Expanded Guide: Techniques

Professional photographer David Taylor's concise, jargon-free text guides the reader through the basics of composition, why it matters, and how to attune the mind to the art of looking. Beginning with a guide to choosing a camera – and how different types help you think about composition differently – he explains aspect ratios, the focal length of lenses, and the effect of perspective. The main composition concepts – from the Rule of Thirds, the Golden Section, the Rule of Odds, visual weight and contrast, to actual and implied lines in an image, symmetry, viewpoint and abstraction – are each analysed and demonstrated with the aid of the author's own beautiful images.

The techniques of exposure, depth of field, shutter speed and white balance are explained, with practical hints and tips. Finally, post-production techniques such as cropping, selective blurring, panoramic stitching and use of filters complete this in-depth guide to a fascinating area of photograph.