The Photographic Eye:

Learning to See with a Camera

Chapter 3: What is composition? (51-65)
Read Chapter 3: What is Composition?, and then answer the following questions in your sketchbook. Make sure your answers are complete, legible, and visually pleasing! 1. 2. What IS composition? On page 50, the author writes a true master breaks the rules a bit and creates something unique. Before the rules can be broken creatively, however, they must be understood. What does this mean? What other areas of life could this apply to? List three characteristics of a snapshot. List three characteristics of a composed photograph.

3. 4. 5.

For the next 5 questions, you will need to set up by drawing FIVE (5) nine-zone grids. They should be 3 x 2 each, or larger. Number them 6 - 10. Then, for each question, draw a photograph inside that grid that responds to the question, using what the author says about zones and weighting as a guide. (The quality of the drawing is not that important - focus on making sure you understand - and can show me - what the author is talking about.) Draw a photograph that... 6. 7. 8. 9. ...suggests movement. ...creates an unusual or disturbing feeling because of its composition. ...is strongly weighted toward the bottom. ...is static and against the ofcial rules of composition.

10. ...creates a more subtle effect, that the author says youll probably want to use for most of your photographs. Back to normal questions. 11. Which of the composition tips mentioned in the FOCAL POINT: Composition Tips section do you think is the most helpful & why? (Think about photographs youve taken or seen.) 12. On page 60, the author writes it is not enough simply to nd an interesting subject; anyone who takes a snapshot does that. The photographers job is to make an interesting photograph of an interesting subject, which is quite a different thing. Explain this. 13. What can happen to the dynamics in a poorly composed photograph? 14. What do you think will be most challenging to you, personally, in achieving successful composition when photographing? Why? Whats your plan for tackling that challenge?