FINE ART COMPOSITION DEFINED By Dale Kincaid

FINE ART Visual art created primarily for aesthetic, imaginative and

intellectual purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness.

“Photography that fulfills the vision and purpose of the photographer.”

COMPOSITION The artistic arrangement and placement of visual elements within a frame. It is the most difficult aspect of the art of photography to master, and also the most important.

TOOLS: ELEMENTS OF COMPOSITION

Lines Center of Interest

Shapes Contrast

Form Balance

Size Unity & Harmony

Texture Rhythm

Space Variety

Color Motion or Movement

Value Scale

GUIDELINES: PRINCIPLES OF GOOD COMPOSITION

VISUAL EFFECTS OF COMPOSITION

Symbolism Time Emotion

The Principles of good composition are the

results of working with the elements of art.

FINE ART COMPOSITION DEFINED – PART 1 Is intended to provide ideas to add visual impact and feeling to your photography.

Characteristics of elements in composition

• Visual Intensity and Energy, Magnetism

• Story telling and meaning

• Feeling and Emotion

Lines

Shapes

Space

Basic Principles of composition

Rule of thirds

Golden Ratio

Golden spiral

Lines Lines are marks that span a distance between two points. They are often formed by contrast between objects or areas. Lines can separate ideas, space or objects within a composition or connect them creating a visual connection. Lines can be used to lead the viewers attention throughout the composition. The length of lines can often help determine whether a scene should be oriented horizontal or vertical. Lines are a great first component of visual energy.

Straight Lines – Horizontal, Vertical, Oblique, Zig-Zag

Curved Lines – Horizontal, Vertical, Oblique, Wavy, C-curve, S-curve

Implied Lines – Eye Direction, Subject Motion, Horizon

Straight Lines With the exception of a distinct horizon, straight lines are rarely found in nature. Therefore, straight lines will imply structure, manufactured and artificial (man made). Straight lines often have a direct quality that is more intense then a curved line traveling in the same direction.

Straight Horizontal Lines Have the least amount of energy because they are at rest.

Characteristics: Inactivity, quite, stillness, grounded, at rest, wide, expanded, spacious, shortened

Straight Vertical Lines Have more energy because they are standing up.

Characteristics: Height, stature, strength and power, stability, importance, balanced

Oblique Lines (And Zig-Zag) Have the most energy because they are unstable.

Characteristics: Action, movement, vitality, activity, diversity

Implied Lines Lines that do not physically exist, but are suggested by the position of shapes or objects. Suggested lines are implied through the direction of the eyes where a subject may be looking. Motion or directional lines are created by subjects in motion. The same intensity or energy guidelines that we talked about for all lines will apply to implied lines as well.

Characteristics: Visual Effects, connected, disconnected

Implied Lines Eye Lines

Characteristics: Flat Space More intensity adding depth and dimension High Energy Recent Past Present time Future Present time

Engaging the viewer produces the highest intensity.

IMPLIED LINES Motion directional lines

Conflicting eye lines and implied motion lines adds dynamic tension resulting in more intensity.

CURVED LINES Curved lines, often referred to as organic lines are more natural and soft

which is very pleasing to the eye. The greater the curvature the more intense

it is.

Soft shallow curved lines will convey a sense of gracefulness, liveliness,

activity, spontaneity and emotions such as peaceful, delight and excitement.

While straight lines can be more masculine, curved lines are generally more feminine.

Deep acute curved lines suggest confusion, turbulence or frenzy

as in the violence of waves in a storm.

CURVED LINES S-curves are more intense then ordinary curved lines. Their pleasing shape is very lively. William Hogarth coined the phrase “the line of beauty” in his book titled The Analysis Of Beauty written in 1753.

C-Curves are often conceived as more masculine then s curves.

The energy of shape curves are more intense when used on a single plane. Used on multiple planes, curves may have a pleasing beginning and a diminishing end.

Shapes Shapes are two-dimensional areas with well defined boundaries defined by lines,

color or value. Shapes are classified as geometric or organic. Shapes defined by objects are positive shapes. Shapes defined around objects are negative shapes.

Rectangle– or Quadrilateral

Circle– round or oval

Triangle– Equilateral, Isosceles, Scalene, Acute, Obtuse Organic– Freeform, non geometric beings or objects that are primarily recognizable.

Rectangles Have the least amount of energy. They are rigid, stable shapes that imply structure, stability and can be well balanced, providing comfort as a characteristic. “A square person is boring who likes to stick to the rules and is formal.” A tilted or oblique rectangle will have more energy. Many of the line characteristics apply to shapes as well.

Circles and ovals Circles have more visual energy then rectangles. They have a special interest in having no beginning or end and are less stable, having a potential to move. Circles have a positive emotional appeal. Joy, happy, graceful, protected, warmth.

Triangles Have the most visual intensity. Equilateral triangles have the least energy while isosceles (two equal side and two equal angles) are the most energetic as they imply direction. Triangles tend to be more masculine. Triangles resting on their base can imply stability and strength, growth and progress. Triangles resting on a point creates dynamic tension and feelings of instability, conflict, discomfort. Triangle are most useful in connecting any three points of interest or subjects within a frame.

Space The distance or area between, around, above, below, or contained within objects. Space can be used to create the feeling or illusion of depth or three dimensions. Space can also refer to the area around the primary objects known as negative space, while the space occupied by the primary objects is positive space.

Basic Composition

Rule of Thirds - Dividing an image into 3 equal sections both horizontally and vertically. Placing the center of interest along the guidelines and/or at the intersecting points will provide a visually pleasing composition.

Basic Composition

Golden Ratio- In philosophy, the 'golden mean' is the desirable middle between two extremes. That is where the beauty lies within. Placing the center of interest along the guidelines and/or at the intersecting points will provide a visually pleasing composition.

Basic Composition

Golden Spiral – Is widely used in graphic design and architecture.

Golden Triangle Diagonal

Basic Composition

Overlays available in Adobe Elements, Lightroom and Photoshop. Keyboard ‘O’ to cycle through them. ‘shift O’ to change orientation.

FINE ART COMPOSITION DEFINED – PART 2

JULY 13, 2014 7:00 PM Is intended to provide ideas to add visual impact and feeling to your photography.

Characteristics of elements in composition • Visual Intensity and Energy, Magnetism

• Story telling and meaning

• Feeling and Emotion

Lines

Shapes

Space

Color

Value

Principles of composition Balance

Unity & Harmony

Variety

“Once the amateur’s naïve approach and

humble willingness to learn fades away, the creative spirit of good photography dies with it. Every professional should remain always in his heart and amateur.”

Alfred Eisenstaedt