Digital Photographyrules of composition

Composition1. Composition: the organization or grouping of the elements and

principles of design so as to achieve a unified whole; the arrangement of these elements in a purposeful and deliberate manner

2. How we organize the elements and principles in our designs connects directly to the sense of beauty, to taste and to aesthetics in general .

3. Strong composition makes the difference between a good photograph and a poor photograph.

4. Even if everything else you do is correct, without a strong composition you will have a poor photograph.

Composition• DOMINANCE & POSITION create

a composition and how they are arranged determines whether it is strong or weak

• shape, and vertical & horizontal eye-lines tell the viewer where to look & creates unity

• Repeating shapes and negative space help the viewer understand what is important

• Eye lines guide the viewer • Throughout the next slides you

will be introduced to rules of composition which use DOMINANCE & POSITION

12 Rules of Composition

1. Center of Interest• dominance & position• present in all compositions

2. Framing • 2A: Filling the Frame • 2B: Physical Framing

3. Repetition • 3A: Pattern & Repeating • 3B: Rule of Threes (Triad)

TOTAL: 5

4. Tension• 4A: Psychological Tension• 4B: Visual Tension • 4C: Order vs. Chaos

5. Leading Lines• 5A: Leading Lines• 5B: Perspective (F, M, B)

6. Rule of Thirds7. S-Curves

TOAL: 7

#1: Center of Interest1. It should not ALWAYS be in the CENTER of the photograph

(in fact, it might not actually be in the photograph at all!)

2. What is the picture ABOUT? Not what is the picture OF.

3. The most important part of composition expressed through DOMINANCE & POSITION (the visual cues of an image).

4. Does the viewer know what you are trying to tell s/he?

5. Bring the focus, the center of interest, out of the photo to the viewer! Each of the other rules must use this the rule!

Center of Interest

Center of Interest

Center of Interest

#2: Framing & Filling-the-Frame

• Framing & Filling the Framea) As a general rule, types of framing make the viewer feel

outside the scene but draws them in by making them look into the picture – not at the picture

2A. Framingb) Physical Framing refers to literal shapes and lines which

create frames around an imagec) Examples include: doors, windows, boxes etc. d) Framing creates interest in the photo and localizes the

subject matter drawing the viewer inside2B. Filling the Frame

e) Filling the Frame does not necessarily mean clutterf) Often these are MACRO or CLOSE-UP shots again bring

the viewer inside the picture

Physical Framing

Physical Framing

Physical Framing

Filling the Frame

Filling the Frame

#3: Repetition, Rule of 3’s3A. Repetition

a) Compositionally, the challenge becomes using pattern to create interest

• The Psychology of Patterna) Repetition and pattern can create psychological effectsb) Think of: friendship, family, boredom, monotony,

overwhelming and/or isolation3B. Rule of Three’s (Triad/Groups of Three)

c) 3 objects make a strong compositiond) Gives a sense of beginning, middle and ende) Gives a sense of unity: first, second and thirdf) Gives a sense of focus: left and right sides and then the

center

Repetition & Pattern

Repetition & Pattern

Repetition & Pattern

Repetition & Pattern

Repetition & Pattern

#4: Tension• The Meaning of Tension

a) Psychological: a state of mental or emotional strain or suspense

b) Normal Vernacular: feelings of hostility that are not manifest; mental, emotional, or nervous strain

• Types of Tension4A. Visual Tension: objects and/or figures in the image

express some sort of tension based on placement, proportion and/or perspective (emotional quality)

4B. Literal Tension: an expression of tension in the literal sense (something being pulled or stressed)

4C. Order vs. Chaos: photos that express a balance or unbalance of order and chaos

Psychological Tension

Psychological Tension

Visual Tension

Visual Tension

Tension

Order vs. Chaos

Order vs. Chaos

#5: Leading Lines5A. Leading Lines are lines within an image that leads the eye

to another point in the image, or occasionally, out of the image• Anything with a definite line can be a leading line• Fences, bridges, even a shoreline can lead the eye. • This is based on one and two point perspective

5B. Leading Lines create Perspective • Foreground/Midground/Background• The foreground is the prominent or important position of

the image. • The midground lies behind the foreground. • The background even further in the distance (as

indicated by the adjacent images).

Leading Lines

Leading Lines

F

M

B

Perspective

Perspective

F

M

B

#6: Rule of Thirds• Perhaps the Strongest Compositional Rule

a) Not to be confused with the Rule of 3’s b) Ansel Adams is often credited with inventing this rule

• Components of the Rule of Thirdsa) Imagine the world on a 3x3 gridb) Where lines intersect there is an illusion of points of

interest – these are called Focal Points or Centers of Interest/Focus

c) Most of the time, you want to avoid “bull's-eye” photos – place the Center of Interest at one of the other grid squares

Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds

#7: S-Curves• The S-Curve (“The Holy Grail of Photography”)

a) Sensuality, sexuality, sensation, and subtleness b) The curvature of figures (especially feminine) creates:

i. Romanceii. Flirtatiousness iii. Pleasingiv. Soft & Inviting

• Challenge of the S-Curve a) It can be found in nature, but it is difficultb) Think of: serpents, winding rivers, hillsidesc) The most difficult aspect of the s-curve, is not just

finding one but representing it in an appealing way

S-Curves

S-Curves

S-Curves

S-Curves

S-Curves

Your Project:1. Center of Interest

• dominance & position• present in all compositions

2. Framing • 2A: Filling the Frame • 2B: Physical Framing

3. Repetition • 3A: Pattern & Repeating • 3B: Rule of Threes (Triad)

TOTAL: 5

4. Tension• 4A: Psychological Tension• 4B: Visual Tension • 4C: Order vs. Chaos

5. Leading Lines• 5A: Leading Lines• 5B: Perspective (F, M, B)

6. Rule of Thirds7. S-Curves

TOAL: 7