1 Getting to Grips with your Digital Cameras Week 1 – Composition

Composition (Part 1) The word composition means combining or putting together parts to form a whole. Composition can apply to many works of human endeavor including music and writing – in fact anything that is arranged or ‘put together’ using conscious thought.

Composition (Part 1) In this lesson we are going to look at some of the most important ‘rules’ or conventions of composition: Rule of Thirds Rule of Even & Odd Triangles Space Simplification Symmetry Pattern & Repetition Learning ‘rules’ about art can seem stifling or constricting – if all artists just follow a set of rules then their art would look very similar and become very boring. Many original artists manage to break or ‘bend’ these rules or conventions, but to do so successfully they first had to fully understand the rules and conventions.

Rule of Thirds Divide the image into thirds as shown – If the main visual components (things in the image) lie on or near the lines then the image often tends to look ‘right’. In this image the horizon line is on one of the bisectors. Chris Monaghan

Which image do you prefer? Which image more closely follows the rule of thirds? Chris Monaghan

7 Gary Winogrand Sometimes an image does not follow the rule of thirds exactly, but the main visual components (‘things’) in the image are close to the 1/3 rd bisectors.

Fay Godwin Landscape photography often uses the rule of thirds – how?

Landscape photography often has the horizon line on or near one of the two horizontal lines

The Rule Of Even And Odd Norman Parkinson Dianne Arbus An even number of ‘things’ in an image can sometimes create a feeling of tension or a slightly un-natural look. … while an odd number of ‘things’ can often create a feeling of harmony or balance

An odd number of subjects in an image often has a more ‘natural’, symmetrical or balanced feel than an even number.

Henri Cartier Bresson In many artworks 3 subjects or ‘things’ in an image (an odd number) can draw attention to the central subject.

Rule of Triangles Triangles have 3 sides and tend to form stable, solid looking compositions. Arnold Newman Can you spot any triangles?

Rule of space Which composition is more dynamic? Which composition is more ‘restful’, allowing the subject to ‘look dreamily into space’? Nadar

Rule of space The empty space in the right-hand image creates a more contemplative or thoughtful feel to it. Nadar

Swimmers diving into the water (shot from beneath the water, looking upwards). Space can also help create an impression of movement In this image there is not much unfilled space

The swimmers now appear to be moving into the empty space ahead of them, helping to create an impression or feeling of movement.

23 Simplification How does Rembrandt draw our attention into the face? Rembrandt, Self Portrait.

Simplification ANSWER: 1.Lighting - the face has more light on it than other areas. 2.The brush-strokes are finer and more detailed in the facial area but become broader and less detailed for other areas. 3.Vignette – the painting becomes darker towards the edges. 4.Use of colour – dark ‘drab’ colours except for the face.

What technique has the photographer used to simplify this image? Chris Monaghan

Is this picture ‘simplified’ ? If not, why not … and so what might the photographer Joel Meyerowitz be saying about life in the modern city?

Symmetry In this photograph the building seems to be ‘balanced’ by the white cloud. The line of symmetry runs from the bottom left to top right corner. Chris Monaghan

Symmetry & Repetition Line of symmetry Chris Monaghan

Where is the line of symmetry in this image?

Note: unlike in mathematics where perfect symmetry can be found, in art symmetry is often an approximation.

Chris Monaghan Does this image exhibit any symmetry? When something has no symmetry we say that it is asymmetrical

David Seymour (Chim) How does being asymmetrical (not symmetrical) help or add to the viewing experience and meaning of this image?

Answer: War is chaotic & random – death can come at any moment and does not follow beautiful aesthetic rules of composition. By being asymmetrical the image manages to convey this.

Repetition & Pattern Jackson Pollock

When something is repeated, it can create a visual pattern. Paul Strand Edward Weston

Andreas GurskyPaul Strand Pattern can be used to suggest texture, or can produce an abstract visual experience.

37 Framing

38 Framing

What have we looked at today? Rule of Thirds Rule of Even & Odd Triangles Space Simplification Symmetry Pattern & Repetition