Photography Tutorial - Basics of Composition

Summary

In this video, Jared Polin from froknowsphoto.com discusses the art of composition using a Rebel T3i camera and a 16-35mm lens. He emphasizes the importance of experimenting with different angles and focal lengths, even with a basic kit lens, to improve one's composition skills. Using Kermit the Frog as a subject, he demonstrates how adjusting the camera angle and subject placement can significantly impact the composition and visual appeal of a photo.

Takeaways

• 📸 **Use of Canon Camera**: The speaker uses a Canon Rebel T3i camera for the demonstration.
• 🔍 **Lens Selection**: A 16-35mm f/2.8 lens is used, but the focus is on shooting between 18-35mm at f/3.5 to mimic common kit lenses.
• 🐸 **Subject Matter**: Kermit the Frog, an inanimate object, is used as a subject to practice composition.
• 👀 **Composition Focus**: The main theme is learning and improving photographic composition through experimentation.
• 🤔 **Experimentation**: Different angles and compositions are tried to find the best image, emphasizing the importance of trying out various setups.
• 👶 **Subject's Perspective**: It's recommended to get down to the subject's level, especially when photographing children.
• 📐 **Rule of Thirds**: The speaker discusses the rule of thirds, showing how off-center positioning can create a stronger composition.
• 🌳 **Background Awareness**: The importance of being aware of the background and potential distractions is highlighted.
• 📱 **Camera as a Tool**: The camera is used not just to capture the subject but also to analyze the frame and composition.
• 🔄 **Adjust and Move**: The speaker emphasizes moving around and adjusting the camera to find the best composition rather than moving the subject.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is photography composition.

Which camera and lens setup does Jared Polin use in the video?

Jared Polin uses a Canon Rebel T3i with a 16-35mm f/2.8 lens, but he limits himself to shooting at 18-35mm and at apertures no lower than f/3.5 to keep it realistic for beginners.

Why does Jared choose Kermit the Frog as his subject?

Jared chooses Kermit the Frog as his subject because he is an inanimate object, which allows him to demonstrate composition techniques without the complexity of a moving subject.

What is the significance of the Kermit the Frog cutout used in the video?

The Kermit the Frog cutout is significant because it was made by Jared's mom in 1983 and has been his doorstop since then, adding a personal touch to the demonstration.

How does Jared suggest improving composition when photographing a child or a similar subject?

Jared suggests getting down to the subject's level to improve composition, as it provides a more natural perspective.

What is the importance of focusing on the subject's eye in photography?

Focusing on the subject's eye is important because it helps to draw attention to the subject and can make the image more engaging.

How does Jared demonstrate the effect of different angles on composition?

Jared demonstrates the effect of different angles by taking pictures from various heights and perspectives, showing how each change affects the composition.

What is the purpose of moving the subject off-center in a composition?

Moving the subject off-center can create a more dynamic and interesting composition by using the rule of thirds and drawing the viewer's eye to the subject in a more engaging way.

Why does Jared avoid having distracting elements in the background?

Jared avoids distracting elements in the background to keep the focus on the subject and to ensure that the background complements rather than detracts from the main subject.

What is the role of the photographer in controlling the composition?

The photographer plays a crucial role in controlling the composition by moving themselves, changing angles, and adjusting the framing to create the desired visual effect.

How does Jared emphasize the importance of seeing what's going on in the frame?

Jared emphasizes the importance of seeing what's going on in the frame by constantly checking the borders and background for distractions and adjusting the composition accordingly.

Outlines

00:00

📸 Learning Composition with a Canon T3i

In this video script, Speaker 1 introduces a project video focused on photography composition using a Canon Rebel T3i camera. He discusses his choice of lens, opting for a range between 18 to 35mm and an aperture no lower than f/3.5 to mimic the experience of most beginners with standard kit lenses. He uses Kermit the Frog as a subject to demonstrate composition techniques, emphasizing the importance of experimenting with different angles and perspectives. The speaker shares his process of finding the best composition by moving around the subject and adjusting the camera settings. He also mentions the significance of considering the background and how it interacts with the subject, aiming to avoid distractions and improve the overall image. The video is intended to educate viewers on the fundamentals of composition by practicing with inanimate objects before applying these skills in real-life scenarios.

05:06

🌲 Avoiding Distractions in Photography

Paragraph 2 continues the discussion on composition, with the speaker demonstrating how to avoid unwanted elements in the background, such as a tree appearing to grow out of Kermit's head. He shows the process of adjusting the camera angle and position to eliminate such distractions and improve the composition. The speaker also talks about the importance of being mindful of the entire frame, not just the subject, when composing a shot. He shares his personal approach to photography, which involves constantly looking through the viewfinder to assess the composition and make adjustments as needed. The speaker emphasizes the need to consider the position of the subject within the frame and to be aware of any potential distractions that could detract from the overall image. The goal is to help viewers develop a keen eye for composition and learn to think critically about every element within their viewfinder.

