, landscapes, or events, teaching you how to take control of your photography to get the image you want every time you pick up the camera.
 
The book includes coverage of Lightroom for image management; Nikon Capture NX2 for RAW processing; Photoshop for image processing; and NIK and OnOne software for creative effects.
 

Table of contents

  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Contents
  6. Introduction
  7. 1. Equipment
    1. The Equipment You Use Directly Affects Your Photographic Style
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Which Camera Is Best for You?
    5. Choosing Lenses and Filters
    6. Accessorize!
    7. Chapter 1 Assignments
  8. 2. Buttons and Dials
    1. Becoming Acquainted with Your Camera Controls
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Understanding Shooting Modes
    5. Metering Modes
    6. Highlight Warnings
    7. Histogram
    8. RAW versus JPEG
    9. Focus Modes
    10. Auto Advance
    11. White Balance
    12. Noise Reduction
    13. File Number Sequence
    14. Additional Settings
    15. Chapter 2 Assignments
  9. 3. Exposure Triangle
    1. ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed: Their Relationship to Each Other and Light
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Understanding the Exposure Triangle
    5. Shutter Speed
    6. Aperture/Shutter Speed Relationship
    7. Chapter 3 Assignments
  10. 4. Light
    1. Light Is the Key Element in Photography
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. The Quality and Quantity of Light
    5. Direction
    6. Exposure Compensation
    7. Chapter 4 Assignments
  11. 5. Color
    1. Understanding Color and Its Role in Making Dynamic Images
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Color Wheel and Complements
    5. The Meaning of Color
    6. Black and White Are Colors Too
    7. Colors as Patterns
    8. Colors and White Balance
    9. Significance of Color
    10. Chapter 5 Assignments
  12. 6. Composition Guidelines
    1. Arranging the Elements of an Image into a Pleasing Composition
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Rule of Thirds
    5. Rule of Odds
    6. Horizon Line
    7. Visual Depth
    8. Point of View
    9. Scale
    10. Chapter 6 Assignments
  13. 7. Lines as Elements of Composition
    1. Lines, in Their Many Shapes and Forms, Make Great Compositional Design Elements
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Lines
    5. Shape and Form
    6. Texture and Pattern
    7. Framing Your Subject
    8. Vertical or Horizontal
    9. Frame Filling or Environmental?
    10. Keep It Super Simple
    11. Chapter 7 Assignments
  14. 8. Beyond the Rule of Thirds
    1. Forget the Rules and Think Outside the Box
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Bull’s-eye
    5. Even Numbers
    6. To Crop or Not to Crop: Aspect Ratio
    7. Point of View
    8. Creative Blur
    9. Tension
    10. Against the Odds
    11. Chapter 8 Assignments
  15. 9. Black and White
    1. The Guidelines of Composition Apply to Black and White
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Composition in Black and White
    5. Keys to Better Black-and-White Photos
    6. Black and White: Capture in the Camera
    7. Convert in the Computer
    8. Beyond Basic Black and White
    9. Chapter 9 Assignments
  16. 10. The Photo Finish
    1. Creativity Doesn’t End with the Click of the Shutter
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Workflow
    5. The Photo Finish
    6. Chapter 10 Assignments
  17. 11. Light, Camera, Action
    1. Putting It All Together: Planning and Executing Photographic Opportunities
    2. Poring Over the Picture
    3. Poring Over the Picture
    4. Preparation
    5. Light, Exposure, Action
    6. Workflow
    7. Finishing Touches
    8. Chapter 11 Assignments
  18. Index

Product information

  • Title: Composition: From Snapshots to Great Shots, Second Edition
  • Author(s): Laurie S. Excell
  • Release date: April 2014
  • Publisher(s): Peachpit Press
  • ISBN: 9780133813821