Positioning the Subject - Dynamic Symmetry
Lesson 43 from: Mastering Photographic Composition and Visual StorytellingChris Weston
Positioning the Subject - Dynamic Symmetry
Lesson 43 from: Mastering Photographic Composition and Visual StorytellingChris Weston
Lessons
Your 10,001st Photograph
03:24 2Camera Gear
03:03 3Piece of Gear We Always Forget
03:47 4Be a Storyteller
03:09 5Finding Ideas For Photography - Know Your Subject
06:59 6Cae Study - Why Are Zebras Black and White Striped
01:30 7Photograph What You Love
02:00 8See the Extraordinary in Ordinary Things
01:31Have an Opinion
01:46 10See With a Child’s Eyes
02:34 11Tell Your Story
08:46 12Find a Needle in the Haystack
01:38 13Lions Hunting Under Star Trails
04:21 14Ansel Adams and Visualisation in Practice
03:20 15Keeping an Open Mind and Thinking on Your Feet
02:47 16Case Study - The Maternal Bond
02:42 17Don’t Tell the Same Old Story
02:38 18Relevance
01:06 19#1 Reason Photographs Fail
02:57 20Getting Rid of Clutter
03:59 21Post Capture Cropping
02:04 22The Elements of Design
02:31 23Elements of Design
01:38 24Elements of Design - Shape
02:21 25Case Study - Shape
02:11 26Elements of Design - Color
01:55 27Case Study - Color
01:50 28Color in Camera
01:42 29Pattern
01:54 30Texture
02:24 31Seeing The Elements of Design
08:52 32Gestalt Theory
05:10 33Case Study - Cove
01:36 34Case Study - Hat
02:09 35Light and Contrast
01:54 36Light and Form
01:26 37Light and Depth
03:48 38Perspective
02:28 39Lenses and Perspective
02:47 40Rule of Thirds
02:48 41Centre of Frame
01:36 42Case Study - Positioning the Subject
01:48 43Positioning the Subject - Dynamic Symmetry
03:20 44The Horizon Line
02:52 45Should the Horizon Line Always be Straight and Level
02:13 46Other Lines
04:57 47Rhythm, Balance, and Visual Weight
02:59 48Negative Space
02:29 49The Two Most Important Controls on Your Camera
03:41 50Training the Mind
04:26Lesson Info
Positioning the Subject - Dynamic Symmetry
for the past couple of lessons, I've been alluding to a tool that will elevate your composition skills to new levels. Now's the time to reveal dynamic symmetry. Study any of the great artist you'll find dynamic symmetry sits at the center of their work. Compared to simple center on rule of thirds, positioning is a more powerful structure on which the hang the visual elements in your scene because it elevates unity, balance and visual impact, bringing you closer to representing the free dimensional world in your two dimensional photograph. Now, like the rule of thirds dynamic symmetry, is based on a grid system called an armature is the makeup of the armature that's different, the image spaces divided first by two diagonal lines, cutting across from corner to corner. These are the primary diagonals and in the art world are referred to as the Barac diagonal on the sinister diagonal four secondary diagonals air, then drawn, intersecting the Barach and sinister diagonals at an angle of de...
grees. At the intersection of the primary and secondary diagonals, we draw four straight lines to vertical and two horizontal. What we end up with is a grid system that's more complex, more detailed and far more dynamic than the simple reduced in the rule of thirds. Now I get that at first glance, this is all a bit confusing. And while it's relatively easy to imagine the rule of thirds grid and in fact most cameras can display an Elektronik rule of thirds grid, you can switch on in the menu. Right now, it seems impossible to envisage this Spider's web of lines in the same way so quick. Tip, using a screen protector, draw the great onto it. Then, in live you or playback modes you can view the scene in relation to the armature is not perfect, but is a good start and a great way to practice and talking of practice. Here's my scene. A classic landscape of what John the cameraman will tell you is my favorite lighthouse, Portland Bill on the Jurassic Coast. Endorse it now, the reason that John jokes This is my favorite lighthouses because it's where I always end up and it's here. I shot what has become one of my favorite images. We've got the lighthouse in the distance, some buildings, the local face, some rocks and the sea. When we overlay the dynamic symmetry armature. You'll understand why the composition works so well. The line paraded by the surf starting in the left corner perfectly follows a Barac diagonal, which also cuts through the centre of the image and connect with the distant buildings. The diagonal lines in the cliff face followed the sinister diagonal and lead directly to the point of interest. The lighthouse. The convergence of these two lines sits on the stone, which gives you a place to step into. You're now no longer just looking. You're immersed. The lighthouse itself sits on a polar point, which gives it emphasis on draws your eye back into the frame, which is created by the rectangle implied by the four polar points holding you in the space. Now this is a powerful example of how working with dynamic symmetry, using the grid to find the perfect camera position and using all the visual elements, not just the obvious ones, leads to creating close to the perfect picture. No
Ratings and Reviews
Edmund Cheung
Perhaps the style of presentation and simple, short, and direct messaging does not "jive" with some; but others may really love this. Yes the production of each episode is stylized and perhaps a bit formal (like a TV Show?), but there is something to be said about it. Perhaps this is not meant for professional photographers? I think of myself as decent amateur / high level photographer. I found lots of great nuggets of wisdom and inspiration from this. Especially when I an in a rut for creativity. Yes I have heard all these concepts and ideas before. BUT it is always great to hear and see a different way of presentation and voice. Please do NOT take the naysayer reviews as the end all. You should judge for yourself and watch a few episodes. If the style and content click for you, I would highly recommend this course.
Abdullah Alahmari
Thanks a lot to mr. Chris Weston This course is great and It is a 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 course for me. Beside the other course ( mastering the art of photography ) both courses are Complementing to each other and highly recommended.
Kai Atherton
While I am perhaps more advanced in my photography then this course. It is always great to be able to go back to fundamentals and remind ourselves of the basic principles, and even camera function. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and Chris's other. It is a great motivational jumpstart when lacking fresh creative idea's.