Composition 101 Defined as the arrangement or organization of items within the frame of the photo. Includes people, objects, background and foreground

Composition 101Composition 101Defined asDefined as the arrangement the arrangement or organization of items or organization of items within the frame of the within the frame of the photo.photo.

Includes Includes people, objects, people, objects, background and foregroundbackground and foreground

Good compositionGood composition directs the directs the viewer to the main element viewer to the main element or most interesting area of or most interesting area of photophoto

Center of Visual Center of Visual InterestInterestAlso called CVI

The one part of the photo composition that draws your eye or captures your attention

There are many ways to There are many ways to emphasize the CVI. A emphasize the CVI. A good good photographer uses a variety photographer uses a variety of methodsof methods to do this. to do this.

Composition methodsComposition methods

1. Rule of Thirds2. Position of Horizon3. Fill the Frame4. Angle5. Framing6. Lines7. Repetition

1. Rule of Thirds1. Rule of ThirdsThe CVI should NEVER be placed in the dead center of the photo if you can help it

CVI should be off center to the left or right of frame OR to the top or bottom of frame

Rule of Thirds cont.Rule of Thirds cont.Looking in the viewfinder, mentally divide your frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically

Place your CVI on one of the areas of intersections of those horizontal and vertical lines

Rule of Thirds cont.Rule of Thirds cont.

Rule of Thirds Rule of Thirds NightmareNightmare


Notice how the girl with cell phone (CVI) is Notice how the girl with cell phone (CVI) is arranged in the bottom left third of the photo’s arranged in the bottom left third of the photo’s frameframe


Notice how the elephant (CVI) is arranged in the Notice how the elephant (CVI) is arranged in the bottom right of the framebottom right of the frame

Rule of Thirds Rule of Thirds

cont.cont.

CVI is at top right CVI is at top right of image.of image.

2. Horizon Position2. Horizon PositionPay attention to where the Pay attention to where the horizon linehorizon line of the frame is of the frame is

Be sure Be sure your camera is also your camera is also levellevel so horizon isn’t tilted so horizon isn’t tilted

Place the horizon in Place the horizon in the the bottom third or upper third bottom third or upper third of the frameof the frame, never in the , never in the dead centerdead center

Level HorizonLevel Horizon

Notice horizon is in the bottom third of frame Notice horizon is in the bottom third of frame to emphasize sunset or sky (CVI)to emphasize sunset or sky (CVI)


Notice horizon is in the top third of frame to Notice horizon is in the top third of frame to emphasize beach and water (CVI)emphasize beach and water (CVI)





Notice horizon is in the top third of frame to Notice horizon is in the top third of frame to the line of runners (CVI)the line of runners (CVI)

Horizon DisastersHorizon Disasters

Nice to put CVI in bottom right of frame, but Nice to put CVI in bottom right of frame, but horizon is dead center in photohorizon is dead center in photo

Level Horizon Level Horizon DisastersDisasters

Great action but Great action but watch the tilted watch the tilted horizon!horizon!

3. Fill the Frame3. Fill the Frame

Don’t be shy! Don’t be shy! GET CLOSEGET CLOSE to to subject!subject!

Your CVI should Your CVI should “fill” your “fill” your viewfinderviewfinder nearly completely nearly completely

Compose photo so there’s Compose photo so there’s nothing to distract from your nothing to distract from your CVICVI

If you can’t see their eyes, If you can’t see their eyes, you you don’t have the shotdon’t have the shot

Fill the Frame Fill the Frame examplesexamples

Fill the Frame Fill the Frame exampleexample




Fill the Frame Fill the Frame disastersdisasters

Fill the Frame Fill the Frame examplesexamples

Fill the Frame Fill the Frame DangersDangersAvoid Avoid MERGERS, or objects MERGERS, or objects that appear to be “growing” that appear to be “growing” out of people’s heads or out of people’s heads or body partsbody parts

Avoid busy backgrounds Avoid busy backgrounds so so they don’t distract from your they don’t distract from your CVICVI

Move the camera or yourselfMove the camera or yourself to avoid mergersto avoid mergers

Merger ExampleMerger Example



Merger CorrectionMerger Correction

4. Angles4. Angles

Avoid taking photos at Avoid taking photos at eye leveleye level. It’s what you . It’s what you see everyday, all the time.see everyday, all the time.

Unusual anglesUnusual angles add add interest and give a new interest and give a new look to the same old thing.look to the same old thing.

Bird’s Eye ViewBird’s Eye View

Bird’s Eye ViewBird’s Eye View

Worm’s Eye Worm’s Eye ViewView

Worm’s Eye Worm’s Eye ViewView

Unique Unique angleangle



5. Framing5. FramingUse other elements in the Use other elements in the photo photo to create natural to create natural frames aroundframes around your CVI your CVI

The frame The frame draws the draws the readerreader to the CVI for a 3-D to the CVI for a 3-D effecteffect

Could use branches, bushes, Could use branches, bushes, parts of people or objects to parts of people or objects to frame CVIframe CVI

Framing Framing ExampleExample




Framing ExampleFraming Example


6. Lines6. LinesUse real or “imaginary” Use real or “imaginary” lines lines to guide readers to guide readers through the photothrough the photo and and towards your CVI.towards your CVI.

Leading Lines:Leading Lines: Actual lines Actual lines like roads, hall ways, rows of like roads, hall ways, rows of desks or people, fences or desks or people, fences or buildings can be lead reader buildings can be lead reader right to CVI. right to CVI.

Leading Leading lineslines





7. Repetition7. RepetitionLook for Look for patterns or patterns or repeating elementsrepeating elements that that could make interesting could make interesting composition.composition.

You can You can emphasize the emphasize the repetition or break up repetition or break up the repetition,the repetition, depending depending on the mood you want to on the mood you want to create.create.

Emphasize the Emphasize the repetitionrepetition

Emphasize Emphasize the the repetitionrepetition

Emphasize Emphasize the the repetitionrepetition

Emphasize the Emphasize the repetitionrepetition

Break up Break up the the repetitiorepetitionn

Break up the Break up the repetitionrepetition

Break up the Break up the repetitionrepetition

Break up the repetitionBreak up the repetition

Last but not least…Last but not least…Be Be patientpatient……

But don’t wait…But don’t wait…take lots of take lots of photosphotos

Take photos of Take photos of moments and moments and emotionsemotions

Avoid posingAvoid posing, “Say Cheese” or , “Say Cheese” or staged photosstaged photos

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Composition 101 Defined as the arrangement or organization of items within the frame of the photo. Includes people, objects, background and foreground