Rick Carroll's Photography

From my experience I enjoyed learning about the ‘Rule of Thirds’ and it’s history as well as some of the history of art and composition itself. When starting up, I feel that it’s a good idea to put it into practice at least for a while. Speaking for myself, as I became more experienced and knowledgeable, I eventually let it go.

The internet has been and continues to be a great source for inspiration. For years I would browse thousands of photographs and other media per day, filling my mind with, shapes, colours, patterns, textures and composition. I would question what works and what doesn’t and why?

If you love photography then research the best of places. Stock Agencies and Art Galleries are great resources but make sure that they are reputable because there is a difference. Search for the best.

The mind is an incredible tool and you can fill it with many things that will eventually help with your work with photography. So much so that sooner or later it will become instinctive.

Practice, Practice, Practice.

No matter how much you may not want to, you need to try different things all the time. The hands on thing is the most valuable tool you can use. Seeing the results of your efforts, opens doors to new ideas and closes doors to things that simply do not work. It is an awesome teacher.

I believe that Ansel Adams once said that ‘If you manage to have 12 great photographs in 1 year, then you’ve had a good year.’

I couldn’t agree more. With technology it’s wonderful to be able to shoot hundreds of images in just one day but I don’t feel that this is a positive and it teaches you nothing. It’s like playing the lottery and buying a lot of tickets with the hope that you’ll win. One of the things that I see all the time in my travels are well equipped photographers that spend 20 seconds on a shot. Now that scares me and it should scare you also. Imagine a painter who could finish a painting in 1 minute. What kind of results would you expect? Do yourself a favour. Find 1 subject that you like and work it. Take all the time that is needed and if you cannot come up with something that pleases you, then move on.

Probably the most significant element of composition is the one you rarely read about. It’s called “Understanding” and it is what makes of breaks an image. It is also the difference between good and great.

The wonderful thing about a photograph is that it can be grainy, noisy and even out of focus. It can even be overexposed, underexposed or worse but none of these things matter at all if you understand your subject, if you can feel it, relate to it and breathe it. Being able to take the time and put all of this into an image will likely produce something great.

For example; If you want to take great photographs of a child, be that child, relate to him or her, to their emotions and to what head space they might be in at that time.

I’m on the streets all the time, seeing photographers everywhere and with all their bells and whistles, most of them seem to just not get it.

Fancy this and fancy that doesn’t cut it for me. Sorry.

Two of the greatest photographers of all time explain all you need to know about composition.

‘Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph, is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk.’

- Edward Weston

‘The so-called rules of photographic composition are, in my opinion, invalid, irrelevant and immaterial.’

- Ansel Adams

For myself I am still learning and still far away from where I would like to be. There’s no fame or glory or even money in my world. I love photography and art with more passion then I have words for and as always, I will just continue doing what I do and believing in it.

Thanks for reading.

Rick Carroll