UNIT 5CRACKING COMPOSITION

Diploma in Photography

Unit 5 – Cracking composition

Learning outcomes of unit 5

By the end of this unit, you will:

• Understand the ‘rule of thirds’

• Learn how to work the 'lines' in your photography

• Know about the importance of focal points

• Learn how to break the rules

Introduction

Composition is everything in photography. It involves all the physical images we see when looking down a viewfinder. In this unit, we look at how to compose a great shot and some rules for you to consider when deciding on composition.

Don't forget that rules are made to be broken and some of the most inspiring shots we have ever seen do just that. Before you can break a rule though, you need to understand it in the first place and that is what we aim to do here.

Introduction

Sometimes, you'll get lucky with a snapshot with perfect composition, however most shots will need to be carefully planned and may take patience.

Have you ever looked a photograph and it just 'works'? We'll train you to have that professional eye, so you can take more of these shots every time.

Read on and if inspiration strikes during this module, why not post some of your pictures on the forum?

Simplicity

Perhaps the most important guideline that you should always follow is simplicity.

Think about how you can keep you shots simple while giving your subject the centre of attention.

In this shot, a relatively uninteresting and uncluttered background helps to highlight the red arrows zooming in from the right.

Using the picture shape

One of the most useful options at your disposal is being able to change the orientation of the frame from horizontal to vertical.

Which one you use will depend on your subject, the background and what you want to convey with your image.

Tall structures like lighthouses and open landscapes may automatically suggest vertical or horizontal framing but think about how the subject would look if you change the frame.

Using the picture shape

Horizontal lines can increase a sense of horizontal movement where vertical shots can have the opposite effect.

Remember, the more extreme the proportions of your subject within your chosen frame, the more your eyes will be forced to follow the composition of the shot in a certain way.

Your eyes see square images as most static as they require less eye movement, so take all you have learned about movement in previous units and start to put it together with composition for amazing effects.

Rule of thirds

This is perhaps the most widely known rule in photography and essential in good composition.

So what is the 'rule of thirds'? Have a look at this grid:

Rule of thirds

The easiest way to explain this rule is to image breaking down your frame into nine compartments, using horizontal and vertical lines.When you look through the viewfinder, image the scene with this grid super-imposed on the top.This grid will help you define where the important elements of your shot should lie in the frame (the red plus points). Placing points of interest at these intersection points, should in theory give you a better image.

Rule of thirds

This is because your eye will be more likely to go to an intersection point and the exact centre of the frame and the idea with composition is to take the viewer on a journey around the shot.

If you can capture a subject where the eye feels most comfortable beginning the journey, you will be more likely to achieve a pleasing composition.

The insect in this picture is at one of the grid points. You can see that it falls nicely at an intersecting point and so the photo looks more interesting to the eye, because you begin with the wasp and then your eyes moves around the frame.

Rule of thirds

Have a look at this shot of a cyclist.

You can see how the composition helps to tell the story.

Because the main subject is at the intersecting points on the left, your eye begins with the subject and follows the journey he is likely to take out of the frame.

Rule of thirds

When you are taking landscape shots, consider using one the horizontal lines of the grid for your horizon line.

Have a look at this picture. The sea takes up the first third of the pictures and the sky the remaining two thirds. This gives an interesting composition and draws your eye from the start of the pier to the end.

Rule of thirds

So, when you are using the 'rule of thirds', first decide what the important elements are and think about those intersecting focal points. Move the viewfinder around and try different compositions.

Remember, rules are made to be broken, but in having an understanding of this fundamental principal, you will have a better understanding of how to break the rule as well!

Lines

Lines play a very important role in composition. When you are composing any shot, you should take time to consider the lines in the image.

They can play a very important role in the feel of the shot and how a viewer's eye interacts with the image.

Lines

The three types of lines within images are 'horizontal', 'vertical' and 'diagonal' lines and we'll look at all three in detail in this unit.

It does take time to become good at using lines in your images. A really good way to start is to go back over your pictures and look for lines which worked. Why did they work? Look at images that don't quite work and the lines within those images.

Before you take your next shot, stop and think about the lines in the frame. How can you use them to make the shot more interesting? Is there something in the scene that can be emphasised using lines?

Horizontal lines

A horizontal line in a photograph gives an image a feeling of stability or of an object at rest.

The horizon, the ocean, a person sleeping, a gate. All of these objects have something timeless and permanent about them.

Horizontal lines

Horizons are the most common horizontal line in our images and they can be used as a dividing point (using the rule of thirds).

Your horizon can be the anchor around which the rest of your shot forms.

To further emphasise the horizontal lines of a horizon, shooting in landscape (the viewfinder being horizontal) rather than portrait (the viewfinder being vertical) will achieve this.

Horizontal lines

Horizons are the most common horizontal line in our images and they can be used as a dividing point (using the rule of thirds).

Your horizon can be the anchor around which the rest of your shot forms.

To further emphasise the horizontal lines of a horizon, shooting in landscape (the viewfinder being horizontal) rather than portrait (the viewfinder being vertical) will achieve this.

