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Guidelines for Guidelines for Better Better Photographic Photographic Composition Composition

Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

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Page 1: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Guidelines for Guidelines for Better Better

PhotographicPhotographic

CompositionComposition

Page 2: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Guidelines for BetterGuidelines for Better Photographic Composition Photographic Composition

Composition DefinitionComposition Definition:

The technique of capturing a photo that draws the reader’s eye to the subject.

Page 3: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Guidelines for BetterGuidelines for Better Photographic Composition Photographic Composition

A few thoughts before you press the shutter release...

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.

- Ansel Adams

“Don’t take a picture of everything; take a picture of something.”

- Victor Pizzolato

Page 4: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Guidelines for betterGuidelines for betterPhotographic CompositionPhotographic Composition

1) Simplicity2) The Rule of Thirds

3) Lines4) Balance5) Framing6) Mergers

Page 5: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

1) Simplicity1) SimplicityThe first and perhaps the

most important guideline is simplicity. Look for ways to give the center of interest in your pictures the most visual attention. One way is to select uncomplicated backgrounds that will not steal attention from your subjects.

Page 6: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Simplicity?Simplicity?

Page 7: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Simplicity!

By choosing the cactus as the subject and by moving in closer with the sky as the background, the photograph is not only simplified, it’s improved.

Page 8: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique
Page 9: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

2) The Rule of 2) The Rule of ThirdsThirds

You can use the Rule of Thirds as a guide in the off-center placement of your subjects. Here’s how it works. 

Page 10: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

The Rule of The Rule of ThirdsThirds

Before you snap the picture, imagine your picture area divided into thirds both horizontally and vertically. The intersections of these imaginary lines suggest four options for placing the center of interest for good composition. Try not to perfectly center your subject.

Page 11: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique
Page 12: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

3) Lines3) LinesLines also play an

important role in composition. Seeing the lines and focusing on them can make a picture better. Look at the following 2 photos of the same structure.

Page 13: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Now we can look up and see the lines against a clear blue sky. The picture on the right is much more dynamic because of the strong diagonal lines.

Page 14: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

4) Balance4) BalanceAchieving good balance is another

guideline for better picture composition. In the next slide, notice how the leaves, the window, and the couple all seem to be in the right place. The camera viewpoint and subject placement were all carefully selected to create this well-balanced photograph.

Page 15: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique
Page 16: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

5) Framing5) Framing

Frame the center of interest with objects in the foreground. This can give a picture the feeling of depth it needs to make it more than just another snapshot.

Page 17: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique
Page 18: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

6) Mergers6) MergersIn the final visual, the

merger of a tree with the subject’s head is obvious. Since we see in three dimensions, it's easy to focus on the principal subject only and not see the tree in the background at all. Try to be aware of what is BEHIND your subject.

Page 19: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Remember that the camera always sees mergers, so look for plain backgrounds before you pose your subject. In this case the correction was simple because the two settings were only a few feet apart.  

Page 20: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique
Page 21: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

Composition Quick Composition Quick QuizQuiz

Please draw a line under your notes, and then answer the following questions.

Page 22: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

1. The technique of capturing a photo that draws the reader’s eye to the subject is called…

Page 23: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

2. True or False?

The Rule of Thirds means that you should try not to center your subject in the dead center.

Page 24: Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition. Guidelines for Better Photographic Composition Composition Definition Composition Definition: The technique

3. When a photographer does not pay attention to things behind their subject, sometimes ___________________ can occur.

An example would be a pole looking like it was coming out of a person’s head.