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Composition and Exposure

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The visual language of photography

Composition is the visual glue that holds your picture together.

By Mason Resnick - February 26, 2009


But technical perfection is just a start. You also need to compose your photo. There are a lot of parts to composition:

  • Color: complementary or clashing?
  • Contrast: will the light and dark areas of the picture work harmoniously together to guide the viewers eye the way you want it to?
  • Placement: Are all the elements in the photos in the right place within the frame?
  • Distractions: Are you focusing on what's important, and eliminating what isn't?

There's much more to composition, and we explore many aspects of it here. If you really, truly want to become a better photographer, spend some time in this part of our site.

 

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photography tips camera digital digital camera composition how-to adorama exposure ISO tip backlight doeffinger DSLR metering picture-taking tips shadows abstract advice Ansel Adams archery autumn backgrounds betty edwards brightest object Cartier-Bresson color damaged image depth of field diffuser dust fill flash fine-tune fix flash garry winogrand handheld high ISO image inspiration
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Call for submissions: PhotoZAP

Our panel of critics praises and pans your photos

ArticlePhotoZAP! Techniques and How-Tos - by Adorama Learning Center Editors, 23 days ago

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Think you’ve got the photographic chops? Ready to take some constructive criticism from a trio of photo experts who will pull no punches? Jump into the fire and send us your near-perfect shots!

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Five things I’ve learned about photography

40 years of picture-taking experience, boiled down

ArticleComposition and Exposure Techniques and How-Tos - by Mason Resnick, August 12, 2009

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I’ve been doing photography since the late 60s, when I was 10 years old. I’ve learned a few things and they have little to do with f/stops, shutter speeds, or the latest gizmo. Here are five things to think about and discuss.

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TAGS: photo tips,  picture-taking tips 

ISO Lies: When ISO 100 is really 72

Your camera's ISO settings may not be accurate

ArticleDigital SLRs Gear Guides & Reviews - by Mason Resnick, February 2, 2009

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.

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TAGS: test,  digital,  camera,  DSLR,  ISO 

High ISO in the real world

Do photographers use their cameras' highest ISO?

ArticleDigital SLRs Gear Guides & Reviews - by Mason Resnick, January 28, 2009

We asked our Tweeple

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TAGS: photography,  digital camera,  SLR,  DSLR,  high ISO,  twitter 

100 in 100: Look at great photographs

100 photography tips in 100 days: Day 98

Article100 in 100 Techniques and How-Tos - by Mason Resnick, January 14, 2009

Be open to influences.

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TAGS: photography,  Mason Resnick,  Cartier-Bresson,  tips,  garry winogrand,  Ansel Adams 

100 in 100: Enjoy the process

100 photography tips in 100 days: Day 97

Article100 in 100 Techniques and How-Tos - by Mason Resnick, January 13, 2009

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TAGS: photography,  tips,  zen,  archery,  betty edwards 

100 in 100: Redundancy is good. Except when it isn't.

100 photography tips in 100 days: Day 96

Article100 in 100 Techniques and How-Tos - by Mason Resnick, January 12, 2009

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TAGS: photography,  advice,  tip,  inspiration,  philosophy,  redundancy,  resnick 

100 in 100: Backwards take pictures should you

100 photography tips in 100 days: Day 90

ArticleComposition and Exposure Techniques and How-Tos - by Derek Doeffinger, January 2, 2009

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Like Yoda I write, so better photographs you will take.

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TAGS: photography,  photographic,  tip,  doeffinger,  subject 

100 in 100: Make your camera sing

100 photography tips in 100 days: Day 79

Article100 in 100 Techniques and How-Tos - by Derek Doeffinger, December 18, 2008

Optimize your camera's performance and save time.

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TAGS: digital camera,  tips,  dust,  sensor,  fine-tune,  damaged image,  fix 

100 in 100: Think like the camera

100 photography tips in 100 days: Day 76

Article100 in 100 Techniques and How-Tos - by Derek Doeffinger, December 15, 2008

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TAGS: digital,  camera,  photoshop,  picture-taking tips,  doeffinger 

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