New York Times x Photojournalism

The New York Times has released a rare advertisement which champions the work of photojournalists. What does it make you think? What does it make you feel? Why might this ad be especially important right now in our culture?

Discover the hard work needed to report the facts in the latest video series from The New York Times marketing team. All photos in this video were taken by Tyler Hicks while he was covering the refugee crisis for The New York Times in Lesbos, Greece, in 2015.

What is Composition and Why Does it Matter?

Composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art, as distinct from the subject of a work.

In other words, it is HOW the subject is arranged within the frame of the photograpH -- NOT WHAT the subject is.

It is so important because it helps us to create more interesting and compelling photographs, and it helps us to convey our meaning more convincingly. Once you start thinking about composition in your photography, it is hard to stop. 

Here is what another photographer has to say on the topic. And here are some examples of elements found in photographic compositions:

Pattern and Repetition

Light and Shadow

Leading Lines

Shallow Depth of Field

Worm's Eye View

Frame Within a Frame

Texture

Aerial View / Bird's Eye View

Rule of Thirds