Mastering Composition: The Definitive Guide for Photographers - Paperback

by Richard Garvey-Williams (Author)

Fully updated to include the latest technologies and software, Mastering Composition is the definitive guide for taking great photos, considering visual weight, balance, negative space, and depth.

Author and professional photographer Richard Garvey-Williams argues that success lies in a combination of four elements:

• An impactful subject


• Dynamic composition


• Effective use of lighting


• An ability to invoke an emotional response in the viewer

Citing examples gleaned from a study of history (the Ancient Greeks' Golden Rule, Fibonacci's mathematical ratio, and the principles known as Gestalt theory), the author analyses the concepts, rules and guidelines that define successful composition in photography and offers practical guidance to achieving great results.

In clear, concise, and jargon-free text, he also considers the role of tone and color in good composition and offers invaluable tips and tools to help the photographer take control of the creative process.

The book is illustrated with examples of the author's own beautiful nature photography, along with diagrams and notation to explain techniques clearly. A final chapter in this definitive guide for all serious photographers discusses photography and its relationship to art before offering a considered conclusion to the exploration of this fascinating topic.

Author Biography

Richard Garvey-Williams spent his childhood years in East Africa and was deeply influenced by encounters with the remarkable wildlife of that continent. His passion for photography and the natural world continued to develop through his adult life, especially during many years spent in Devon in the UK. Images from occasional trips abroad, including safaris in Africa, form a large part of his portfolio. He and his wife, Lisa, are now based in the southern Peloponnese of Greece, which has dramatic landscapes and plenty else to draw his 'photographer's eye'. He has a number of written books and magazine articles over the years and, with a leaning towards fine art photography, he also enjoys exhibiting his work.