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Art Training for the Photographer

Throughout this website, I repeatedly separate the artist from the photographer. This distinction in labels isn't accidental or derogatory. In truth, most photographers aren't taught in the same manner or to the same capacity as the classically trained artist. For example, the classically trained artist must first learn how to draw before they move on to any other aspect of art education. Through the act of drawing, one learns how to see, interpret, and express their vision successfully. ​

In contrast, far too many photographers restrict their education to the technical aspects of photography and rarely, if ever, study the art of composition. Additionally, photographers will often assume that if they learn how to produce a "fine art print," it's considered a work of art. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case. The definition of a "fine art print," by today's standards, is usually limited to the technical characteristics of the physical print and doesn't always consider the artistic components of design, visual balance, figure-ground relationship, etc.  

If a photographer wants to learn how to create images that are considered "art," or at least artistic in nature, they will have to study classical skill-based art techniques and transfer that knowledge to the act of taking photos. Regrettably, most photography books and websites only discuss the subjective and technological aspects of image making and almost never acknowledge the necessary design skills required for becoming a highly trained artist. 

Dynamic Symmetry for Photographers
​A Real-World Approach for Taking Better Photographs​

This article is an attempt to teach photographers how to read a work of art, introduce the principles of design using classical skill-based art techniques, define the true meaning of intuition in photography, and shed light on the many myths regarding Dynamic Symmetry, camera grid products, and Henri Cartier-Bresson.

Photographers that have a strong desire to build upon the modern-day rules of composition will find Dynamic Symmetry extremely beneficial. Dynamic Symmetry is not a gimmick nor is it "New-Age." In fact, this system of design is over two thousand years old. Artists that have employed Dynamic Symmetry principles in their work include Magnum photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson, Martine Franck, Alex Webb, Leonard Freed, Eve Arnold, and Constantine Manos as well as a long list of master painters such as Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, Pablo Picasso, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, and Vincent van Gogh. ​​

​All of the recommendations made in this article are based on ten years experience in design, two years experimentation with camera grids and hundreds of hours spent analyzing art. More importantly, everything the photographer needs to learn more about Dynamic Symmetry and composition in art is available on this site as a free download. In summary, Dynamic Symmetry is a serious design tool that will allow the artist and photographer to create superior quality art with an infinite amount of flexibility. ​​
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Below you can download a Dynamic Symmetry grid pack for Lightroom and Photoshop, a camera grid pack for beginner students, and a PDF on the best books available for learning more about the art of composition. These books represent a complete course in design and no further readings on Dynamic Symmetry are necessary. ​I highly recommend starting with The Art of Composition: A Simple Application of Dynamic Symmetry by Michel Jacobs.​

The Art of Composition:
​A Simple Application of Dynamic Symmetry
Michel Jacobs
Click here to download

Dynamic Symmetry Grid Pack for Lightroom and Photoshop
​+ Dynamic Symmetry Camera Grid Pack (172)
The Dynamic Symmetry grid pack includes the root 2, 3, 4, 5,
root phi, phi, 1:1, 1.5, 4:3, 7:6, 16:9, and the 5:4 rectangle.
Click here to download

Dynamic Symmetry Art
A Dynamic Symmetry User's Guide for the Modern Artist
Click here to download

Introduction

For the photographer to be productive in applying Dynamic Symmetry principles to their images, it's important to understand that they can't approach design in the same manner as the artist. Because the artist has no restriction on time to create a work of art, they can spend days, weeks, months, and even years on a composition. In contrast, photographers only have a fraction of a second to compose their photos. Due to the obvious differences between these two artistic practices, the professional photographer will find that Dynamic Symmetry is best used as an evaluation tool in post-processing - not one of direct application. ​

At the beginning stages of learning Dynamic Symmetry, it’s critical for the photographer to acknowledge the difference between the intuitive act of photographing and intuition in composition. These two concepts are not the same and shouldn't be viewed as such. As I repeatedly mention throughout this website and in my user's guide, composition in art is not intuitive (in the magical sense), and it's a skill that must be learned, mastered, and applied if the artist or photographer expects to create a consistent and masterful body of work in their lifetime. ​

In the book The Decisive Moment, Henri Cartier-Bresson states “Composition must be one of our constant preoccupations, but at the moment of shooting it can stem only from our intuition, for we are out to capture the fugitive moment, and all the interrelationships involved are on the move." While many photographers assume Henri Cartier-Bresson is stating composition in photography is intuitive, this assumption would be incorrect. What Bresson is actually referring to is the brief moment in time when a trained photographer can recognize visual order in a scene and have the skills and insight to be able to capture a successful photograph based on solid design principles. 

