COMPOSITION

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COMPOSITION

• Definition The arrangement of elements within a
  frame

• Two Parts To a Picture
• Subject (Center Of Interest)
• The Main Focus of the picture
• Treatment of The Subject
• Composition Techniques

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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Rule of Thirds

The Subject of the Photograph should be off
center in the frame
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Rule of Thirds

Horizon Rule Horizon Line should be placed in the
top or bottom third of the frame
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Horizon Rule Top or Bottom 3rd
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Background

Always be aware of your background. It should
never interfere with your subject and your message
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Background
Background interferes, competing with the subject
for attention.
Background complements and strengthens the
subject.
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The Aperture is the camera control that
directly affects background focus, which we call
Depth of Field
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Background

Avoid Mergers. Because photos are 2 Dimensional,
objects directly behind other objects in the
frame can appear to merge together.
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Balance

Always try to achieve a sense of Balance in the
shot
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Balance

• Two kinds of balance
• Symmetrical Balance (equal)
• Asymmetrical Balance (unequal)

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Balance
Asymmetrical Balance
Asymmetrical Balance
Symmetrical Balance
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Lines

Lines can psychologically charge your image. We
react differently to different kinds of lines
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Lines

• Horizontal and Curved Lines create a sense of
  calm or peace
• Diagonal or Vertical lines create a sense of
  tension

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Curves create peacefulness or a sense of calm, as
opposed to the tension that diagonals can create
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Lines, Shapes, Repetition, Pattern
Pay attention to what Lines can do to create
shapes, repetition, and patterns in a photo. All
of these also add interest to a composition
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Lines

• Leading Lines unconsciously lead the viewers eye
  to the vanishing point. Photographers will often
  place the subject of the shot at the vanishing
  point so the eye is forced to focus there

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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Perspective

The Perspective is the angle of view of the
photo. Like lines, angles can psychologically
affect the viewer (besides just making a shot
more interesting generally)
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Perspective

• A High Angle gives the subject a feeling of
  weakness or inferiority
• A Low Angle gives the subject a feeling of
  strength or dominance

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High Angle
Low Angle
Inferiority or Weakness
Dominance or Strength
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Perspective (angle of view)
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Framing

Using objects in the Foreground to naturally
frame your subject
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Framing is used to add interest to a photograph
and to add a 3 Dimensional feel to the shot
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Motion

Motion is directly controlled by the cameras
shutter speed
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Motion

• Fast shutter speeds freeze motion
• Slow shutter speeds blur motion

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Motion
Motion Freeze
Motion Blur
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Rule of Motion
Movement should be placed in the frame so it is
coming into, not leaving, frame.
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Rule of Motion
As with most everything, there are exceptions to
the rule.
In this case, because the shot includes visual
elements that work directly with the subject (the
lines connecting the person in the background to
the lines from the subjects action), framing the
shot as seen is ok
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COMPOSITIONTechniques

• 8 Elements of Composition

• Light

• Light is perhaps the most important element in
  photography as everything depends on it
• Things to Remember
• Light source should be behind the photographer
• Overhead Light is harsh and flat (best time to
  take photos is morning or evening)
• Direct Flash is harsh and flat and can blow out
  details
• Try to use bounce, reflected, or diffused light

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• Light

MOTION BLUR using a Slow Shutter Speed at Night
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• Light

Light Trails from stars using a long shutter
speed (B or Bulb Setting)
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• Light

Position of the light source creates different
effects such as silhouette from back lighting as
above or dramatic shadows from side lighting as
to the right