Sam offers in-person and online photography instruction. Call him at 202-531-2344 to see how he can help
you.
These emails come with the intent of helping you be a better photographer.
And if you have any questions about photography or anything photography-related you'd like me to write about, let me know by sending an email to me at sam@samdamico.com.
Hello ,
We can
think of composition as what we do in terms of camera operation and how we think about what we see.
And when we're thinking about composition, we can think of elements of composition.
I thought it might be good to do a staggered series on some of the elements of composition.
Specifically, the elements we see when evaluating the light we might photograph.
We may also see these elements when
viewing a photograph.
For now, let's talk about lines as elements of composition.
Line
We can think of lines as the straight or curved geometric elements of what we see.
Types of Lines
A line can be straight, curved, or straight and curved.
It can
also be dashed, solid, and interrupted.
Lines can be thick or thin.
A line can be implied or psychological.
An implied or psychological line isn't a line we can see like a line that defines the outline of something physical.
It's a line that's not visible because the viewer imagines it. Implied or psychological lines can be created by gaze, positioning, or movement.
The Orientation of Lines
When we're talking line orientation, we're talking horizontal, vertical, or diagonal.
Each of these line orientations conveys a sensibility.
For example, vertical and horizontal lines convey a sense of stability and stillness. In contrast, diagonal lines create a sense of instability or movement.
Where Are Lines in Photographs?
Lines are usually everywhere in photographs.
But even if our
photograph is of something with no lines, like a close-up of an unlined, blank white piece of paper, four lines create the framing of our picture.
How To Study and Practice With Lines
I think the easiest way to study and practice with lines is just noticing them and describing them in terms of types and orientation.
And when making a picture pay attention to the lines that create the frame for the content of our photograph as well as our use of the lines that we include in the content of our frame.
---Get guidance on going from where you are to where you want to be as a photographer. There's no charge for a follow-up consultation. Just leave your phone number on the form, and I'll call you. Photography Instruction Strategy
Questionnaire.
I look forward to helping you be a better photographer.
Best Regards,
Sam
About Sam
Sam D'Amico, a professional photographer and photography
instructor, helps anyone who wants to be a better photographer.
He'll work with his students to increase their understanding of camera operation, composition, light, and lighting.
Sam started working as a professional photographer
in the mid-1980s.
Most notably, from 1992 to 1997, while working as a freelance photographer, he photographed over 500 assignments for the New York Times.
Additionally, Sam received awards for his work while
exhibiting his photographs in shows.
Sam began teaching photography professionally in 1998 through the Highland Park, N.J. recreation department.
In 2002 Sam moved to Washington, D.C., and began teaching at the accredited Washington
School of Photography in Bethesda, Md.
It was in 2003 that Sam developed his curriculum and started teaching classes in Washington, D.C.
In 2018 and 2022, the Sam D'Amico Photography Classes were voted the "Best of DC" art class by the
readers of the Washington City Paper.
Many photography teachers spend a lot of time teaching about DSLRs and rules of composition that create homogenized, rigid photographs.
On the other
hand, Sam teaches about camera operation, thought process, and the individual photographer's visual communication intent.
This approach to teaching allows his students to use ANY camera (yes, even the camera on their phone) and break free of the rules of composition.
Approaching the creative process this way allows for fluid and spontaneous photographs unique to the photographer creating them.
Sam encourages his students to find their ways as photographers.
He
instills the skills in his students that result in creative, engaging, and unique compositions that reflect the photographer's intended one-of-a-kind visual expression.
