Composition Part 1

Composition Involves: The term composition means 'putting together‘. Any work of art is arranged or “put together” using conscious thought in order to communicate an idea. Composition Involves: The Picture Plane: the space you have to work with. Arranging Forms and Imagery: Placing things in an interesting manner on the picture plane. Selection: Choosing forms and imagery that will contribute to the concept of your artwork. It is the STRUCTURE OF A PICTURE – how the elements are laid out in the frame. How YOU select and organize lines, shapes, value, etc….AND how you use the Elements of Art and Principles of Design!

1) Compose around a Single Center of Interest. Before shooting your photo, ask yourself what major element in the shot communicates your basic idea.

Compose around a Single Center of Interest. You can isolate the subject by throwing the background out of focus. Our eyes are attracted to areas with sharp focus.

Compose around a Single Center of Interest.

However, when everything is in sharp focus, the image becomes cluttered and won't hold the viewer's attention. Having too many things to look at causes fatigue in the viewer's eye.

2) Fill the Frame (tight framing): Zoom in Move in with your feet - get closer

Fill the FRAME

3) Rule of Thirds Brake the frame into thirds, horizontally and vertically Create a grid with intersecting points where your eyes naturally tend to look.

Rule Of Thirds: Dividing the picture plane into 3 parts- Horizontally and vertically The rule of thirds is the best known composition rule. If you divide the image into thirds, objects should be placed where the thirds cross. Avoid placing the focal point in the center of the frame. (Bull’s Eye Syndrome)

Rule of Thirds

4) Framing: Direct the viewers attention to the primary subject Creates the illusion of depth Can obscure unwanted objects in foreground/background Can be naturally occurring Tight framing Wide framing Using an object as a frame

4) FRAMING In order to draw attention to your subject, try creating a natural frame around the subject within your image.

Leading Lines Lines are a design element that help direct your viewer through the image. Establish a focal point, use lines to guide the viewer through your composition and keep them in the frame.

5) Disappearing Lines into Corners/Diagonals: If there are strong lines in the scene, try to get them to disappear into the corner. If the lines break into the center or the edge, it tends to divide the picture. A disappearing line into a corner seems to make composition stronger.

6) S CURVES The eye enjoys following S curves. Creates movement

7) Vertical Lines: Create a feeling of height Suggest strength

8) Curved Lines: Suggest beauty, fluidity, grace, movement

Curved Lines: Movement and depth

Curved Lines: Suggest openness and space

9) Dominant Foreground/ Contributing Background

10) Silhouette: Conveys drama, mood, mystery Simplifies a busy composition Place your subject(s) in front of an interesting light source

Silhouette