Before this class, I never really resonated with ideas of compositional elements as I sort of thought that they came naturally. I didn’t always believe that photographers would search out these compositional elements instead of just getting lucky and having them in their shot and realizing that after the fact. However, after reading this chapter, I was able to understand Freeman’s argument for looking for these elements while shotting to enhance our photos.
I think this goes back to the idea of building a repertoire of different compositions. While I may not always go out and search for a point, knowing that is an option to compose my photos will help a lot with finding interesting compositions quickly. It’s important to be aware that these elements exist so we know to look for them.
I chose the photo for this response because I think it plays with lines well. Between the curve of the stage, the lines from the chairs, the intersection of the stage curtains and the paneling on the wall and the line of the politicians, there’s a lot of directional force for it being a very stationary event. I also think it uses focus to enhance that, as the caucus is out of focus and the speaker is in focus. Playing with these elements added a lot of visual interest to an otherwise static event.
