Week 5

Composition and Aesthetics

Assignment #1

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs."  -Ansel Adams

I saw statements similar to this in several websites I visited while researching composition and aesthetics.  It seems to be a popular theme in the photography world and I'd have to say I agree.  Although not a quote about aesthetics per say, I found it attributed to one of my favorite photographers, Ansel Adams, and decided to use it.   

"Aesthetic" by definition pertains to the sense of beauty or the philosophical theory or principals governing beauty but really, isn't "beauty" subjective?  What I may find beautiful someone else may find it simply okay or so-so.  I love nature photography but others may like portrait or abstract better.  Does that make Adams' photographs any less aesthetically pleasing?  To some it may. 

I found the articles pertaining to composition extremely helpful and after reading about them I realized, without knowing exactly what the techniques were called, I have been performing a few of them for years.  Taking photos from different viewpoints has always been of interest to me.  I enjoy a little abstract in my photos and often get on the floor/ground or stand on a table or elevated place to take photos of my children, dog, husband, or whatever else I personally find aesthetically pleasing.  The rule of thirds is something I have also realized I've been doing for a little while now without knowing the actual term for it.  I've been placing my photographic objects of interest off center or to the side which I think immediately makes my photographs more interesting. 

Leaning how to frame my photos better as well as balance them are two aspects I'm excited to start putting into motion.  Ansel Adams, watch out!