Visual Literacy Concepts Photographic Composition

Make the photograph interesting Composition Balance Subject Placement Pattern Tone Light Direction Quality

Composition is the arrangement of items in an image where the subject is, in relation to the borders of the image the key to successful images

Composition is Balance Balance Subject Placement Pattern Symmetry Asymmetry Subject Placement Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Pattern Radial Design Repetition Balance

Make the photograph interesting Be Sure to Balance Symmetrical Asymmetrical

Balance Equality of the left & right sides of the image

Balance Symmetry Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same

Symmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same Karl Blossfeldt

Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same Karl Blossfeldt

Symmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same Diane Arbus

Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same Diane Arbus

Symmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same Walker Evans

Asymmetry Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same Walker Evans

Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry? Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same Asymmetry Ansel Adams

Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry? Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same Asymmetry Bill Brandt

Which? Symmetry or Asymmetry? Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same Asymmetry Jerry Uelsmann

Balance Equality of the left & right sides of the image Symmetrical Balance - Both sides of an imaginary central line are the same Asymmetrical Balance - Both sides of an imaginary central line ARE NOT the same

Make the photograph interesting Draw Attention to Your Subject Leading Lines Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds

Draw Attention to Your Subject Leading Lines Lines that lead in a path to the subject Ansel Adams

Leading Lines Lines that lead in a path to the subject Lewis Hine

Leading Lines Lines that lead in a path to the subject Dorothea Lange

Make the photograph interesting Draw Attention to Your Subject Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Framing

Draw attention to the subject Framing Objects within the borders of the image frame the subject Arnold Newman

Framing Objects within the borders of the image frame the subject Manuel Alvarez-Bravo

Framing Objects within the borders of the image frame the subject Anne Geddes

Make the photograph interesting Draw Attention to Your Subject Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds Place the subject in a junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image.

Rule of Thirds Place the subject in a junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image. Dorothea Lange

Rule of Thirds Place the subject in a junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image. Imogen Cunningham

Rule of Thirds Place the subject in a junction of an imaginary “tic-tac-toe” grid over the image. Steve Ludlum

Make the photograph interesting Look for patterns Radial Design Repetition Radial Design

Radial Design Objects, shapes, lines, and/or colors radiate out from a central point in a circular pattern. Alfred Eisenstaedt

Radial Design Objects, shapes, lines, and/or colors radiate out from a central point in a circular pattern. James Nachtwey

Make the photograph interesting Look for patterns Radial Design Repetition Repetition

Repetition Same shape, line, pattern, and/or color is repeated throughout the image. Harry Callahan

Repetition Same shape, line, pattern, and/or color is repeated throughout the image. Margaret Bourke-White

Elements of Composition Draw Attention to Your Subject Convey a Clear Message Make Your Photograph Interesting

Elements of Composition Balance Symmetry Asymmetry Subject Placement Leading Lines Framing Rule of Thirds Pattern Radial Design Repetition