​It's well documented that Henri Cartier-Bresson was thoroughly trained in classical skill-based art techniques and executed this intuitive knowledge with precision in a massive body of work. Unlike most other photographers, Bresson had hundreds of images that were considered masterpieces, and he was able to accomplish this incredible feat because of his training in design. Richard Avedon talks about Bressons' accomplishments in his 2004 interview with Charlie Rose. Click here for the video clip. 

Learn How Photographers Apply Dynamic Symmetry
An Email From a Curious Photographer

I received an email recently from a photographer that was curious about the application of Dynamic Symmetry. The photographer who wrote asked, "How can I capture an image based on Dynamic Symmetry composition rules and how can I enhance the power to acquire the knowledge of this system?" ​

Like the person who sent me the email above, many photographers are confused how to apply Dynamic Symmetry to their photographs because the act of photographing is, in many ways, intuitive, and they don't have the time to create elaborate compositions like the artist that draws and paints. While this time constraint might seem restricting at first, there are several ways a photographer can effectively incorporate Dynamic Symmetry principles in their body of work. Here's how.​​​

​Study Art

Learn how to critically evaluate art. You can do this by selecting a few of your favorite artists and study all aspects of their designs. Start with the artist's earlier works and track their progress throughout their career. Take notes of their improvements, shifts in subject matter, changes in technical approach, etc. Try to recognize repeated patterns, consistency in quality and specific artistic style. Also, look for ways to improve their images and decode why some works are better than others. ​​​​

Once you have fully grasped the elements of design (figure-ground relationship, overlapping, the greatest area of contrast, perspective, the armature of the rectangle, etc.), you can then learn how to apply these techniques while you're taking pictures. In other words, you've trained yourself to look for specific qualities that make a photograph a work of art and have the ability to respond to them quickly. Throughout this website, I refer to this intuitive approach to composition as "intuitive knowledge."  ​

By investing the time to study drawings, paintings, and photographs you're learning how to improve your visual literacy skills. Every highly trained artist throughout history, from da Vinci to Degas, went through the process of analyzing art and there is no reason that the modern artist and photographer shouldn't do the same. And even though this approach is frowned upon by most contemporary art teachers, in the past, it was a way for the student to learn all the techniques of value, color theory, design and so on. ​​​

Overlay Dynamic Symmetry Grids in Post-Processing
Design Grids for Quick Evaluation

Every time you've completed a photography shoot, overlay design grids on your images to see how well you did. This form of evaluation is extremely beneficial for improving your visual literacy skills, requires almost no effort, and drastically speeds up the learning process.

​Henri Cartier-Bresson used the same practice by drawing the 1.5 armature of the rectangle on a piece of tracing paper. He would then lay the tracing paper on top of his contact sheets and prints to determine which images worked and which ones failed. ​​Today, this process is more efficient because you can use Lightroom and Photoshop to import pre-made design grids. If you're willing to incorporate this additional step in your post-processing workflow, your visual skills will improve each time you pick up your camera. ​

Work the Scene
Take More Than One Photograph

Among photographers, there is a continuous debate on how many photographs of a scene they should take. Some claim one image is enough, while others advocate for shooting more. However, one crucial point to keep in mind is that a classically trained artist will rarely, if ever, draw only one sketch before transferring their design to the canvas. They might do 3, 5, 10, 15 drawings or more. Photographers should approach composition in the same manner by shooting a series of images (as opposed to just one). ​Click here for a sample image by Henri Cartier-Bresson working a scene from the book Scrapbook. Click here for a sample image by Eve Arnold working a scene from the book Eve Arnold's People. To learn more, I recommend the book Magnum Contact Sheets.

