1. the selection and arrangement of subjects within the picture area
Composition
the selection and arrangement of subjects within the picture area

2. Major Principles
Simplicity
Tension

3. Simplicity Eliminating distracting and unimportant material
Simplifying the visual elements satisfies viewer’s need to identify the main subject (point of interest)
Simplicity is a matter of organizing your subject in a clear, concise manner

4. Ways to achieve simplicity:
Move closer, include only necessary elements (ex)
Change lenses – telephoto to zoom closer (ex)
Use shallow depth of field (ex)
Change point of view (ex)
Selective focus (ex)
Choose darker background (ex)
Remove objects if possible (ex)
Move subject if possible
next

5. Move Closer

6. Move Closer

7. Move Closer

8. Move Closer
back

9. Change lens to telephoto

10. Change lens to telephoto
back

11. Shallow depth of field

12. Shallow depth of field

13. Shallow depth of field
back

14. Change point of view

15. Change point of view
back

16. Selective focus

17. Selective focus
back

18. Choose darker background

19. Choose darker background

20. Choose darker background (with zoom)

21. Remove objects

22. and move closer
back

23. Tension
Arises from the feeling of movement and interplay among the visual elements
Creates a variety of messages depending on how elements are organized or balanced against each other
Produces the picture’s tone and makes it interesting
ex: gentle, forceful
next

24. Gentle tone

25. Forceful tone
back

26. Techniques for tension:
Create motion with wide angle lens (ex)
Use diagonal lines (ex)
Combine thick and thin lines (ex)
Through use of color (ex)
Frame your subject as disproportionately small (ex)
next

27. Wide angle

28. Wide angle
back

29. Diagonal lines

30. Diagonal lines
back

31. Combine thick and thin lines
back

32. Through use of color
back

33. Frame your subject as disproportionately small
back

34. Techniques to help see creatively and compose better photos
True seeing is not a function of the camera. How you arrange your subject is the real creative act.
Fill the frame (ex)
Define the horizon (landscapes) (ex)
Apply rule of thirds (ex)
Vertical vs horizontal (ex)
Skew the point of view (ex)
Frame the subject (ex)
Silhouette the subject (ex)
Break the rules (ex)

35. Fill the frame

36. Fill the frame

37. Fill the frame

38. Fill the frame

39. Fill the frame

40. Fill the frame
back

41. Define the horizon
back

42. Define the horizon

43. Define the horizon
back

44. Apply rule of thirds

45. Apply rule of thirds

46. Apply rule of thirds
back

47. Vertical vs horizontal

48. Vertical vs horizontal

49. Vertical vs horizontal

50. Vertical vs horizontal
back

51. Skew the point of view (tilt camera)
back

52. Frame the subject

53. Frame the subject

54. Frame the subject

55. Frame the subject
back

56. Silhouette the subject

57. Silhouette the subject
back

58. Silhouette the subject
back

59. Break the rules

60. Break the rules

61. Break the rules

62. Other techniques: Leading lines (ex) Lead the subject Avoid mergers
looking space (ex)
Avoid mergers
tonal mergers – (ex)
dimensional mergers – (ex)
border mergers – ex: cutting subject off at edge of frame

63. Leading lines
lines that lead the viewer’s eyes through the photo
back

64. Lead the subject
room in front of the subject within the frame of the photo

65. Not leading the subject
back

66. Tonal mergers
when important objects in a scene appear to blend together and lose their identity.
back

67. Dimensional mergers
important scene elements run together because the eye sees 3D, camera doesn’t

68. Dimensional mergers
back

69. Border mergers
when subject matter is cropped too tightly or cut off by the edge of the frame
at an inappropriate point

70. Fini!