Keywords

💡Composition

Composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements in an image to create a coherent and aesthetically pleasing photograph. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of composition by experimenting with different angles and focal points to capture Kermit the Frog. The video's theme revolves around learning and improving composition skills, which is central to photography.

💡Canon

Canon is a brand of cameras and lenses used by the speaker in the video. The mention of 'Canon' ties into the video's focus on photography equipment and its role in achieving good composition. The speaker uses a Canon T3i camera and a lens with a focal length range of 16 to 35mm to demonstrate composition techniques.

💡Rebel T3i

The Rebel T3i is a specific model of Canon camera used in the video. It is significant because the speaker chooses to use a camera that is accessible to beginners, which aligns with the video's educational purpose of teaching composition to a wide audience.

💡Aperture

Aperture is the opening in a camera lens through which light passes and is expressed in f-stops. The speaker discusses shooting at an aperture no lower than f/3.5 to keep the demonstration realistic for beginners. Aperture affects the depth of field and is a critical factor in composition.

💡Kit Lens

A kit lens is a standard lens that comes bundled with a camera. The speaker mentions kit lenses, typically 18-55mm, to relate to the equipment that most beginners start with. The video's aim is to teach composition using common gear.

💡FroKnowsPhoto

FroKnowsPhoto is the website and brand of the speaker, Jared Polin. It is mentioned to establish credibility and provide a resource for viewers interested in photography. The video is part of a series of educational content from FroKnowsPhoto.

💡Inanimate Object

An inanimate object is a non-living subject, used in this case as the subject of the photographs. Kermit the Frog, being an inanimate object, serves as a static subject for the speaker to demonstrate composition without the complexity of a moving subject.

💡Angle

Angle refers to the position from which a photo is taken. The speaker experiments with different angles, such as high and low, to illustrate how they affect composition. Changing angles is a fundamental technique in photography to create dynamic images.

💡Focal Length

Focal length is the distance from the camera's lens to the sensor, affecting the field of view. The speaker uses a lens with a focal length range of 16 to 35mm, discussing how it limits the range but is still suitable for demonstrating composition.

💡Rule of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds is a fundamental principle of composition where an image is divided into nine equal parts by two equally spaced horizontal and vertical lines. The speaker discusses placing the subject off-center, aligning with the rule of thirds, to create a more engaging composition.

💡Distraction

A distraction in photography refers to any element in the frame that draws attention away from the subject. The speaker advises viewers to be mindful of distractions in the background and to adjust the composition or angle to minimize them.

Highlights

Introduction to composition with a Canon camera

Use of a Rebel T3i camera and a 16-35/2.8 lens

Decision to shoot between 18-35mm to mimic common kit lenses

Intention to keep aperture no lower than F3.5 for realism

Using Kermit the Frog as an inanimate subject for composition practice

Importance of experimenting with different angles and compositions

The value of practicing composition with inanimate objects

Explanation of how to find the right composition through trial and error

The process of changing angles and camera settings to improve composition

Avoiding distractions in the background

Technique of getting down to the subject's level for a better perspective

Discussing the use of different focal lengths and their impact on composition

Demonstration of how to avoid unflattering angles, like a tree appearing to grow out of the subject's head

The concept of moving oneself rather than the subject to find the best composition

Emphasis on observing the entire frame, not just the subject

Advice on checking the outer borders of the frame for unwanted elements

Encouragement to think critically about composition while shooting

Conclusion and thanks to Kermit the Frog for the composition lesson

Transcripts

Speaker 1: Stop chasing me, I have a Canon in my hands, it's a Canon I tell you, it's

a cannon.

Jared Polin, froknowsphoto.com, here with another super secret project video.

This time I want to talk about composition.

I will be using a Rebel T3i, I have on here a 16 to 35/2.

8 but to keep it more realistic to what most people starting out with, I am only going

to shoot it in the range of 18 to 35, because most kit lenses are 18 to 55s and I am not

going to go below F 3.

5, just to keep it more realistic.

But when I say composition I have here Kermit de Frog as my subject and he is an inanimate

object.

So we are going to play around here, I don't even know what I am going to do, I haven't

even tried to compose an image here to see what would work best with just basically a

kit lens.

If Canon actually sent me kit lens this time, I would have used it, but they sent me a better

piece of glass, because I asked for it.

But it still has to go back, I still have to send it back soon.

What I plan on doing here, is just going through different angles, taking pictures and showing

you what they look like to see how I am changing you the composition, changing up my angle,

seeing what works best.

Because the best way to learn your composition is to actually go out and see it and do it.

So that's why Kermit de Frog is here for my subject and just a little cut out, my mom

made this in 1983 and it has been my doorstop ever since.

She used to do a lot of ceramics and this is one thing she brought home in 1983 when

I was roughly 2 years old.

