Photographers have always been enamored by the technical aspects of photography -- what lens, film, aperture opening, shutter speed did you use? Now in the digital age they may ask how many pixels does your camera have, does it shoot raw, etc? Regardless of the equipment used, all photographers, film or digital, are visual communicators. It does not matter if one uses a simple point-and-shoot or a more sophisticated camera, the great equalizer is the picture space, whether or not the final image turns out to be a print, a slide or a digital file. Modern technology can usually ensure acceptable exposure, focus, sharpness, etc., but alas, technical excellence is still not enough. The ultimate measure is how well the photographer, the visual designer, the visual writer, the visual communicator, used the picture space to convey his/her message.

Early in our education we were taught the parts of verbal/written communication -- nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, etc. Some of us even learned how to analyze written language by diagramming sentences. However, whether a message is conveyed via a written format or visually, good composition is absolutely essential. Good composition in photography requires care and precision in the choice and placement of everything in the picture space. How we choose and place the elements of visual design in the picture space will tell the viewer how good (or bad) a visual writer we are.

Elements of visual design include lines, shapes, texture, perspective, harmony, rhythm, color, tone, contrast, exposure, sharpness, proportion, dominance, eye movement, spacing, separation, background, negative space, balance/imbalance, etc. Every image seen through the viewfinder should be considered a draft subject to revision. Changing even slightly visual design elements and/or their placement in the picture space revises the story we tell.

Like it or not, photography is psychology. A photograph records the scene, but also tells the viewer about the photographer. Do our photographs show that we are content with merely stating the obvious or do our photographs suggest we are able to say more? The thoughtful visual writer is always aware of the importance of visual design when creating an image.

Joseph Miller