Luminous Landscape Forum
The Art of Photography => Discussing Photographic Styles => Topic started by: WestMoon on January 16, 2011, 07:10:17 pm
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Can anyone advise me about online resources where I can learn advanced compositing techniques? I have done a ton of searching, and I have found a handful of ok tutorials on specific techniques. Is the only way to learn advanced compositing to go to college/university in the flesh? If you've traveled this road I would be grateful for the benefit of your experience in finding the way that satisfied your needs.
Thanks.
Neil
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Every time you see an image that strikes you, study the composition. Then do the same things.
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Ok, I admit, I am confused... are you looking to learn composition or compositing? Compositing is usually defined as "combining (two or more) images to make a single picture".
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Some articles on Advanced Composition (http://ronbigelow.com/articles/adv_comp/adv_comp.htm) are offered on Ron Bigelow's (http://ronbigelow.com/articles/articles.htm) website.
Not sure if it meets your question.
Peter
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I can tell you what works for me. Every time I see an image I like, from any medium, I ask myself "why do I like it"? I find this insightful and I am often amazed how often the image follows the"rule of thirds".
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Ok, I admit, I am confused... are you looking to learn composition or compositing? Compositing is usually defined as "combining (two or more) images to make a single picture".
It's no use, Slobodan. It's like the difference between the verbs "to lie" and "to lay." No one knows the difference any more.
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It's no use, Slobodan. It's like the difference between the verbs "to lie" and "to lay." No one knows the difference any more.
Russ, you forgot our old friends to, too and two; weather and whether; there and their, not to mention me and I.
It's all gone to the dogs.
Speaking recently of tv and whether it's worth the watching, even the BBC, that bastion of correctness, has allowed poor spelling on those distracting straps that obscure the lower part of the screen along with the more interesting necklines that are sometimes on display within that section of it. I suppopse that if one considers the dismal state of magazine covers today, where the ¡mage that was supposed to be the lure that made you part with your money is practically smothered with copy, the failings of tv should come as no surprise.
As I wrote, it's all with the pooches now.
Rob C
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Russ, you forgot our old friends to, too and two; weather and whether; there and their, not to mention me and I...
You guys (native speakers, that is) can afford to mingle those... the rest of us can not (unless, of course, we want to be labeled ignoramus immigranticus) ;)
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Slobodan, The thing you have to remember is that there's no such thing as "more unique" or "somewhat unique." If you can hang on to that fact you're home free.
Rob, Being an old guy, I agree: it just keeps getting worse and worse. I recently finished a novel that was chock full of bad grammar, misspellings, an inability to distinguish between plural and possessive, and hiliariously incorrect words. The novel was crappy but the writing and editing were so bad that I couldn't stop reading. The prize was the lawyer who was looking for an argument that would let him "go for the juggler." It wasn't a misspelling. He used the word in that connection more than once.
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Just wait till the texting generation (GenTex?) grows up and starts adding titles to the 99c e-books :)
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It's no use, Slobodan. It's like the difference between the verbs "to lie" and "to lay." No one knows the difference any more.
"To lay" is of interest only in the passive (passive acquisitive, to be creative).
Jeremy
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"To lay" is of interest only in the passive (passive acquisitive, to be creative).
Jeremy
So the concept of a fun rape is but imaginary? Games people play...
;-)
Rob C
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Slobodan, The thing you have to remember is that there's no such thing as "more unique" or "somewhat unique." If you can hang on to that fact you're home free.
Rob, Being an old guy, I agree: it just keeps getting worse and worse. I recently finished a novel that was chock full of bad grammar, misspellings, an inability to distinguish between plural and possessive, and hiliariously incorrect words. The novel was crappy but the writing and editing were so bad that I couldn't stop reading. The prize was the lawyer who was looking for an argument that would let him "go for the juggler." It wasn't a misspelling. He used the word in that connection more than once.
Guess the writer doubled as editor... hard times indeed! But perhaps there was a hidden, higher level of creative intent at work: the lawyer character was being drawn to appear somewhat challenged? (Strange how it has become fashionable to convert a statement into a question by the mere addition of a question mark and/or a raised tone of voice. I blame that on tv and CSI Miami. Imagine watching the titles to the latter on my new black/white set!)
Rob C
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"To lay" is of interest only in the passive (passive acquisitive, to be creative).
Jeremy, Tsk.. tsk..
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Jeremy, Tsk.. tsk..
Russ, that's the second time you've told me off in those terms. I'll never learn.
Jeremy
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In case the OP was asking about compositing rather than composition, the most useful videos I've found are by Julianne Kost and are at http://jkost.com/. You may or may not like her work (I do) but she is technically excellent and a good teacher. There may be videos on compositing at Lynda.com, which is a pay by the month site. I'm not a member so I'm not sure. For really advanced techniques, there are a number of books that are only on compositing. I can't recommend any as my primary interest is in "straight" photography and compositing is only something I play around with.
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I don't understand all this talk of semantics and language usage. The OP was asking about compositing. Seemed pretty clear to me. He never mentioned composition, nor was it even referenced (aside from a single third-party response). I think you all did the OP a great disservice by taking his honest question so off topic.
To answer the question, I would suggest giving Lynda.com a try. There are tons of great digital resources available for only about $25 a month. I doubt you'll need more than a month or two, so it's a good value.
Another option is to search Amazon.com for "digital compositing" and find a book that suits your interests. I found 107 results.
I cannot offer any specifics as I don't really do compositing (and rarely do composing very well). All I know is that practice will yield better results, and in quicker time, than attending school.
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I agree with ckimmerle, this thread got derailed without answering his question about COMPOSITING
WestMoon, follow ckimmerle advice and look at lynda.com and amazon.
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Just look at and read everything then do the opposite
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Katrin Eismann: "Photoshop Masking and Compositing"
ISBN 0-7357-1279-4
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Photoshop is the tool and Adobe TV (http://tv.adobe.com/product/photoshop/) is one very good place for free videos.
There is also the Adobe Design Center (http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/) which is worth a visit.
Cheers,
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Dave Hill has some behind the scenes videos on his website. It doesn't teach you the techniques, but you get short glimpses of his retouch assistants showing the techiniques. There's also a video of his posted on strobist.com that shows how he layers images. Neither teach specific techniques, but they are awesome for really getting an understanding of the concepts behind compositing.
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I found "Creative Photoshop with John Reutter" on I tunes podcasts to be extremely useful in learning photocompositing.. The info is for older versions of photoshop but the basic info on technique is relevant. I have also found Deke McClelland's photoshop tutorials to be helpful in learning the tools available. Deke's 101 photoshop tips in 5 minutes is one of the funniest, and maybe the only, photoshop rap song.
I hope this helps.
Michael
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Learn the rules, then learn how to break them, and how to forget them.
You will be on your way to your visual self.
Peter
www.peterfiore.com
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Katrin Eismann: "Photoshop Masking and Compositing"
ISBN 0-7357-1279-4
+1 Worked for me. Still use it once and while.
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Matt Kloskowski also has a book out on using PS for compositing.
Mike.
Now, for composting... no, never mind...
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Of course I'll recommend my own article on the subject (http://mrme.me/composing-a-photo/).
There was a great discussion following my article on the forums over at CIC (http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/forums/thread16223.htm)
Here are 5 steps to learning good composition. Follow them, and you'll learn a lot.
1. Study different techniques to composing a picture.
2. Look for ways in which you and other people follow those rules.
3. Take lots of pictures.
4. critiquing the composition of your pictures.
5. Take more pictures. Practice makes perfect.
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Thanks Peter-DL to a wonderful site on Advanced Composition, by Ron Bigelow.