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Crush The Composition

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Recently, Scott Kelby came up with an idea on how to teach photography composition in a way that would make people truly “get it” in just about an hour. He held his class in an open amphitheater on a balmy, starry, Florida night with 150 students in attendance to share some professional secrets that will get you thinking the next time you go out and shoot.

  1. Introduction (07:22) Most classes and books on photography composition contain the same information they did 25 years ago. The rules don't change and most books only show great examples of photography without showing you how to apply it to your photography. In the next hour, Scott plans to change that.
  2. The 5 BIG Rules of Composition (05:05) Scott takes 5 minutes to go over the 5 main "rules" of photographic composition to refresh everyone's memory before moving on.
  3. The First Secret to Composition (13:41) Secret #1: "Work the Scene." Professionals try a bunch of different things during a shoot. By sharing some less than perfect shots, Scott shows the audience how he tried several different things at a photo shoot until he got the shot he wanted. Tip: Make a shot list.
  4. Finding the Right Shot (07:59) Many times, you'll happen upon something that you inherently know will make a good shot, but when you press the button - not so much. Scott shares more examples of the multiple angles and approaches he takes to one subject in order to find what it was that his mind knew would be a good shot.
  5. Working the Settings to Get the Right Shot (11:05) Once you get to the point where you know you are hitting on the angle or approach that makes the shot, work the settings (#2) then work the sharpness (#3).
  6. Practical Composition Tips (05:16) Find the distracting things, simplify the image, move the photographer.
  7. Becoming a Good Editor (25:57) Learn to only show your absolute best stuff. Scott illustrates this by showing two very similar, but drastically different slide shows.
  8. Looking at Other Photographers Work (12:41) Take a good look at the work of the photographers you like and figure out what it is that you like. It will give you insights to your own work.
  9. Recap of the Keys to Composition (05:15) Scott gives you a quick list of takeaways for you to keep in mind for the next time you shoot.
Course Time: 01 Hours 34 Minutes
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  1. Hi Scott (or whoever reads this), I just got done watching Crush the Composition (which I read the 1st several times as Crush the Competition, lol). I'm not sure why I clicked on this video as I think I have a pretty good handle on composition (at least in relation to all the other things that I am clueless about). Anyway, I am so happy that I watched this video. Just the tip about choosing photos in Lightroom was worth watching it for. I just used that on the photos from this morning and it was fabulous. Funny how such a little thing can make such a big difference. I loved the info about editing your work and definitely have some people to share that info with. I think the part about figuring out what you like about others work will also be helpful to me. It's kind of like you put into words things I was thinking but didn't quite have figured out. Thank you so much. I'm ready to go crush the competition now. :)
  2. T. Richmond
    Pretty cool course... makes you think about what you like, why you like it, and how you might go about your next several shoots. Great insights by Scott. Thanks for sharing.
  3. K. Driscoll
    Just a quick note to say for the price you can't go wrong, there are some of the best names in the business teaching us to shoot like they do. Hearing the tools they use, the way they shoot lets us know they are not Gods, or Wizards, and if we study their words, their advice we can shoot like them too. I love this kind of training, it is like instant coffee, one drink and you're awake and ready to go... this training one sip and we're ready to go... I will tell all my friends, on top of great training you have the 100% money back guarantee... there is no way to lose here, we can only get better. I give the training an AAA+++ with four thumbs up, my two thumbs ad my wife's two thumbs, she likes seeing me happy, and hearing new stories, Kelby training stories beats old police stories... LOL
  4. D. Crippen
    I learn something from every video, but this one is PROFOUND for me! We have all had the rules of composition drilled into us. There was always something missing for me, I'd take a photo or two, yet I was missing something that I saw. It just was there, what "IT" was. By Scott walking through the process of searching for "IT", that thing that caught your eye, has literally changed the way I see. Thank you!
  5. This was an excellent course and again, something well worth joining the site for since I live in an area where I would probably not have a chance to hear something like this in person. In my current job I am known for someone who thinks outside the box to accomplish tasks. I think this course brought taking photos a little more closer into what my thinking is. I need to spend more times in areas I go to get the picture I want. Generally the people I go with are in a hurry to move on, hopefully I can convenience them to join and watch this, or perhaps go alone and let them see the results form better photos.
  6. J. Bazonski
    This was probably one of the best courses ever! Covered a lot of good content.
  7. G. Waddell
    This one hits the mark! Back in the late '60's, I had a community college instructor, who turned the light on in a very similar fashion. He had us shoot with only one prime lens. He then had us start shooting the subject from as far away as possible and then slowly move in and shoot from every angle possible until we could get no closer. Doing this over and over, trained my eye, until I could identify a good composition without consciously thinking about what "rules" were being used. Thanks Scott!
  8. M. Allison
    I loved that you showed us all the pictures that weren't right! I've always thought that top photographers just got it right almost immediately. It's been an enormous help to see your process and now I won't be afraid to keep trying different angles, etc and I won't feel embarrassed about it like I used to. Brilliant advice! M.Allison - London
  9. R. Nadeau
    This is a brilliant course Scott. Who else would reveal the "wizard behind the curtain" to us? This took courage, brains and heart.
  10. D. Martin
    I've never heard Scott give a bad piece of advice. His over the shoulder approach in his books comes to life in his videos and class work.

Your Instructor

Scott Kelby

Scott Kelby

Photography & Photoshop Author, and Founder of KelbyTraining.com

Editor and Publisher of Photoshop User Magazine, training director and instructor for the Adobe Photoshop Seminar Tour, President National Association of Photoshop Professionals (NAPP), CEO of Kelby...VIEW FULL BIO»

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