Mastering the Art of Photographic Selection: Seeing Beyond the Obvious

In a world saturated with photographic subjects, it's a challenge focusing on the most important. Learning to see the potential in everything around us and distilling it into compelling images is one of the most important journeys for any budding photographer. The advice from a seasoned photographer that "painting is the art of addition, while photography is the art of subtraction" underscores the concept, and this great video tutorial will show you how to go about implementing it. 

Coming to you from The Photographic Eye, this helpful video discusses various techniques to hone the compositional eye, emphasizing the power of observation and the importance of understanding composition. It suggests practicing with different elements and perspectives, even in mundane settings, to sharpen photographic vision. Experimentation with compositional techniques and understanding how to use camera settings effectively are also highlighted to help photographers to not only capture images but to create ones that resonate with viewers.

We often think additively when it comes to composition, and that sometimes leads to messy and overly burdened photos. Learning to think in a subtractive manner can help you create more concise and direct images that convey exactly what you want them to and nothing else. Check out the video above for the full rundown. 

Alex Cooke's picture

Alex Cooke is a Cleveland-based portrait, events, and landscape photographer. He holds an M.S. in Applied Mathematics and a doctorate in Music Composition. He is also an avid equestrian.

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