Horizontal lines

When you are using horizons, do remember that a horizontal, unbroken horizon can look quite static and dull, so make sure you something else in the frame at the intersecting points on the grid to give it some interest.

This picture of a yacht has a very restful feeling about it and the horizon anchors the frame, giving a balanced shot.

Horizontal lines

The image of the yacht can be improved compositionally by cropping it down. This is because, having a horizon right in the middle of the shot leaves it feeling unbalanced. It's much more effective to place your horizon line on the upper or lower third of the frame.

Horizontal lines

Finally, a really good tip is to keep your horizontal lines horizontal.

It may be obvious, but a great shot composition can be spoiled by having the horizon skewed by just a few degrees.

Vertical lines

Vertical lines can produce very strong images indeed and convey power, strength and growth.

Think of the dynamic images produced by shooting architectural structures like this one on the right.

Vertical lines

Vertical lines can be significantly enhanced by using the camera in portrait mode (the viewfinder being vertical) as in the image above. This lengthens the subject and enhances the feeling of height.

Break the rule: by framing vertical lines in a landscape frame, you can convey the impression of the subject bursting out of the frame, which helps to emphasise the power of the vertical lines. See an example on the right.

Vertical lines

Again it’s important to try and keep your vertical lines as much in line with the sides of your image as possible. This is not always possible if you’re shooting looking up an image as the subject will taper off towards the top (this is called 'converging verticals) – but attempt to keep it’s centre as straight as possible and you should be ok.

Keep in mind the 'Rule of Thirds' when you have strong vertical lines in a photograph. Placing a line directly in the middle of a shot will effectively cut your image in half. This can be used with dramatic impact but also can leave your image looking unbalanced.

Vertical lines

Keep an eye out for vertical lines that are repeated in patterns in your images as they can be used to great impact. Have a look at this image for an example.

Think about composing shots with vertical lines contrasting with other shapes and lines going in all different directions for interesting images.

Diagonal lines

Diagonal lines can be used to great effect to draw the viewer's eye through the image, creating movement and dynamism.

They create points of interest when they bisect other lines and can create interesting perspective shots.

Diagonal lines

Another great use of diagonal lines is to help emphasise movement or dynamism.

Consider how your diagonal line could define the way the image is viewed and how it could lead the eye to (or away from) the subject.

When people were studied viewing images, it was normal for people to view them from left to right. A diagonal line travelling from the bottom left to the top right of an image can give a very natural feel because of this.

Diagonal lines

You don't want a strong diagonal line cutting your image in half of course, just look around for natural objects and lines which will give this effect without spoiling the composition.

Also, having your diagonal line slightly off centre can look better.

The sculpture of a fish has natural diagonal lines which have been shot slightly off centre to give a better feel.

Diagonal lines

Lots of diagonal lines in an image can create movement and interest, but be careful, too many and your image could become distracting and cluttered.

Have a look at the patterns in the world around you.

You can create some really good images by focussing in on everyday objects and using lines to create a dynamic image.

Balance

What does a photograph with good balance look like? Does the shot need to be composed of equal sized elements? The answer to this is sometimes yes and sometimes no.

Formal balance is the equal balancing of elements on each side of the shot. This works well for any visual art and is often used by designers to get a good balance on web-pages or adverts for example.

Balance

Have a look at this portrait image.

If you folded it in half, the two half would look loosely the same. Both sides would show half a nose, half a mouth etc.

This is formal balance and when used for images which have strong symmetry, it can produce a striking effect.

Balance

Informal balance is balancing on one or more sides of the subject by using an object that is different to the original subject.

Have a look at the portrait of the girl again, but this time the picture has an informal balance.

Balance

Is one type of balance better than the other? Well it really depends on what you are shooting of course.

Buildings, sculptures and monuments or anything with a uniform structure often look good in a formal composition as this is how they were designed to be viewed.

Ultimately, balancing a shot comes down to personal taste and artistic eye for what works.

Balance

PRACTICE ASSIGNMENTThis assignment will not be scored.

Take your camera and a static object, preferably outside. This could be a tree, a post-box, a mailbox or a notice-board.

Your assignment is to take 36 pictures of your chosen object and each one must be balanced differently.

You should find that your last shots are better because by then, you will have been forced to see things differently. Share your best shots on our forum!

Perspective

Perspective can be used in many different ways in photography to give your pictures a different feeling or to emphasis strength or even weakness of your subject.

Shooting up towards a subject generally gives it a sense of power and solidity like this cactus.

Perspective

In the opposite way, if you shoot an image looking down on the subject, it can make them appear diminutive and the surroundings more powerful.

This can be a great technique for portraits. Just by moving slightly above or below the subject you can give a different feeling to the image using perspective.

Perspective

ADVANCED TIP: A growing trend in photography is to used 'forced perspective'. This is where you use perspective to make the subject or object in shot appear larger, smaller or appear in a different way than is natural.

The classic shot of forced perspective is the person standing at just the right spot in front of the Taj Mahal and holding their hand at the tip, to make it look like they are about to pick it up. This is a fun technique and can deliver some really professional results.

Image Fraser Reid