Improve Your Knowledge of Dynamic Symmetry
The Best Books Available on Composition in Art

To improve your knowledge of Dynamic Symmetry and composition in art and photography, click here for a complete list of recommended books. It's important to note that this list does not contain any photography books. In my experience, most photography books on composition only discuss the Rule of Thirds, the Rule of Odds, the Rule of Space, and Leading Lines.

Other Considerations for Photographers​
​That Want to Learn More About Dynamic Symmetry

Why 99.9% of Photography Websites Don't Understand Design

One mistake I see continuously made on almost every photography website on the internet is that they will apply the golden section rectangle (1.618) to a 1.5 frame claiming that it will creater a more pleasing design. This analysis and conclusion is incorrect. Master artists, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, did not compose their images using the golden section rectangle placed or stretched inside a 1.5 rectangle. Bresson used the Dynamic Symmetry armature of the rectangle, as demonstrated throughout this website.

Design Grids for Cameras
Advertising vs. Real-World Application

With the recent revival of classical art training, Dynamic Symmetry is becoming more widespread. Along with this rebirth in classical design techniques comes new art and photography products as well. Over the past few years, I've had a significant number of photographers ask me if taping design grids to their camera's LCD screen is necessary for creating great compositions. My response is always the same - absolutely not.​​

​Regardless of the product claims found online, professional photographers don't use camera grids to compose their images nor are they photographing with these grids in mind.​​ ​More importantly, using camera grids in no way ensures that the photographer will capture an acceptable image. Creating successful photographs is dependent on many variables that include the armature of the rectangle, figure-ground relationship, proper overlapping, and the appropriate balance of individual elements in your design.​​

Before using camera grids, there are several factors that all photographers must consider. Firstly, attaching a design grid to a camera's viewfinder prevents the photographer from concentrating on the scene or subject they are photographing because they are always preoccupied with lining up visual elements. In turn, this constant distraction limits the photographer's artistic creativity because they aren't considering any other alternatives for their composition besides the design scheme they have chosen to tape to their LCD screen.​​​

Secondly, photographers that rely on camera grids for composition are not acquiring the long-term benefits of learning classical skill-based art and will never develop the necessary intuitive design skills to shoot without this visual crutch. The fact is, despite all the elaborate camera grid products available, there are no shortcuts for creating great art and taping design grids to your camera is far too limiting to be considered a realistic approach for applying Dynamic Symmetry in photography. This technique is best suited for the beginner student.​​​​​​​​​

Why Complicated Dynamic Symmetry Grids
​ are Unnecessary for Photographers

One of the biggest mistakes I see made among many photographers and design educators is that they overcomplicate the application Dynamic Symmetry. When a classically trained artist creates a drawing or painting, they aren't copying what they see. The artist will manipulate lines, change angles, and move their subject (or subjects) around the canvas to line up specific elements with a design grid. Because the photographer doesn't have this degree of flexibility in the design phase, there is no need for using complex design grids on cameras or in post-processing - the basic armature of the rectangle is more than enough for most photography applications. ​

My Professional Experience and Thoughts on Camera Grids

​Because Dynamic Symmetry allows the artist to create an infinite number of compositions, photographers should never restrict creativity by locking their images into one design scheme. Photographers that continually use design grids on their camera, whether it be the Rule of Thirds or Dynamic Symmetry, are always faced with this problem. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

While some online marketers claim camera grids are necessary for applying Dynamic Symmetry to a photograph, these design educators lack real-world experience, misinterpret the application of Dynamic Symmetry in photography, are trying to increase camera grid sales, and overlook the critical fact that tools should benefit the artist, not restrict their artistic freedom.​​​ Camera grids are not only unnecessary but if overused a photographer's visual literacy skills become stunted and their images predictable and overly mechanical. ​​

In my combined 36 years experience as a photographer, educator of design, and graphic artist I have yet to come across any highly skilled, historically relevant photographer that used camera grids to compose their images and for any professional to engage in such a practice would mean a loss of credibility. Photographers that are taking their first step towards learning more about the art of composition should fully understand that camera grids are an aid for the beginner student - not a tool for the skilled professional. ​​​​​​​

Can Photographers Learn to Visualize the
Dynamic Symmetry Grid While Taking Pictures? 

