The Photographer's Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos
by Michael Freeman
from Focal Press

Editorial Review:

Design is the single most important factor in creating a successful photograph. The ability to see the potential for a strong picture and then organize the graphic elements into an effective, compelling composition has always been one of the key skills in making photographs.
Digital photography has brought a new, exciting aspect to design - first because the instant feedback from a digital camera allows immediate appraisal and improvement; and second because image-editing tools make it possible to alter and enhance the design after the shutter has been pressed. This has had a profound effect on the way digital photographers take pictures.
The Photographer's Eye shows how anyone can develop the ability to see and shoot great digital photographs. The book explores all the traditional approaches to composition and design, but crucially, it also addresses the new digital technique of shooting in the knowledge that a picture will later be edited, manipulated, or montaged to result in a final image that may be very different from the one seen in the viewfinder.
Features
*Covers both traditional in-camera composition and the new opportunities for picture-making made possible by digital imaging editing
*Shows how to explore situations and locations in order to find the best possible photographic possibilities
*Uses clear examples from real photographic assignments, with schematic illustrations of how and why the pictures work

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

• Worth twice the price!
  This is the best photography book I own. This book can be useful for any level photographer, but certainly is tailored to someone who has a good feel for the basics, and wishes to begin to understand how to compose great pictures. Explanations are detailed and thorough, illustrative pictures are well chosen. Buy this this book; you will not be disappointed.

• Requires a critical approach in reading
  Though a promising book on composition/design, it requires the reader to be careful and not take the author's views at face. The reader needs to keep a critical eye on what she reads. Examples:
  On page 18, Freeman argues that "distorting" the image taken may be problematic due to ethical considerations (such as extending the sky or the background of the subject) because "the final image is not necessarily as it was seen." Interestingly enough, Ansel Adams would probably disagree, arguing that... more info

• Good content, poor writing style
  This is a good book for someone looking for a guide to composition theory in photography. It covers a lot of ground and actually teaches you compositional principles, however it's also really hampered by the mediocre writing style. The language just isn't very concise/clear, and at times you are wishing the author would get to the point instead of writing 10 convoluted sentences, which essentially say one thing. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anything else close to this book available, so if you... more info

• Best Purchase I've ever made
  This is fantastic book. Let me tell you where I stand in photography and then you could make your mind regarding this book. I am an enthusiast photographer who will be taking next Spring a one year photography program after shooting for pleasure since 2002. I do a lot of traveling and portraits of family and pets. But now that I know all the nuts and bolts of digital cameras and Photoshop, I felt I wanted to improve my composition. You have no idea how many books are out there offering to teach you... more info