How To Take Your Photo Composition To The Next Level

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[obatolay]

I’m no doubt at least a decade older than you, so I’ve probably been making photographs ten years longer than you. I feel like a kid in school studying a topic I love from a teacher who inspires. When I hear you say, “I know you can do it…, ” I grab a camera and head out the door.

[SteveSSBB]

I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. McCurry. As a person he is as well composed as his photographs. Down to earth and a perfect gentleman.

[tonygreenwoodN]

Many thanks!! If I may say so, IMO this is one of your best videos. I think Steve McCurry is a genius and your analysis and exposition of his compositional techniques is not only fascinating but really useful for us photography mortals!

[nickguzman]

Your passion for photos and reverence towards past photographers just oozes out of you when you speak about what makes them special. I greatly appreciate your channel and wish you much growth the second half of this year

[edwardhurd]

Alex, This video is a perfect example of why your channel has become my favorite: It's informative, inspiring, and focused specifically on how to become a better photographer--Thank You!! Cheers, and keep up the great content!

[shishifat]

I love how Steve McCurry balances his images with a secondary subject while using rule of thirds. Just mind blowing

[davidbellaiche_photography]

One of the best photography video I've watched in the last 2 years

[leolaxes]

Wonderful video. Thank you. Also thanks for showing so many examples and not just talk into the camera.

[morriswang]

I love your shows so much! Appreciate your sharing your experiences!

[kenallen]

Love how practical, yet open to flexibility, your videos can be.

[jeffstephens]

What an amazing set of images and they showed exactly the point you were making

[EugenesVids]

Each one of your videos is knocking it out of the park! You can launch a career based on anyone of them. Thank you!

[Namo_]

i visited a steve mccrurry exhibition in zurich a while ago. it was really amazing

[erichstocker]

I recognize some of the photos but the photographers name slipped my mind if I ever knew it. The one immediate thing that strikes the eye and grabs the mind is the spectacular use and juxtaposition of color. The second is the dynamic nature of the photographs. Absolutely brilliant!!!!

[johnvienna]

Very nicely done. Excellent presentation of the right shots to illustrate your points.
McCurry had a major exhibition in Graz last year. The photos were backlit, like slides, and suspended in the dark. The smallest were a couple of metres across; the largest must have been maybe six. I strongly recommend this exhibition.

[malithchathuranga]

feel lucky to found this video on Youtube.. I watch dozens of them who teach just technical photography.. bt this is far away.. keep posting..

[RS-Amsterdam]

Good video.
Some input.
There are several ways to separate your subject from the rest of an image (often Background) :
By colour/vibrance/saturation, by contrast, by sharpness, or by emotional impact (or more of them together).
To teach that I ask people how they would frame a person/object in front of a graffiti wall and make sure that a viewers eye will immediately be drawn to that person/object (but still recognise the graffiti being on a wall), as soon as they follow the tips above they understand how to make their subject give meaning.
Then I ask them to look for disturbances in the frame (e.g. put a passing person in the frame with very different vibrant coloured shirt or jacket) that will draw the focus away and how to avoid that (take it/them out of the frame, ask people to step aside for a moment, or if that all is not possible how to deal with it in post.
Thanks for sharing ;-) and a wonderful weekend

[charlottahotta]

I feel better. I’ve been advised by other amateur photographers to capture images at a distance and then crop them to enlarge the subject - never get too close to anything. I take full frame shots and you’ve just validated how I photograph is good to do. Thank you so very much. My confidence is solid now.

[stevendolinsky]

Excellent video....very well done. Steve McCurry is definitely my favorite photographer. I have several copies of the original national geographic issue with the Afghani girl on the cover. To me...its the perfect portrait. Thanks for making this.

[ojanmaul]

Great tips for upping your photo composition game! Can't wait to try them out and see the difference. Thanks for sharing!