The American annual of photography . re are laws of composition, there must be lawsof art, and laws once established and published can be learnedby the veriest tyro, and applied by him. We know there canbe no laws of art, which is a matter of individual expression,in rare cases almost amounting to inspiration. This disposesof any possible laws of composition, and the critics occa-sionally admit this by their composition is unusual, but pleas-ing. The Japanese are continually using this unusual com-position very pleasingly. There might possibly be some axiomsof composition, but there can be no
The American annual of photography . re are laws of composition, there must be lawsof art, and laws once established and published can be learnedby the veriest tyro, and applied by him. We know there canbe no laws of art, which is a matter of individual expression,in rare cases almost amounting to inspiration. This disposesof any possible laws of composition, and the critics occa-sionally admit this by their composition is unusual, but pleas-ing. The Japanese are continually using this unusual com-position very pleasingly. There might possibly be some axiomsof composition, but there can be no set rules. One of theseaxioms might be that any arrangement that holds the eye tothe principal object and so tells the story that no title is re-quired for the picture, is good composition. Certain little tricks also help composition, as in mountainphotography, the reducing of the sky area will increase dis-tance and height. Another is, providing a little space in frontof an obviously moving subject, to give it room to progress, 194. < Q < O HWpi! < 195 but these by no means can be called laws, or even rules. Theman who is doubtful of his composition at the time of makinghis picture can very often make his subject occupy a smallpart of his picture space, and make his final composition laterby trimming the picture, to bring the subject in the mostdesirable position. In these days of the smaller camera and the enlarging lan-tern, I find this is the safest procedure. If your compositionwill hold the attention of the observer in the picture spaceand will convey the story so completely without distractions,that a title or explanation is unnecessary, your compositionis good, all laws and rules to the contrary notwithstanding.
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Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookpublishernewyo, bookyear1919
