Composition and Photography

Do you shoot with a phone or a camera and want to understand why some images work while others don’t? Want to improve your photos and learn to notice what truly makes a frame compelling? Then join this session — useful for both beginners and experienced photographers who want a deeper understanding of visual language and aesthetics.

At our Friday meeting, we’ll talk about the most common compositional techniques in photography, using examples by photographers from Magnum Photos — the legendary international photo agency whose authors shaped the visual language of documentary and auteur photography in the 20th–21st centuries.

We’ll explore what composition means in practice:

• How a photographer guides the viewer’s attention

• Why one image “holds” while another falls apart

• How composition relates to rhythm, gesture, negative space, scale, and timing

In the second half of the session, anyone who wishes can show their photos and receive thoughtful, respectful feedback from the host and participants.
The discussion will focus not on “like / dislike,” but on:

• How the composition works

• What is already working well

• Which visual decisions can be strengthened

Participation in the photo review is optional — you’re welcome to just watch and listen. You can bring your photos in any format that’s convenient for you.

The session will be led by Anna Kortyukova (@iwalyany) — lighting artist, cinematographer, educator, and curator of multimedia education programs.