{"id":73376,"date":"2017-12-15T12:06:26","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T20:06:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=73376"},"modified":"2017-12-15T12:09:38","modified_gmt":"2017-12-15T20:09:38","slug":"5-composition-photography-lessons-from-johannes-vermeer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/15\/5-composition-photography-lessons-from-johannes-vermeer\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Composition Photography Lessons From Johannes Vermeer"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m super inspired by Johannes Vermeer \u00e2\u20ac\u201d his compositions, and photographic vision.<\/p>\n

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Camera obscura as drawing aid<\/h2>\n

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Johannes Vermeer probably used a camera obscura to aid his painting compositions.<\/p>\n

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To me, this is great \u00e2\u20ac\u201d I find more inspiration from him, because he bridges the gap between photography and painting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Also, it shows that photography and painting aren\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t opposed forms of visual art \u00e2\u20ac\u201d rather, they are complementary.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Learn more: VERMEER PDF BOOK ><\/a><\/p>\n

Here are some composition break forms, with iPad and Procreate app:<\/p>\n

1. Girl reading open letter<\/h2>\n

Note the vertical composition, and the framing of the scene. The depth \u00e2\u20ac\u201d with the curtain on the right (red) and the far left, the foreground on bottom (grey), and the girl in the middle of the frame in yellow.<\/p>\n

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My favorite detail, the cherry on top: her reflection in the mirror.<\/p>\n

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Also note the diagonal \u00e2\u20ac\u0153X\u00e2\u20ac\u009d composition that works well:<\/p>\n

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2. Girl with flute<\/h2>\n
\"Vermeer
Vermeer girl with flute<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I also love this picture \u00e2\u20ac\u201d it is like a dynamic portrait we could shoot with a camera.<\/p>\n

The reason why I think this composition works: the direct eye contact of the girl, the triangle composition between her head and hands, and also the diagonal composition:<\/p>\n

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\"Golden
Golden rectangle gridline<\/a> on Vermeer girl with flute<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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3. Lady seated at virginal<\/h2>\n

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4. Mistress and maid<\/h2>\n

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5. The love letter<\/h2>\n

Note the frame within the frame \u00e2\u20ac\u201dthe frame of the doors and curtains center the focus into the center of the frame.<\/p>\n

Also note the eye contact of the subjects, which are opposite diagonal to one another:<\/p>\n

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Conclusion<\/h2>\n
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Vermeer \u00e2\u20ac\u201d looks like a street photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Study all great art, and see how you can apply the principles to your photography.<\/p>\n

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My sketch of Vermeer, girl with pearl earring.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And remember, painting ain\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t \u00e2\u20ac\u0153better\u00e2\u20ac\u009d than photography and vice versa. They are mutual aids.<\/p>\n

Our lesson,<\/p>\n

\n How can painting teach us how to be better photographers?\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

ERIC<\/p>\n

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PHOTOGRAPHY COMPOSITION 101<\/a><\/h1>\n

Dynamic Photography Composition 101<\/h2>\n
\"Leading
Leading lines. ERIC KIM DYNAMIC COMPOSITION<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n