i live in Hong Kong, the distraction in one scene is almost unbearable, it is impossible to make a narrative out of your photo. everything imaginable basically clusters in your composition.
I don’t agree. I think we are prone to believe that the USA are this big playground for photos just because that is what the mainstream media projects into our memories and conscience. Movies and series built up this image of a playground, with astonishing visuals and places to shoot. Had Hollywood been founded in Europe or Africa we would think otherwise. It’s just a matter of the strongest economy, really. Having said this, nonetheless I think the USA hold a really great scenery in their land.
I love this. Composition is the easiest but the hardest to master. I’m definitely not even close to mastering. I think there are way too many photographers that just show up to a scene and snap it due to the excitement of finding it. They don’t really study it. All these images you can tell that you didn’t pull up and start snapping away. There’s thought and precision in the placement of things. Probably the number one thing that I see in not only beginners but people that I’ve been photographing awhile.
Yeah man, I agree. I don't think it's something that you really ever master, but can definitely improve skills a lot. I know I have a long way to go still. But the one major thing that I've learned is that there are images everywhere. The longer you spend looking, the more you'll find... same with creative opportunities. It's one of the things that I love about this craft!
Interesting how you approached this subject. Rather than a generic “tips video” you told the story of the picture. Very helpful for someone photographing similar situations! Would definitely love to see this as a new series! 👍🏾
Thank you for sharing your experience, skills, and thought process. I learned a lot. I never thought about "breathing room" and "create opportunity" in my photos. Thanks again!!
Great video - I like your quote, "taming the chaos that's in the real world". I have aspergers so organising the "chaos in the real world" is something I am doing all the time, on autopilot!
Hi, I stumbled across your video and I would like to thank you for taking the time to interrogate each of the images. I see other photographers talking about composition, and they use similar concepts to illustrate like you do, but you take it to the next level by talking about the intricate thought that you put into the images. I find this very helpful to groom my thinking about composition, not so that I can copy your technique, per se, but so that I can incorporate your technique in my thought processes. I think it will help me to "remember" things to look for in my images to improve my photography. I have been "that photographer" that shows up on a scene, and as another commenter said, just snap away due to the excitement of finding the image. I plan to slow down a bit, and explore my local area a bit more through this new lens (see what I did there?) to hopefully improve my composition when I do travel out and time is shorter.
You also have “leading lines” working really well in the composition of the 2nd example.👏🏻👏🏻 the road on the right and the roof from the left leading both to the sign. Just amazing in the overall!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻 I’m devouring all your videos! Thanks very much for the work you putting into this educational material. 🙏🏻
Really like these type of videos, where photographers explain their thinking and methodology. Definitely gives me motivation to re-explore subjects in my surrounding and closely examine them, revisit them during different times of day.
Cream of the crop, you are a surgeon and the camera is your knife. You compose so very balanced and meticulous. It's a joy to look at you images. Well done Thank you Kyle
I like your selections. They are pure uncomplicated photography glad to see someone making photos that make sense to me. These are old school thinking. Refreshing. Your explanations are so down to earth. Thanks!
I’m not familiar with the other photographer’s work that you mentioned but I think for a second video (or third vid) it would be great to look at images that differ stylistically as much as possible from yours just to get as much contrast in compositional approaches. Your images tend to be quite geometric and rectilinear so it might be interesting to look at compositions that are more chaotic or fluid or amorphous. Something like that!
I liked how the road in the first picture leads your eye to the nearest grain elevator and then continues on to the second one that is framed. Good work!
Love..love..love this video. I really love listening to other artists/photographers talk about their process. The takeaway for me was simply slowing down, calming my brain and really thinking about what I’m doing when composing a scene. It’s got me inspired to take a road trip next spring, something I’ve been thinking about doing the past couple of years, leaving my digital Pentax at home....and bringing out the analog boys to play (Pentax 645 Nii and 6x7 MLU). Thanks for the inspiration Kyle.
I found there’s a quiet reflection with what you do. You have purpose in your art and to articulate not only your creativity and purpose but also your technicality is refreshing. I wait for your videos. Thank you again.
Wow. These photos look so simple and so powerful at the same time!!! Well timed and composed making me stare at them forever without being bored. Just amazing!!!
Dang it! I sat there in that spot parked trying to decide how to line it up, and eventually gave up because I hated the sky. Very nice!!!! For love the of the panhandle of Texas and the grain elevators making the landscape interesting!
I have to say, this video was so satisfying to watch. It is just so pleasing to see how meticulous and clean the composition is within your images. Looking forward to the next part!
For the photo of the Roy’s sign through the window, I also like how the triangular shape of the light at the bottom of the frame mimics the triangular shape of the sign.
One of the first things I noticed at 14:12 was the airplane trail almost perfectly completing the triangle of the MidPoint cafe sign, hahah love it! Incredible video as always Kyle, these compositions are so pleasing to the eye! Feeling v inspired right now
This is just excellent top tier content. I love how a lot of your videos are much more like photography classes or workshops than the usual personal vlog on location style like most photography channels. Please keep making videos like this that break down the technique and approach. Also really excited to see you talk to other photographers about these types of topics. Just subscribed. Also side note, your style of photography and your thought process is exactly how I photograph (or at least how I try to photograph). Love your work and love hearing about how you make it.
