Composition Still Rules

This year we were fortunate to experience the Fall colors in Arizona, New England and New Jersey. Photographing these colors on the trees can be challenging because it is easy to be seduced by their beauty and forget what it takes to create a great photograph. The art of photography is more than pointing a camera in the general direction of a nice scene.  No matter what you are looking to photograph, how the photograph is composed is always important.

Landscape photography is the process of isolating a piece of reality. What was once a scene connected to the world around it in three dimensions is now limited to the size of the photograph. It has edges and is two dimensional.

Anyone viewing your photograph will not have the same point of reference as you did when you originally saw the scene. A well composed image overcomes this by inviting the viewer to enjoy that isolated piece of reality in a way that not only pleases the eye, but provides a sense of balance and perspective.

Arizona

Fall Aspens by Richard Lewis

Fall Aspens by Richard Lewis 2015

Glowing Aspens by Richard Lewis

Glowing Aspens by Richard Lewis 2015

New England

Fall Trees in Southampton Massachusetts by Richard Lewis

Fall Trees in Southampton, Massachusetts by Richard Lewis 2015

Birch Grove in the Fall by Richard Lewis

Birch Grove in the Fall by Richard Lewis 2015

Fall Birches by Richard Lewis

Fall Birches by Richard Lewis 2015

Breezy New Hampshire Birches by Richard Lewis

Breezy New Hampshire Birches by Richard Lewis 2015

Fall on Mt. Temple by Richard Lewis

Fall on Mt. Temple by Richard Lewis 2015

New Jersey

Ken Lockwood Gorge From Above by Richard Lewis

Ken Lockwood Gorge From Above by Richard Lewis 2015

Tree Arch At The Ken Lockwood Preserve by Richard Lewis

Tree Arch At The Ken Lockwood Preserve by Richard Lewis 2015

Fall At The Round Valley Reservoir by Richard Lewis

Fall At The Round Valley Reservoir by Richard Lewis 2015

The Edge Of A Fall Forest by Richard Lewis

The Edge Of A Fall Forest by Richard Lewis 2015

Landscape photography is more than just finding a pretty spot and taking a picture. Once that spot is found, a photographer needs to figure out why it moves them and how to communicate that visually to anyone who looks at the image. While traveling around the countryside looking at this year’s amazing fall colors, there were many beautiful places that I passed on because I just didn’t see the photograph.

Enjoy