These emails come with the intent of helping you be a better photographer. 

And if you want more photography stuff to read, there's a place on the interwebs where past emails I wrote are stored. You'll find 'em in the "Newsletter Hub." 

Remember, I'd like to know what you want to know about photography. So, If you have any questions, ask by sending an email to me at sam@samdamico.com.

About Elements of Composition

I learned not to use "rules of composition" when making photographs.

Instead, I've learned to think of everything involved in making a photograph as an element of composition. 

And I mean EVERYTHING. 

From how we think about what we see, to our intent of composition, the equipment we use, and our thought process while creating a photograph. 

Everything we do and have is an element of composition. 

Furthermore, rules are limiting, while elements can be combined in nearly endless ways to give us nearly endless visually complex compositional possibilities that hold the viewer's attention. 

If we wanna make better pictures, I always say it's better to change our minds than our cameras.

And one of the first things I suggest we do is change our minds about composition. 

Specifically, stop using rules of composition that limit us. 

Instead, we can start thinking of everything we do and everything we use elements of composition that go into creating every photograph we make.

Hello , 

Elements of Composition: The "Look at That Moment"

What's The "Look at That Moment"? 

I know you know it. 

We, meaning all photographers, know it.

It's that moment when, outta all the stuff we're constantly seeing, we see something that gets our attention enough to think, "Look at that". 

It's that impulse that gets us looking at something that we think is interesting enough to photograph. 

The "Look at that moment" is the start of our picture-making process. 

Are There Different Types of "Look at That Moments"? 

The moment's ALWAYS the same. But what initiates the impulse to make a picture varies. It could be ANYTHING.

For example, let me tell ya about the Introduction To Photography class I was teachin' earlier today.

 The photographer I worked with made pictures of a ceiling fan to study and practice the effects of shutter speed as an element of the composition. 

And what was well thought out in their execution of the homework assignment is that the ceiling fan was moving at a consistent speed. 

I imagine there was a "look at that moment" in their choice of the ceiling fan for this specific part of the homework assignment.

Where Can We See the “Look at That Moment" in Photographs? 

The entire photograph IS a two-dimensional representation of the photographer's experience of a look at that moment. 

How To Study and Practice With the "Look at That Moment"

Pay attention to that "look at that moment". 

In other words, take out a camera and make a picture. 

Even if it's the camera on our phones. 

All we gotta do is make the picture while operating the camera with intent. 

And when it comes to camera operation, get involved as much as the camera allows in the exposure, focusing, and metering modes. 

And remember, we learn and improve by doing, so practice making at least one picture today. 

That's all for now; thanks for reading!

Sam 

I'll help you be a better photographer—study and practice photography with me. 

And what if the timing doesn't work for you in any of my scheduled group classes? If that's the case, let's schedule a one-time lesson or a series of in-person or online private instruction that covers the same things as my group classes. 

Ways to work with me are listed below.

I look forward to helping you be a better photographer.

Best Regards, 

Sam