Fundamentals of Photo Composition [Book Review]

In his early years, author Paul Comon was taught that good composition “is the elimination of all unnecessary elements.’ Seems so simple doesn’t it!

The sad truth is that the more you learn the more you will eventually have to unlearn. There are rules and there are rules!

Beginners at photography will be told “follow the rule of thirds.” And the sad truth is that following this advice on placing elements of a picture within the frame will often lead to dull and dreary pictures. More simply stated: a single subject should never be centred in the frame.

Then author Comon wins my absolute attention when he states that photographers who divide the picture areas into thirds do better than those who don’t …”but there is an even more pleasing solution.” Fibonacci numbers!

Intrigued? There’s much more in the book as it investigates the framing of an image to account for colour, depth, lines of force and symmetry. The topics of film vs digital, colour vs B&W, original capture and print sizes, along with the triangle versus rectangle versus square versus circle versus oval are discussed in detail.

Then Comon gets into lines: horizontal, vertical, diagonal, intersecting, oblique, curved etc. Here’s an example: The oblique line (when used in a composition) can lead the eye into a picture, especially when it enters from the bottom of the frame … but the oblique line should never enter from a corner.

And lighting is considered, with its effect on a composition: a bright sun is ideal for scenics but can often be too contrasty for close-ups. Camera-mounted flash creates undesirable conditions, Comon advises, creating shadows that surround the subject. Tip: use bounce flash whenever possible.

The images in the book are stunning. On page 19 for example is a rhythmic composition of female Asian drummers that I would have given my eye teeth to have taken, dazzling not only in the effect of its diagonal layout but with the added zing of rich colour.
Quite possibly, the best book on composition that I have ever read. The lessons in its pages are worth gold!

Author: PR Comon.
Distributor: Capricorn Link.
Length: 160 pages.
ISBN: 978 1 60059 703 9.
Price: Get a price on the Fundamentals of Photo Composition (where it is currently 25% off)