John Corns wrote: >There are many types of composition depending on what you want the photo >to do for you. Also, remember that "standard" forms of composition (like >the Rule of Thirds) were developed by painters and sketch artisits who >had 100% control over all of the visual elements that appeared in their >art work--railroad photographers do not have this advantage because we >cannot move telephone poles and buildings, or ask the railroad to move >their tracks a little more to the left so that we can get better >composition from our camera's position. > I fully agree that there are many, many points to composition. Many entire books have been written over the years on the subject. I didn't have the time or desire to go into every particular situation that is possible. That was not the point. The point was to try and get the discussion going on the various aspects of composition that are or can be relevant to railroad photography.
Painters and sketch artist do have a certain advantage over photographers regardless of the subject matter. It is called artistic license and if they don't take advantage of their media, they fail at what they are attempting to accomplish. Or least at how they are attempting to accomplish it. Any form of art is subjective. You can ask one hundred different people what they think of the Mona Lisa, Whistler's Mother, Warhol's Campbell Soup Can, etc., and the response will be varied. From very good to I can't stand it. But if the majority of the people like it, it is good. If the majority of the people don't like it, is it bad? It is if you can sell it. If you want to do something for arts sake and you say you don't care what other people think of your work, you are doing it to please your self, then why do we take our slides to a slide show. I can tell you why, we are proud of what we have accomplished. The oooooosssss and aaaaaawwwwwsss help to make us feel good. Even the highest form of flattery at the Foamers Anonymous slides shows in KC "You Dick!", makes one feel good. Well, the shots that get the oooos and aaaaws are the one that exhibit good composition of one form or another. A poorly composed shot simply will not get the compliments. >For me, the best way is to go into an unfamiliar location with no >preconceived notion of what the composition "should" be according to the >rules--you do not know what visual elements will be there for you to deal >with. Look over the scene, and get some ideas as to where to place your >camera and which lens to use given the unmovable features of tracks, >train, buildings, background and foreground according to the angle of the >sunlight. Work with what you have been given and get the camera to just >that right spot that brings everything together. Keep in mind that there >probably will be several--even dozens--of good camera angles at each >photo location. It is just a matter of finding that "correct" angle for >you, and using the best focal length of lens to get it on film. > With regard to the railroad photographers inherent problem with local obstructions like telephone poles is just one more handy cap that we face. However, the good photographer will find a way to either incorporate the telephone pole into the shot within the parameters of good composition or find a way to shoot around the obstruction within the parameters of good composition. If he doesn't, he will end up with a mediocre shot at best. We may not be able to get the railroad top move a little to the left to get better composition, but we usually do have the ability to move ourselves a little to the right to get better composition. And by all means, if we go to a given location to take pictures and try to use a predetermined rule for good composition to frame the picture, we are defeated before we begin. The best will and can make the best of a given situation. You can deliver 30 railroad photographers to a given location and a majority of them will clump together in a little group with the most obvious good picture. Of the twenty or so that will do this and form a minnie photo line there will probably be a variety of lenses used. From wide angle to telephoto. But a majority of those shooting will be shooting with relatively normal lense (35mm-80mm for 35mm cameras). Why will a majority of the people go for such a similar shot? Because it is was is the most pleasing to the majority of people. This is not bad, it is good. It shows that there are certain elements that pleasing to the eye and they will appeal to the majority. >If you are shooting for yourself and are happy with the photos, then you >are using the "correct" composition. > If we are just shooting for ourselves, then why are any of us on this list. If I don't care what other people think of my photography, I sure as hell would not be wasting my time reading these Email. They wouldn't matter because I was only taking pictures for myself and not showing them to anyone. If artists didn't care about what other people think of their work, there wouldn't be any photo shows, art fairs, craft fairs, etc. To say that you only take pictures to please yourself, is to say that you don't care what other people think of your work. And if you don't care what other people think of your work, then why are doing it? Charlie Charlie Dischinger -> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects -> Web Site: http://www.anet-stl.com/acphotog/sporrs -> Message © SPORRS® 1998 - All Rights Reserved
