Blandford Forum Camera Club

Edward Weston once said that good composition was merely the strongest way of seeing things and that definition seems to encapsulate quite neatly the process so thoroughly addressed by Norman at the club on Tuesday 18^th May.  He gave a comprehensive presentation on the subject which, although based on design ‘rules’ aimed mainly at graphic artists, was also of great value to all photographers but   especially those involved with still life, portraiture or any other genre which allows them a high degree of control over their subject matter.  The talk was also very helpful for those who, having made an image, wish to learn the lessons it offers through analysis of the organisation of its content.  Such analysis is not possible without an understanding of relevant design concepts and these were described and explained clearly and understandably.  Analysis of this kind is, of course, also crucial for judges and other commentators if they are to communicate effectively with their audience.    

Norman’s talk was illustrated by many of his own images which brought practical reality to informative but essentially lifeless line drawings which are inevitably associated with a subject of this kind.  Once again, we are indebted to him for the immense amount of effort that he puts into club activities for our collective benefit.  All of us left a little wiser at the end of the evening and keenly anticipating superior images in the future in terms of their composition.  

And so it is that, to the extent of having learned about composition and the basic techniques involved in producing a decent image, we are well prepared - but as for the creative content of our pictures, I’m afraid we’re on our own there!

Malcolm Bowditch