Advanced Composition Concepts

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Who's This Event For?

Anyone who feels there's something missing in their approach to composition, regardless of the # of years you've been making pictures. The 'Advanced' part of this event refers to the concepts we'll discuss, not your experience with a camera, or what equipment you own.

Video tutorial introduction (30 min) (http://original-light.com/meetup/tutorials/advanced-composition/advanced-composition-concepts.asp) Ask for a password if you'd like to get this 1/2 hr introduction to advanced composition but are not attending the event.

The Idea

In the creation of an image, you choose from an infinite number of possibilities, fuse them into a frame with contrasting shades of B&W, colour, lighting, subtleties of positioning, variations on a theme of lines, shapes, subjects, textures, and emphasis. In a truly strong, vibrant and moving composition, contradictions & clashes are transformed into contrasts that heighten the value of the complete, whole image. In a disjointed one, the contradictions destroy it. How do we begin to recognize the difference when we hold up a camera?

When we think about composition as photographers, we often forget to consider other art forms. We often also think in all-or-nothing terms; we're playing by the rules or breaking/bending them. But there's another face to composition all together...

We're going to work on the premise that deeper knowledge - not more information, is what's going to push your composition skills to the next level. Deep knowledge doesn't often come from answers, but questions asked...

At this event, the emphasis will be on group discussion - advanced composition is all about a head space, not rules & technique. As we talk, we'll walk over to the murals in the gallery & make a lot of compositions. Then we'll sit down & discuss what we've seen & understood, go back & compose again. We'll be asking a lot of questions & sharing ideas.

Inspiration

Thank you to two members who were the inspiration for this workshop:

"Hi Al, Again thanks for your feedback. From what I see from your flickr stream and your comments, you have a deep understanding for the visual. Would you have concepts that you feel could help me strengthen my compositions? I've read dozens of books on creative edge over the last year about composition, seeing, light etc. and they have helped. Often we take for granted what we see, without understanding what we actually see. Perhaps there are some books you read, etc. that really drove it home." -D

"I want to learn more about the world around me. I can't think of a better way to learn than through the lens of a camera. I love the idea of exploring photography, to see things in a new perspective and to be more mindful of the beauty that surrounds us. This group is not just about photography, it's about awareness and mindfulness. I'd like some guidance." -P

The Venue

Bishop White Gallery (http://www.rom.on.ca/exhibitions/wculture/bishop.php) in the ROM is on Level 1. "The Paradise of Maitreya" is the largest (12m x 6m) of three murals in there. We'll use this mural for a great number of reasons we'll get into at the event.

For a ROM floor plan to the gallery, download the pdf (http://www.rom.on.ca/visit/pdf/ROM_visitor_guide.pdf) & go to page 7, look for 'Must See' #1.

Who's concepts will we be including?

Ellen Dissanayake, Carl Jung, Abraham Maslow, Joseph Campbell, James Joyce, Paul Gauguin, Josef Sudek, Marc Chagall, Minor White

Joseph Campbell teaser:

"Placing a frame around an object & seeing it as one thing, seeing the relationship of part, to part, to part – this is the essential aesthetic factor – the rhythm and relationships of parts." (This is why for me, there's such a convergence between composition in music & visual art.) "When (the photographer) gets it right, sublime suggestions & implications that go beyond the word come through (as in poetry, which is read –through- its words). It opens you, the viewer to something bigger.... "

Note: The cost doesn't include ROM entry - you'll need to get a ticket at the door. For a reduced cost ROM entry, make sure you're at the ticket counter @ 4:30pm when the entry price drops. So, Fri March 30th as of 4:30pm = reduced $9 ROM entry fee. Total price incl. taxes for this event = 52.

Thanks to the ROM for letting our group photograph in the Bishop White Gallery.

• Discovery Series Workshops take you beyond theory, teaching you new ways of seeing.