It's highly unlikely that any photographer can visualize the full armature of the rectangle while trying to concentrate on the scene or subject they are photographing and I would be wary of those that claim they can. In most cases, these exaggerated claims are meant to sell products, not give the photographer a realistic view of how to apply Dynamic Symmetry principles to their body of work. With that said, the goal of the photographer shouldn't be to memorize the Dynamic Symmetry grid but instead develop the necessary skills to be able to recognize a masterful image intuitively. ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Composite Photography vs. Straight Photography

For those photographers interested in composite photography (cutting and pasting multiple images together to create a composition) applying Dynamic Symmetry is used in the same manner as the artist that draws and paints. In other words, the composite photographer is not limited by the amount of time for creating their final design.

​Also, it's important to point out that composite photography and the application of Dynamic Symmetry should not be restricted to one design scheme - meaning the use of camera grids becomes even less relevant. Much like the artist, the composite photographer will use the angles of their subject to dictate the rectangle they choose for their design and also have the ability to move individual elements around the frame as they see fit.​ ​​

Learning the Rules of Composition and Then Breaking Them

As the saying goes, if I had a dime for every article I've read about learning the rules of composition and then breaking them, I could retire a wealthy man. In fact, the phrase "breaking the rules" in art has been repeated so many times by artists and photographers that it's become a cliche. As I mention in the Frequently Asked Questions section of this website, there isn't anything wrong with breaking the rules of composition. The problem with breaking the rules in art and design is that far too many artists and photographers don't know what the rules are. ​

Unfortunately, when most photographers talk about rules in composition, they are referring to Rule of Thirds, the Rule of Odds, the Rule of Space, and Leading Lines. These rules, which have been repeated and debated ad nauseam on every photography website, actually have little to do with art or real design. In other words, just because a photographer understands how to apply the Rule of Thirds grid to their images, and then occasionally "breaks the rule," this is in no way a clear indicator that they are thoroughly trained in classical skill-based art techniques. ​​

"Design rules must be actively sought out, learned, and applied. There are rules for drawing, there are rules for color, and there are rules for composition. In fact, the rules or limits of any discipline help define it and give the participant in that subject freedom to create and express himself. Jacques Villion (the brother of Marcel Duchamp) put it well when he said, “In the artistic chaos of these last years, when the absolute liberation of the individual instinct has brought it to the point of frenzy, an attempt to identify the harmonic disciplines that have, secretly, in every period, served as foundations for painting may well seem folly. Yet the framework of art is its most secret and its deepest poetry.” The time has come for the modern master painter to begin to reconstruct the skills and unearth the lost traditions of this secret framework."

-Juliette Aristides - From the book "Classical Painting Atelier."

Photograph above by Henri Cartier-Bresson intuitively applying Dynamic Symmetry

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Henri Cartier-Bresson
A Master's Ideology on Camera Grids and Composition

“Composition must be one of our constant preoccupations, but at the moment of shooting it can stem only from our intuition, for we are out to capture the fugitive moment, and all the interrelationships involved are on the move.

​In applying the Golden Rule, the only pair of compasses at the photographer’s disposal is his own pair of eyes. Any geomet­rical analysis, any reducing of the picture to a schema, can be done only (because of its very nature) after the photograph has been taken, developed, and printed – and then it can be used only for a post-mortem examination of the picture.

I hope we will never see the day when photo shops sell little schema grills to clamp onto our viewfinders, and the Golden Rule will never be found etched on our ground glass.

If you start cutting or cropping a good photograph, it means death to the geometrically correct interplay of proportions. Besides, it very rarely happens that a photograph which was feebly composed can be saved by reconstruction of its composition under the darkroom’s enlarger; the integrity of vision is no longer there.

There is a lot of talk about camera angles; but the only valid angles in existence are the angles of the geometry of composition and not the ones fabricated by the photographer who falls flat on his stomach or performs other antics to procure his effects." - Henri Cartier-Bresson.

"Cartier-Bresson's photographs are the most obvious manifestation of his fascination with geometry. Many commentators have entertained themselves by applying patterns of construction to his images, and certainly their composition fully conforms to the laws of the "golden section." - From the book "Discoveries."