This is part 1 of a two part workshop, part two will be held in a special meeting on October 14th on Zoom.

NOTE: This meeting will NOT be recorded. 

During Jim Fowler’s Practical Composition Workshop, Jim will open with a discussion about a famous photograph. It is a curious fact that when you see a photo that you like, you know you really like it instantly. There are reason for why that is so.

Jim takes an inclusive view of composition: it is not just a few “rules” of construction, but rather, it is “what can you do to control and improve the the visual appeal of the image you are about to create?”

Although the human brain has learnt to see in three dimensions, the camera captures images in two dimensions, Jim will show us the 5 tools we can use to create an illusion of depth in two mentions. He will show us how to stop taking “random snapshot” images of whatever is in front of use and start planning how to fill our final image with form and content that will engage the brain of our viewers. He will show us a simple trick anyone can use to identify the key factors in good photography. 

The ultimate tool for compositions is purely visual portrayal of a story. Jim will show you some masterful stories created by great photographers. Everything he shows us will be accompanied by images to illustrate the point. 

At the end of the first session you will be invited to submit your images and Jim will start. the second evening with a commentary of the composition of up to 10 images. 

The workshop will be supplemented by with a written summary and a list of books Jim has found helpful for your future reference. 

Here are a few pictures that Jim has provided that will give you an idea of the principles of composition he will be discussing. 

About Jim Fowler: 

Like many of us, Jim owned his first camera as a child. After retiring he took a couple of photography workshops, but his photographic development began in earnest in 2016 when he jointed the Victoria Camera Club, where at one of his first competitions where he was told “You need to take more pictures”. Several years and thousands of photo later he understands what the judge was telling him and has gained an understanding of what a good photograph is. He has delivered this presentation to both the VCC and Oceanside over the past year.