Although you can’t beat the personal attention and expertise you’ll get in the TCI classes, I have found a book that can supplement them. It’s “The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos,” by Michael Freeman. (By the way, the information is just as relevant for film photographers.) It’s well illustrated with compelling photographs (unlike many instructional photo books) and goes over subjects such as figure and ground, perspective and depth, pattern, texture, line, motion, chiaroscuro and key, juxtaposition and much more. Even advanced photographers will find useful information. I found the book helpful for understanding (and explaining) the mechanics of composition and why certain images are more successful expressions of the photographer’s vision than others.
Photo editor and photographer Michelle Woodward teaches a course on improving your eye for design and composition as a photographer – at The Compelling Image.
Just wanted to thank you for the book recommendation. I purchased it and have recommended it to several others, too. It is a great review of principles, nicely organized. Now if putting them into practice were as easy as reading about them….