How can I train myself to see photographic compositions instead of just the scene?
Asked 7/18/2015
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As a beginner, I often feel like I’m looking at the world in 3D but struggling to recognize what will make a strong 2D photograph. Sometimes someone else points out a shot that seems obvious once I see the photo, but I don’t notice it beforehand.
I’m interested in the idea that our brains rely on mental models—seeing “a chair” or “a lake” instead of the actual shapes, tones, and colors in front of us. In drawing, people use exercises like focusing on negative space to avoid that problem.
Are there similar ways to train this way of seeing for photography, so I can better notice composition, shapes, and tonal relationships rather than just the subject itself?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
8
The book you're probably looking for is Betty Edward's Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, which has a number of exercises in it to break from seeing things as "things" or symbols of the thing, and getting to what it actually looks like as a specific shape of a 2d projection by kicking into "right brain" mode. Drawing negative space, drawing in mirror-image, or having an image upside down as you attempt to copy it are all examples of ways to get your brain to flip into right-brain mode.
The only exercise, however, that you could probably do while photographing would involve looking at the scene upside-down. And you can only do that if you're using a view/technical camera. I hope someday someone over at Magic Lantern will consider doing a vertical flip on the LCD for this reason. But right now, they only flip the overlay information in case you're using your camera for macros suspended below your tripod (sigh).
One big sign you're in right-brain mode is that you lose time-sense, and you have difficulty verbalizing things. I find that with photography, I can go in and out of right-brain mode (messing with settings tends to be left-brain). But when I've lost sense of time passing, I'm definitely "in the zone."
Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user27440
11y ago
0
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Yes. A useful way to think about it is learning to see the scene as 2D shapes, tones, and relationships rather than as named objects.
Several approaches can help:
- Practice exercises borrowed from drawing, especially focusing on negative space and abstract shapes rather than “the thing.”
- Simplify the scene visually: some photographers squint to reduce detail and see only broad light/dark masses and composition.
- Review and crop your images with that same mindset, looking for stronger abstract structure.
- Expose yourself to how other people see: visit galleries or museums with others, discuss images, and compare what each person notices.
- Study formally if you can—art appreciation, art history, drawing, or photography classes can train observation and composition.
The main idea is repetition: any method that shifts you out of your normal recognition mode and into noticing form, tone, and space will get easier with practice. Over time, you start seeing more than just the subject—you begin noticing the picture.
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