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CompositionChoosing a SubjectChoosing a SubjectQuality of LightFraming the ImageDepth of FieldBackgrounds and ForegroundsViewpoint “ h b ild i t h tpLeading LinesContrastsP tt
“…how you build a picture, what a picture consists of, how shapes are related to each other, how spaces are filled how the whole thingPatterns
Negative SpaceDeveloping your Own Style
are filled, how the whole thing must have a kind of unity.” Paul Strand
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Choosing a Subject
All taken close to my house
Subjects are all around you if you can learn to see!!!
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Quality of light Quality of Light is subjectiveQ y g j
Light can have tone – dark or lightLight can be soft or hard – blurred orsharpLight can have color – muted or Light can have color muted or saturatedLight can have contrast - dark tones very near to light tones
Each of these are very much individual qualities that make the difference between a good photographer and a great photographer
Great photographers take these Qualities together with a subject and weave them into a composition called a photograph
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Framing the ImageAspect Ratio size of the FrameAspect Ratio – size of the FrameOrientation – Portrait/Landscape?S F ?Square Frame?CroppingFilling the FramePlacing Objects within the Frame
“A Painter includes objects;A Photographer excludes objects”
Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!Simplify! Simplify! Simplify! Enhanced Images 5JKM 3/12/2010
Aspect Ratio – Size of FrameAspect Ratio is important when taking a photo Think about Aspect Ratio is important when taking a photo. Think about how what you see in the Camera is going to fit on your chosen outputYou can achieve the chosen aspect ratio by cropping, however p y pp g,you may lose some of your image
1.33 Aspect Ratio Image
media size (width & height) Aspect RatioS 1 1 1 00Square 1 x 1 1.00
35 mm slide film 36 x 24 mm 1.50
Computer Display 1024 x 768 pixels 1.33
APS-C 2816 x 2112 pixels 1.33
t Di l 4368 2912 i l 1 50computer Display 4368 x 2912 pixels 1.50
Photo Paper 4 x 6 inches 1.50
Printing Paper 8.5 x 11 1.29
Standard TV 4 x3 1.33
HDTV 16 9 1 80
.5 in
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1.8 Aspect Ratio crop for HDTVHDTV 16 x 9 1.80
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OrientationHuman eyes are arranged to
LandscapeOrientation
y gnaturally view Landscapes
Most Cameras are designed to hold for a Landscape
Holding Camera in Portrait Orientation is uncomfortable
Go outside the box and take Portraits when scene calls for it.
Some scenes lend themselves to bothPortrait Orientation themselves to both horizontal and vertical. Try both.
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S FSquare FrameSquare Frame is difficult to Square Frame is difficult to work with as sides impose formal rigidity on the image
Eye will always be directed back towards the center of the image
It will, however, work with some images
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Filling the FrameFilling the FrameIf you don’t seem to be getting good photos, maybe you are maybe you are not close enough.
Fill the FrameG t i ClGet in CloseUse your feetUse your zoom
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Subject Placement in the FrameThe human eye naturally Framey ygoes to the center of a photograph.We are trained by nature to fi d hi i f f
Frame
find things in front of our eyes less interesting.Our eyes look for danger in our peripheral visionour peripheral vision.We find subjects in our peripheral vision much more interesting than in the centerg
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Frame Placement – “The Rule of Thirds”
Draw a grid dividing Frame into thirds.
Place key elements at the intersections (as much as(as much as possible)
Or place objects p jalong the lines
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Frame Placement – The Golden Rectangle
A+B = A = φ (Phi) = 1.618
There is an irrational number that appears many places in nature (other
φ ( )
B = .618 AA B
A
A square within a larger Another appears many places in nature (other than Pi – 1.414).It is Phi (φ) or 1.618.With it you can create the “Golden
q grectangle
Another square within a larger rectangle
yRectangle” (Left)
And anotherAnd
Soon
another so on
Fibonacci number Series 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34
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, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, …
Frame Placement – The Golden Rectangle
If fli h R l h i llIf you flip the Rectangle horizontally and vertically you will get a Tic Tac Toe within the rectangle. This is the origin of the so called “RuleThis is the origin of the so called Rule of Thirds”The rule of Thirds is an approximation of the “Golden Rectangle”A photographic Subject or Object placed in the center of the frame seems tilt d d b istilted and boring
An Object placed and one of the four intersecting lines in the frame seems natural to us.
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natural to us.
Frame Placement – The Golden Spiral
Connect the key points with a smooth y pcurve and you get the Golden Spiral which you might recognize in a Chambered NautilusMany believe this spiral appears in natureMany believe this spiral appears in nature everywhere, however usually the spiral is only an approximate fit.It does make us realize however that weexpect what we see to resemble theexpect what we see to resemble the things we see in nature. And nature approximates the Golden Rectangle
Keep in mind that it is only an approximation and exact placement is not
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important
Frame within the Frame
Use nearby objects to objects to frame the subject of the photop
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Positive and Negative SpaceP iti i h h d Positive space is where shapes and forms existN ti i th t Negative space is the empty space around shapes and forms
It i h “ h t i ’t th ” i It is where “what isn’t there” is as important as “what is”It can create depth and emotion in a It can create depth and emotion in a photo
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Depth of FieldPerfect lens would focus a point size object
What is “Sharp” in a photograph?
