Composition exercises?

[hyatt_lee]

Hey, I was wondering if any of you set compostional goals from time to time. I'm not talking about a project focusing on content but something more like, I'm going to try to shoot a roll of film with limbs in the frame without their bodies or I'll shoot a roll where only half the subject's face will appear in the frame. Anyone have other suggestions? Or know of a book that suggests more?

[ralph_barker]

<p>Sometimes it's fun to take a common, everyday object and try to shoot it in a different way, or out of the normal context. Here, for example, I asked a well-known child's bathtub toy to stand in for the swan with this ballet dancer . . . </p>

 

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<img border=2 src="http://www.rbarkerphoto.com/misc/HopeHoffman/HH020603-0107-550bw.jpg">

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[tony_brookes]

Nice shot Ralph - the square format suggests a Hassie ?

[graphicjoe]

I don�t set myself assignments of the kind that you suggest, but I�m constantly and consciously looking at the world photographically. To me this means that when I see something that catches my or somehow seems visually interesting I try to work out in my mind what makes it interesting, how I could capture that interest on film, how I could strengthen the image, and how it could apply to other situations.

 

I�m not sure if this is clear, but put differently, it is about constantly analyzing for myself, how to capture that which is interesting to my eye, how to develop a photographic vision, and a conscious awareness of seeing graphically.

 

I used to do self assignments, but gradually realized that the approach I just outlined�in a rather incomplete and garbled manner�works better for me. I certainly think that it�s important to be very conscious of one�s photographic work and to avoid just going around snapping the shutter in the hope that something good will result.

 

Cheers,

 

Joe Stephenson