The Art of Composition—Reimagined

Every photograph is a singular composition. Explorations of composition underlay all subject matter, whether portraits, landscapes, still-life, or documentary works. Composition is the photographer’s avenue to organize the chaos of light ‘out there’ into a harmonious tableau. And it’s not just about aesthetics, as compositional control is also how a photograph tells a story. So, while aperture, shutter speed, and ISO are tools to help manage simplicity, composition entirely lies in the eye.

When so much of composition is a feeling, exploring composition can be vague, typically reduced to discussions of “leading lines” and principles like the “rule of thirds.” These lessons are suggested as guidelines, but in fact, these are not the way photographs are composed. In the realm of painting or digital art, the artist has control over every element’s placement. By contrast, photographers must reveal order in the existing scene, composing their images in real time, which requires a more challenging practice.

This new online workshop with visual artist M. H. Rubin offers a different approach to composition. Together we dig into rhythms and narratives in our frames—no matter what the subject matter. Ikebana, the Zen art of flower arrangement, can offer interesting insights into photographic composition. Its expressions of formality, symbolism, line, and the weight of empty space are all applicable to the photographic frame. We can also glean insights from understanding the human visual system, and the way the brain processes information.

Our workshop delves into the history of photographic composition. We study a range of classic images through the lens of composition, from the formally structured to the seemingly chaotic. We examine works by renowned photographers—Callahan, Kenna, Cunningham, and dozens of others. Through historical context and practical application, we learn that no gimmick or technique surpasses the necessity (and fun) of reimagining the art of composition.