p jat a point on the sensorNo lenses are perfect and Human eye can only resolve a point size object down to a small circleThus the point size object becomes a veryor
LensDepth of Field
O Thus the point size object becomes a very small circleAs you scale the point size object to an entire photograph, some portions of the photograph are sharply in focus and some are blurred
Object
Focal Length
Sen
s
are blurredThis is a very complex subject: Depth of Field is determined by:
f/stop or ApertureFocal Length
Focal Length
Point size object becomes a circle. The circle size is a characteristic of Distance to the Subject
Lens sharpnessSensor sizePrint SizePrint viewing distance
The circle size is a characteristic of the Lens and Focal Length.What is acceptably sharp is a characteristic of the human eye
For more depth on the subject try this link:
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Human eye characteristicsFor more depth on the subject try this link:http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/depth-of-field.htm
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fControl over DOF:
Th (3) thi d tDepth of FieldF P i
Three (3) things you can do to control DOF:
Focus PointLens Focal Length:Increasing focal length reduces DOF. Decreasing
Large DOF1/3 2/3Distance: The greater the distance from the subject,
the greater the DOF. If you want more DOF, Step
focal Length increases DOF. Telephotos typically have small DOFs; Wide Angle lenses have
Focus Point
g y , pback. If you want less DOF move close up
Angle lenses have large DOF.
Watch out for Zoom Lenses as the DOF changes as
Z i d
f/stop: Decreasing aperture (increasing f/stop) gives you greater DOF; Increasing aperture reduces you Zoom in and
out.
DOF; Increasing aperture reduces DOF. Less DOF – Open your lens; More DOF – Stop it down.
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Shallow DOF
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Depth of Field
ISO = 200Lens = 58 mmAperture = f/11Shutter Speed = 1/25 Sec.
ISO = 200Lens = 58 mmAperture = f/2.8Shutter Speed = 1/400 Sec.
As the Aperture goes from f/11 to f/2.8, the background is clearly Blurred. This is the impact of Depth of FieldIf telephoto Lens was used we could completely blur out the backgroundIf telephoto Lens was used we could completely blur out the background
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Depth of FieldAs the Lens focal length goes g gfrom 58 mm to 300 mm, the background is clearly Blurred. This is the impact of Lens Focal Length on Depth of Field.g p
Great for Headshot Portraits as the distracting elements in the background are removed.g
ISO = 200Lens = 58 mmAperture = f/5.6Shutter Speed = 1/100 Sec
ISO = 200Lens = 300 mmAperture = f/5.6Sh S d 1/80 S
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Shutter Speed = 1/100 Sec. Shutter Speed = 1/80 Sec.
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BackgroundsCh k b k d Check background prior to pressing the shuttershutter
Distracting elementsProtruding objects Protruding objects from subjects headsCompeting lines
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B k dBackgrounds
Check the background prior to ppressing the shutter
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Pay attention to BackgroundUsing soft focus (Depth of Field) to Using soft focus (Depth of Field) to remove a distracting background
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ForegroundAlso Check ForegroundAlso Check Foreground
Distracting elementsOut of focus objectsCan you bring them into focus?Can you reach out and move them?Can you move left or right and get a better view?
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ForegroundAlso Check ForegroundAlso Check Foreground
I moved left and got a much better shot
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View PointCh b k d b i t Change background by moving to another angleSh t f bShoot from aboveShoot from belowShoot small animals or children from their own level
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Leading LinesTo draw or lead the viewer’s eye to your subjectTo draw or lead the viewer’s eye to your subject
To create illusion of depth in your image
Horizontal give a sense of stability, rest, or tranquility (think horizon)
Vertical lines are generally associated with power, strength, and growth (Think trees)
Diagonal Lines create interest and action
Intersecting Lines create tension, chaotic
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Diagonal Lines
Diagonal Lines create interest
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Diagonal Lines create interest
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Leading LinesVerticalVertical Lines show strength
Converging Lines lead eye through image
Intersecting li tlines create tension
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What creates Impact in a PhotoContrasts Eye is immediately attracted to BlueContrasts – Eye is immediately attracted to Blue
Dark versus LightBlack & White versus ColorNo detail versus Lots of Detail Blurred versus SharpStill versus MovingStill versus MovingContrasting Colors – Green, Blue, Purple versus Yellow, Orange, RedCool versus Warm ColorsRepeating pattern with a Break in the PatternSeen every day versus very unusual
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Contrasting Colors
Colors directly across the Color wheel are contrasting and go very well together
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Picture Composition Summary – 6 Rules1. Keep it simple – What is the subject of p p j
your picture? Get close.
2. Rule of thirds – Draw a simple grid and place subject at one of the 4 intersections.
3. Balance – Balance subject with some object on opposite side of picture. Unbalance gives impression of movement.
4 F i bj i f d i h4. Framing – subject in foreground with background to give depth. Placing people in image to show scale.
5. Lines – Place lines in photo that lead to psubject. Horizontal & vertical lines give sense of stillness. Diagonal lines add interest. Intersecting lines create tension.
6 Rules are made to be broken
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6. Rules are made to be broken.
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Developing your own styleL k t th h t i Look at others photos, magazines, newspapers, paintings to see what you likeyou like.Try to copy some of these images until you canuntil you can.Shoot, Shoot, Shoot until you develop your own styleyour own style.
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CompositionMore links about compositionp
http://photoinf.com/General/Geoff_Lawrence/Composition.html
http://digital-photography-school.com/fill-your-frame
http://digital-photography-school.com/getting-backgrounds-rightp g p g p y g g g g
Don’t miss these next 2 they are a bit more advanced and very well done.
http://knol.google.com/k/yanik-chauvin/photography-composition-an-introduction/
2rcdarvscszjb/2#j
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/jp-composition-intro.shtml
http://www.mediacollege.com/photography/composition/frame.html
Recommended Book for further study – “The Photographer’s y g pEye by Michael Freeman, The Ilex Press, ISBN-13: 978-0=240-80934-2
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