1. PHOTOGRAPHY 1 Basic Composition Techniques
Matakuliah : U0173 / FOTOGRAFI 1
PHOTOGRAPHY 1 Basic Composition Techniques

2. In this session we will cover the following materials
Understanding the basic theory of composition in photography
Using natural resources to help us in creating better composition and ultimately better pictures
Playing around with horizontal & vertical composition
Using different approaches such as negative spaces
Using some external accessories to differentiate and create new effects for photography

3. Introduction
Now that we have taken our first photographs, let’s take a closer look at how we can further improve them
To be able to create better photographs , it is of course advisable to know what is wrong with our present ones

4. Guidelines and Questions
Is the exposure right where we want them to be..?
Is the pictures in focus ? (especially when there are moving objects involved)
Do the pictures have foreground , middle ground and background in them ? Have we used them effectively
Does our pictures seem rather boring when we look at it.? Do you feel that the pictures seems ordinary ? “At this point a second opinion from a fellow friend could also be useful”
How are the colors coming out..? Is it the lab’s fault or ours ?

5. The Symmetrical Composition The Rule Of Thirds The Golden Rule
The Basic Theory of Composition
There are 3 basic theories in composition in which we will learn them and eventually break them
The Symmetrical Composition
The Rule Of Thirds
The Golden Rule

6. The Symmetrical Rule
This is one rule that is usually embedded in a persons mind. (The norm of our mindset)
Lets do a psychological exercise !
All students take out their camera enabled mobile phone and take a picture of the person next to you
Next, show that person the picture you just took

7. A Symmetrical composition :

8. Example of :
a Symmetrical composition

9. The Rule of Thirds
This rule is much more complex as it requires us to imagine and use grids as a mean of measuring
Imagine your frame is divided into 3 horizontal axis and 3 vertical axis. (you should get a frame with 9 boxes)
The vertical axis should be the axis where you put out object / subject.
The horizontal axis is places where you put your horizon lines.

10. The Rule of Thirds

11. Examples of Rule of Thirds
using the vertical axis

12. Examples of Rule of Thirds
using the vertical axis

13. Examples of Rule of Thirds using the horizontal axis

14. The Golden Rule
The Golden Rule is a more simple approach in composition such as this rule will apply the more basic composition of the symmetrical rule and moving it a little to create a sense of unbalance
In theory we would divide our picture frame equally in 2 as we would with symmetrical composition. But..
We will divide the other half of the frame into 3 parts. Our subject would late be placed in the first of the 3 lines nearest to the center of the picture.

15. The Golden Rule

16. Examples of :
The Golden Rule

17. The Techniques Of Seeing
Exploring Various Angles :
Eye Level - our eye
Birds Eye Level - higher
Cat’s Eye Level - lower
Exploring different position :
Horizontal position
Vertical position
Observation for : repetitions, shapes, lines, colors, textures.

18. Using Horizontal vs Vertical Composition
This is a common mistakes of beginning photographers to underestimate the ability to create great photographs just by turning the camera 90 degrees.
It is also common practices that our mindset will automatically frame landscape images horizontally while portrait Images vertically.
In this exercise we will show you the alternatives in which we could compose our pictures in ways other than the standard mindset.

19. Horizontal Composition

20. Vertical Composition

21. Applying Natural Elements into our pictures
Observation For
Horizontal ,Vertical & Diagonal Lines
Textures
Colors
Shapes
Patterns

22. Colors and Horizontal

23. Framing an object

24. Patterns

25. Colors & Repetitive Patterns

26. End of Session