Thursday read – “Tuesday composition” by Joe Decker

There is some science to setting exposure by optimizing shutter speed, aperture and ISO combination for the detail in highlights and the detail in shadows. With composition, although there is number of so called rules, like rule of thirds or rule of odds, you can always find at least as many examples applying the rules as disobeying them, equally successfully. This is why I am always interested in reading another book about composition. With it being so subjective, and taught in so many ways, I am eager to see another authors take on things.

When “Tuesday composition” by Joe Decker showed on my radar, I did not hesitate to pick it up. This 70 double spread e-book from Flatbooks is based on a series of articles the author wrote on Photocrati.com blog. Joe Decker takes each element of interesting composition one by one. He talks about them in detail, with examples- circles, frames, leading lines and so on. He almost dismisses the rule of thirds, rather providing an explanation on how it came about and how to utilize it, successfully, not rigidly. Just take a look at the table of contents below to see what other topics are covered in this e-book (click on the image to see it larger).

To my surprise, I was able to find in “Tuesday composition” several tips and tricks I have not seen before. When Joe Decker discusses circles as compositional elements in the image, which is by itself an element I have not seen anybody before spend much time on, he explains how the eye follows around it regular shape, exploring other parts of the image. Another interesting section discusses the composition of panoramas and polyptychs like dyptychs and more complex, multi image panels. Honestly, how many of us actually give that much thought to those?

The information in the “Tuesday composition” are summarized in the 7 case studies at the end of the e-book. But don’t let the number fool you, quite a few more images are discusses in detail in this section of the e-book. And there is some more tips hiding in those case studies, too.

If you, like me, are still not comfortable with all theoretical knowledge and familiarity with compositional rules, and want to get some more practical insights, illustrated with simple, example images, then “Tuesday composition” is right for you. Pick it up by for just $14.97 clicking here .

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