Gotta love the "T" and "U" forming in the last abandoned kitchen photo. The birds on the streetlamp in the "Trails West" sign photo is a nice added element. Lots of inspiration from this video. Thanks for sharing.
Excellent video, Kyle. I really enjoy (and learn) seeing and listening to the compositional choices you made in your images. Looking forward to Part 2.
Really nice video. Appreciate this. So many composition videos just go over the basic rules, which are obviously important, but I appreciate this more detailed discussion
Been engaging in a lot of your content lately and finding it incredibly helpful. The Roy's Motel composition is just sublime- of course composing for it is impressive enough, but it also got me thinking about how you would meter for such a scene- did you expose for the shadows inside the room or for the actual sign itself?
Had no absolute idea abt photography but definitely wanted to learn more even though the gear costs much. This made me realize that tiny details matter when choosing to compose your images. This is an absolute delight. Your work is awesome!
Hey man LOVE this so much. I really appreciate how you take into account detail, compositional awareness, and convention into consideration when you shoot. I feel that I sometimes dance on similar lines of thought, and hearing you discuss it made me reflect on my own process. Thank you for such a great video, and such great art.
The more I take pictures, the more I realise that composition comes first, light and subject second. I played the game with myself of 'spot the edits' and was fairly close in most cases, which is gratifying. Of course I might make different decisions to you on composition even using the same rules, but that is OK. The rules are open to interpretation as you showed several times in this tutorial.
Great video! I’ve been needing to learn something like this to continue improving. Your videos and your podcast have all been a great resource for me and my photography, thanks!
Thanks for sharing Kyle, I personally wouldn’t have noticed those kind of details in the composition. But while you were walking through the pictures they made so much sense!
Great tutorial! In the first image, I also like how the arrows in the road are mirroring the yield sign, as well as the awning on the building on the right side of the image.
Wonderful class in composition and insightful photography. I was amazed with the image of the garage in the light segment on how the cast shadow of the garage signs falls in the telephone pole.
The images are so design simple. That only happens with years of experience. Muted colors and some scenes that look a tad over exposed are nice. I am using my film cameras again with vuescan and Negative Lab Pro. I learn from your images and my experiences.
Gave me somethings to think about, though I admit to being just a little too methodical in my own set-up with shooting, our focuses are very different. One of the best things about seeing other's work is looking through their eyes, not just the iris of a lens. Where your aim is the accentuation of implied line and even the written word and its inter-play, I have far greater interest in positive & negative space, and how they create motion and content. Its cool how you play with your chosen elements, and it gives me reason for trying some of your tips. Thank you very much. It was most helpful my friend.
@@KyleMcDougall always find a differing perspective, and method of interest since it opens my mind to things often quite alien to things I'm accustomed to seeing. One rarely grows if the repose in the shadow that is their work alone. We must be willing to experiment with all the things we try, because our own dialogues are the only ones who matter, and only thru connection with others views may we truly communicate our vision to other's. Concessions not strict repressions will afford us vistas we would never glimpse if we weren't willing to take a moment, and a breath to step outside ourselves, and see ourselves through another's sight. I appreciate all you've done and admire your own principles and methodologies. Thank you again.
I definitely need to learn to really slow down and take in all possible angles before deciding which one I think is the best. I agree I'm not sure that it's something that you can ever master, but it's exciting knowing that it's something you can always learn! Loved the video Kyle, and absolutely LOVED the Finance Furniture scene!
Thx Kyle, love your eye for details! I'm also a sucker for the "perfect" composition - but it's easy to loose spontaneity and freshness sometimes, little imperfections can bring out the perfectness much more sometimes... the problem is: one can't do it - it happens or it doesn't
Yep, I'd agree with you. It's definitely importance to have a balance between the two and not become completely rigid. I feel like for me, a number of these decisions happen by intuition.
Excellent, very interesting and inspiring, please include more videos like that, discussing composition, light, and all the decisions you can take during the capturing process. Many thanks!
When it comes to composition, people will only enumerate stuff... yeah they show multiple examples but they never fully explain it. This video does not only tackle compositions but it is a visual exercise as well. What I learned in this video is that even the slightest detail, it can make or break a photo and also, always take time to find creative opportunities. Love your photos... it makes me feel calm. You earned a new subscriber right here :)
Greetings from Australia.Thanks for this video Kyle very enlightening but upsetting at the same time. You see at this very moment my wife & I are supposed to be driving Route 66 on a once in a lifetime trip. I'm now almost 70 so it may not happen at all now. I was so looking forward to trying to emulate your style & get some great shots.
Love the subjects and the composition choices. Although I knew most of the principles, I enjoyed seeing the thought process around your shots. I appreciate videos that actually teach you a skill. Thanks!
