Basic Study of Arts and Design : Touch the Feeling

When I was beginning to study photography, I clearly remember that my friends gave me much advices to me, and I thanked them and never forget them. I expressed my gratitude by giving advices to those who begin to learn photography, even you. Everything I got from my study, from literatures, from real-life facts, I give it to you.

This time I tell you the basics—how a photographer presents his/her works. In Perception and Imaging by Richard D. Zakia, there are three principles on how to present a photographic work. I’ll explain each of those, so you may learn and know the basics.

The first to consider is projection.

Let me tell you something: I have a friend not formally educated in arts and design, but since his beginning in photography and keep training, he successfully reached the apex of his learning. He finally have a very high sensitivity over an object, when he see what people might think as common object, he could explore it further for making an outstanding image. I saw this without many words uttered. Then I had an idea to explore further and trying to ‘test’ him, by inviting him to ‘hunt’ for photos. I let him lead the journey. He chose object I never thought to snap and make it a good photo work. After capturing, we picked our photos. I asked him to pick 10 from 100+ unedited photos, and almost all of the photos he picked matched my choice.

So what I mean by the term ‘projection’ is when a photographer can feel before pressing the shutter so that the object stands out. There are two things I consider : that fellow was gifted by his Creator for that, and the second are things for my learning. How could someone do that? Let me explain how to ‘capture’ an object so we could be more sensitive to an object. The first key is morphic (from morphos means ‘form’). There are 6 morphics I found all over my life :

1. Isomorphic (like-formed)
2. Anthropomorphic (human-formed)
3. Zoomorphic (animal-formed)
4. Theriomorphic (terribly formed)
5. Mechanomorphic (machine-formed)
6. Anamorphic (distorted or destroyed form)

My apologize. In this writing, I’m not explaining each of those morphics, because it would be very very very long and complex. But, by this insight I hope you explore it more and more, so that you may train yourself to make an object to a work of arts.

Let’s move forward, buddy!

Take heed to morphic, it builds the feeling of your frame.