So yeah, let's get to the composition video end of this or the composition part of this

and I will right back to use this Canon T3i, hopefully you guys pick up some information

from this, we will be right back.

All right, so we are back now, T3i in hand and this is about seeing and feeling the image.

Sure there is not much going on here.

I just Kermit de Frog sitting over there and I have to find the image.

If you can practice this yourself and find the image with inanimate objects and things

like that you are going to train yourself to get much better when you are in an actual

shooting situation, all this practice of trying to find the right composition is going to

lead you on the right path to getting that composition when you're out there shooting

what really, really matters.

This is a great test.

I have to sit here and work through the different, you know it's not the biggest range of lenses,

it doesn't go 18 to 55 like those kit lens, it's going to go 16 to 35, but like I said,

I am only going to shoot from 18 to 35 and at the lowest aperture of 3.

5 and that's going to have to change as I hit 35 because most cameras, when you don't

have the 2.

8 lenses, are going to do that.

But what I am going to do here is try to find the image.

I am just going to move around and search for it and we are going to pop the images

up on screen as I shoot them to see what we are getting.

And then see if it's good composition or bad composition, so you know really sometimes

people start out and they shoot like this.

So let's see, that's a 35, full standing up, shooting the child or whoever down at the

low angle and it looks like this.

What could you do to make that better?

First things first, if this is my subject, I'm getting down on my subject's angle because

this is how you want photograph a child or subject on this low angle, boom, let's see

what this looks like, there you go.

Now right now, I'm in aperture priority we are not going to worry too much about exposures

right now, because this is all about composition.

So there is, oh I thought I had a bug on me, I don't like bugs, there is the first image,

not every interesting, there's a second image, getting even better and like that angle, do

you see what I did it.

I threw them off to the right-hand side, now let's put them right in the middle, so using

this Canon, I hit this button over here, the top right corner, it lights up the different

focusing points.

And then I select the middle one and hit okay, so here he is right in the middle.

So now you can see the picture basically in the middle, look at the difference between

the first one, he is off to the right hand side.

And the second one, he is right in the middle, which composition is stronger, that's up to

you.

But I like him throwing off to the side, because that to me is a better image.

Now what would a vertical look like, do we want them right in the middle, like this,

do we want to focus and do this?

You know, you are just getting a different feel for what's going on.

Could we come here and shoot an even wider shot or do I want come over to here and be

like all right, Kermit, let's see what we have got, let's work with you.

Oh right there, Kermie, so here we go again.

I am picking my focusing point, by hitting that center button and moving all the way

over to the leftmost focusing point, I think I am still learning how to use this bad boy.

And there we go, focus right on his eye from this corner, all right, there we go.

I want to get more of his body in there, so I am going to go wider.

And here we go, now, I threw them off to the left hand side, but I got his whole body in

there and that's looking much better than the shot before.

The shot before is good, but look at the tree right in the background, it's like he has

got a tree coming out of his head.

Let me focus, lock in, you see, now you see this tree coming out of his head.

That's not good, how can we -- how can we fix the tree coming out of the top of his

head.

Well, we could move slightly this way and be like, all right, I don't want the tree

coming out of your head.

So let's go vertical and now the tree is off to the side focus, focus, boom.

Now we see the difference in where the tree is much better than the tree coming out of

the top of his head.

So really what this is coming down to is just seeing what's going on in the frame, what's

going on in the background, what's going on in your, just in your sidelines.

It's all about seeing, it's not just about where your subject is what your subject is

doing.

He is not moving, I have to move myself, many times, when I am shooting models, I don't

ask them to move, if they are in a bad place, I will move myself and the last resort is

ask them to move, because I want to -- you know I want to see the image.

I am always looking, I am always looking through the camera, going all right, let's see, what

could be the right angle, because you want to look through the camera, because that's

what your image is going to be and not so much, always just looking not through the

camera, you want to use the camera, to see what your frame is going to be, because then

you are going to see what's going on.

So those are just some simple examples of what I am thinking about when I am looking

through the camera and shooting the pictures, was there a distraction in the background,

would he look better at a high angle or a lower angle, would he be better right in the

middle, could he be better to the left or the right, and these are just basic composition

things that are going through my mind, every second when I am a shooting a picture.

When I am looking through the viewfinder, am I looking right at the subject all the

time, no, I am focusing on the subject, but I am checking the outer border, is there something

protruding through the outer border that doesn't need to be there, is there a distraction.

I don't know, but that's what I am looking for and what I am thinking about.

So that's about it for the basic thing on composition right thing.

I hope these images help you out, I hope it give you a little bit of inside into what

I am thinking about, so you can try to think about that as well.

So that is another super secret project video, this time composition with Mr. Kermit de Frog,

Kermit, thank you very much.

Jared Polin, froknowsphoto.com.

See ya.