Compositional clichés still have their place.


The value of photographic clichés.

What makes one photo better than another?  There is no shortage of answers and you will find that everyone has an opinion even though most would not be able to tell you exactly what their criteria are.  This is precisely the reason that traditional compositional techniques still hold their value.  The fact is that they work.

If you are a student of photography you probably know about compositional guidelines such as the rule of thirds, framing, using lines, critical focus points, depth of field, and so on.  The above image utilizes many of these devices and, to me, work together to produce a relatively pleasing image.

If you are not familiar with such vehicles of image enhancement I would suggest that you take the time to learn their basics.  Others may find that these techniques are limiting in nature.  If you are restricted in compositional endeavors, how is it possible to produce unique works of art, to think outside the box, or to experiment with different methodologies?

I think this is where the photographer or visual artist would want to share their thoughts.  Consider the traditional mechanisms for creating an image as cornerstone philosophies; a basic group of tools if you like.  They do not represent the entire set of methods that are available; rather they are the beginning of learning the craft.  

Growth within the confines of restrictive parameters produces cookie-cutter talent.  Learn the basics, master them and discover their value.  Then, expand beyond those boundaries and explore what lies beyond.  This is where real artistry lives.

Thanks for reading.  www.ericspix.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I found a black widow spider in a plant pot today

Image
The spider I found is a western black widow spider, one of three species of black widow that occur in North America.  The fact that this one has another red patch on the back of its abdomen above the spinnerettes tells us that it is an immature individual. The one thing that people know about black widow spiders is that they are extremely poisonous.  Their venom is something like 15x more toxic than that of a rattlesnake.  The saving grace is that there is very little venom injected from a black widow bite than what a rattlesnake can deliver.   The good news is that black widow bites seldom lead to death.  You are more likely to suffer nausea, muscle pain, and swelling around the bite.  Symptoms usually last only 12 hours or so.  Death may be a result in people with compromised immune systems or in the very young or the elderly.   In 2018, it was reported that there were 1015 cases of people bitten by black widows.  Of those, there ...
Read more

The passing of a generation

Image
Kathryn's mom and dad with our children, Josh and Leanne. A generation, for North America, tends to be between 20 and 30 years.  During that time a couple will give birth and raise children to see them repeat the pattern as they themselves have done.  Each generation has its own set of standards, values, and ideals based upon their experiences and culture, and some of that is passed down to their offspring.  What changes are the life experiences of the following generation and the new customs and ideals that are blended together as a couple becomes a family. Kathryn's mom passed away a few days ago, she was predeceased by her husband several years ago.  Both of them were the grandparents of my children, the mother and father of my wife, Kathryn.  It was my pleasure to know them and to love them as my own, for to me they were Mom and Dad.  And they were there to welcome my children into the world just as my children were with them in spirit when they left it...
Read more

Hang in there, things will get better.

Image
The Svendsen Family - Eric, Samuel, Leanne, Joshua (top row), Nora, Kathryn, Chanelle, Emma If I could go back, in my mind, to a day in my life when I was really down, it would be nice to be able to see into the future.  If could see things as they are today, with the many blessings that have been given to me, it would give me hope knowing that things wouldn't always be so discouraging.   The message here is we do not know what the future holds.  When things are bad, it is hard to raise your head out of the mire to see beyond the darkness.  There are no guarantees, of course, that things will be better, but I think it is true that fortunes ebb and flow as tides do.  The trick is to see beyond the low points and not be too haughty during the high ones.  I know that, at this moment, things are very good.  What the future holds is unknown, but low and high points are likely in the forecast.   This is why taking satisfaction from the moment ...
Read more