Books on Composition

[Photography~girl~]

So I got "A Photographer's Guide to Light" by Nigal Hicks. First off, thanks to Bob, i believe it was, who reccomended the book. I'm LOVING it. Its been a great help and i really like how he doesn't have just landscapes, or portraits, but /all/ areas of photography.(since i don't know what area i want to "master", it helps to have a generall idea of lighting in each area.)

While I'm reading it, I'm begging to see I think i should read about composition. I have a general idea of how to compose a landscape, or a flower. But i have NO CLUE on how to compos a person/portraits. And i'm thinking it'll be a good idea(seeing as I'm going to offer my Uncle to shoot christmas photos of him, his wife and his two VERY cute kids.)
I've looked to see if Nigal Hicks has a book on comp. but i haven't found any. :/

So. What books on Composition do you reccomend?
I'd like to get one that has a little on each area of photography.

thanks a lot y'all!
alex

[noreturnphotos]

AK
I picked up a book "The Photographer's Eye" by Michael Freeman. Printed by Focal Press.
He covers all the traditional concepts of composition and design, but also addresses the the new era of digital photography where the image will be edited, manipulated, or montaged.
There is alot more info than this old brain will injest but got me to look outside.....grin!
I found it at Barnes and Nobel..
Later...

[oTTer]

I think the biggest difference with composition in photography is that in nature, things are what they are, and you can pose a portrait. So the things you can control (stand, sit, lean, etc) and the things you can't (those trees are in front of that brook) but you can step around the side of the trees to get a shot of the brook, or climb up on a rock to get a shot of a waterfall etc. I guess you want to know what to be looking for in a shot? Any book on art and composition will show you those things, but as far as setting up a shot... I know how to do horses and dogs and cats, and none are any more cooperative than just about any other animal! But there has to be good books on composition specific to photography. I'd google it. Amazon has pretty decent customer reviews. I've learned a lot from the people here, being (nicely) critical of my stuff. I prefer someone to pick mine apart, it helps me be better.

[bob_r]

Alex,

Since you don't have a studio where you can shoot your portraits, I think these 2 books, mostly on outdoor portraits, would be helpful to you:
"The Best of Family Portrait Photography" by Bill Hurter.
Here's a link: http://billhurter.com/best-of-family-po ... raphy.html
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Family-Portr ... 812&sr=1-1

"Beyond Portraiture, Creative People Photography" by Bryan Peterson.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Portraitur ... 0817453911

For outdoor/landscape techniques, I recommend these 2 books:
"The Making of Landscape Photographs: a practical guide to the art and techniques" by Charlie Waite
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Making-Landscape- ... 1855850699

"Focus on Nature: The Creative Process Behind Making Great Photographs in the Field" by John Shaw.
Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/John-Shaws-Focus- ... 0817440569

Check your PM's.

[Photography~girl~]

Thank you all for the suggestions. [:
I will deff be checking the books out. [: