pictures that break composition rules

[paulr]

I'm working on a book of pictures of an abandoned factory. During the editing, I noticed pictures with at least three different esthetics: straight up architectural (which is textbook classicism); documentary pictures where the formal qualities aren't especially assertive; and formally experimental ones that challenge classical ideas of balance and coherence. The last group was the most fun and interesting for me, and was also the most natural expression of the factory itself, which had a crazy density of detail and complex space.

It's going to be interesting getting these different kinds of pictures to play well together.

[invisibleflash]

nsfw

https://danielteolijr.wordpress.com/...6/upside-down/

[sun of sand]

I don't believe an imbalanced image any art form will prove to be a good one

It may be pretty good but there will always be a tension within it that holds it back
You probably think you're challenging rules/ideals but in reality they're probably just your norms


But seriously
How many threads full of "wonderful" dialogue and yet still obviously little understanding

Time to try something else imo

[Alan Klein]

You may want tension in a picture for editorial reasons, making a point or getting someone uncomfortable. Of course you'll know better how to do this if you know the rules that makes them feel more relaxed and happier which comes from looking at an aesthetically balanced picture.

[sun of sand]

Wife makes a beautiful dinner of baked ziti homemade sauce and sausage and garlic bread
Then husband with little dumb husband brain picks up parmesan cheese in a can that you shake onto your food

Tension

Almost
But that cheap cheese ruins it.
Still goodnuff
But not as good as it could have been
IOW ruined

The shaker cheese will never be the star of the show no matter how you try to play it


Take a look at all the elements in the harry Callahan Chicago photo. Telephone pole portrait.
Tell us how they all work together to balance the composition

If balance is too abstract perhaps
weight
will work better for some or in some instances

Equal and opposite
Cantilever
Negative space

Learn to see weight and the "rules" will appear

Leading lines
If the rest of the elements aren't in balance with how that line has divided the space it won't work

[Leszek Vogt]

Despite The shaker cheese the hubby personalized his experience.....to his taste. It may not be to yours or his wife's taste.


Hmmm, photography is similar....once one get the standards...one does not need to follow the herd....and can develop (no pun intended) their own style. This works for me.

Les

[sun of sand]

Sounds sophisticated but show me something to prove it



From all time

[SergeiR]

That is an impoverished way to pursue knowledge as it concerns art.
I accept that accept that as a challenge, and I am certain many other will, too.

By all means

[SergeiR]

"balance" is not necessarily symmetry.

Yup. Also it has relation to at least three types of contrast in composition

[sun of sand]

Here is an example I just found as this was bothering me

This guy attempts to see weight after reading a blog and is doing a pretty good job

He shows a photo taken from under a pier
Printed well. Seen well. Great shot, it seems.
He himself notices something about that others may not like about it
But I think he's wrong about the issue
- of there being too much space on the left.

The problem is not enough weight on the right
But that isn't the photo he wants to create.u
So what do you to resolve the tension?

Great looking pic. Lively? All the ripples and contrast and wave
How can you make it even more dynamic and fix the imbalance at the same time

In my opinion7
Crop up from the bottom to rid most of the foremost pillars shadow
Crop off the right most pillar or even the two on that side
Crop from the top a little as well

Instantly more powerful
Isn't it?

The barely felt static created by the 3 pillars of same size across the middle is gone
Leading line becomes much stronger
The large background wave becomes more prominent, I think
instead of being an otherwise lost "add on" you search for
The shadow on foremost pillar equals shadow on pier ceiling


I think its much more effective with that crop and he still has the photo he wanted

http:// imagesbyeduardo.com/main/sto...in-composition