Photo Composition

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Photo Composition

• Mastering the Art

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Composition

• The balance of all things in a photograph.
• The elements
• The way the light interacts with those elements
• The way those elements are arranged
• all part of a photograph.

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Composition

• The art of composition has its roots way back to
  the Renaissance.
• The guidelines for creating a photograph were
  established centuries before the first camera was
  invented.

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Basic Layout

• Three different ways to layout the elements in a
  photograph.
• Fill the frame. This will provide a clear
  description of what the photograph is about
• The "rule of thirds
• The "golden mean
• Both the rule of thirds and the golden mean
  provide a means to capture the background in the
  photo as well as creating a compelling photograph
  that guides the eye of the viewer.

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Rule of Thirds

• Simply divide the frame into three parts, then
  place the subject (Green spots) on the two
  dividers (Red lines). See the diagram below.

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Golden Mean

• This is also basic but a bit more obscure.
  Mentally draw a line (Red line) from corner to
  corner of the frame. Then draw a line from the
  opposite corners to the line. The subject should
  lie at the intersection of these two lines.
  (Green spots) The reason for the obscurity of the
  technique is that it was developed in ancient
  Greece. Hence we have had more time to forget
  about it.

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Golden Mean
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Composition

• These basic rules are the basic building blocks
  of composition. The aim here is to create a
  visually compelling photograph, something that
  captures the attention of the viewer.
• The rule of thirds and the golden mean aim to
  create a photograph that leads the eye of the
  viewer around and tells a story behind the
  photograph.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Find a Clear Center of Interest
• Self explanatory. Find something that captures
  you eye. Try to avoid distracting objects or
  shadows.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Fill the Frame
• Get the subject into the frame so there is no
  doubt what the photo is all about.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Present a Clear Message
• Try to avoid anything that would distract people
  from your main subject. Focus on the subject.
  Then before you press the shutter, check the
  edges of the frame for anything that would
  distract the viewer.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Compose Boldly
• Have fun with your subject. Look for repetition
  or patterns. Keep your eye out for diagonals
  which are always interesting. Scan for
  contrasting colors and shapes.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Create Depth
• Use the aperture to create depth. Make objects in
  front and behind your subject a little out of
  focus. This will provide the effect that isolates
  the subject from the background. Focuses
  attention on the subject.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Light and Dark
• Basically light tones advance while dark tones
  retreat. Most people look at the lighter portions
  of a photograph first.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Shapes
• Vertical and horizontal are bad, diagonal is
  good. Psychologists say that instincts honed back
  our caveman days are responsible for that.
  Diagonal images are visually more interesting
  that vertical and horizontal.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Framing
• This is the use of elements in the foreground to
  frame the object in focus.

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Other Compositional Elements

• Lines
• Vertical lines emphasize power, strength, and
  height.
• Horizontal lines express stability and width.
• Diagonal lines express dynamic energy.
• Curving lines express sensuality.

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Other Compositional Elements
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