RuleofThirds:Divideyourimageintonineequalparts;importantcompositionalelementsshouldbeplacedalongtheselinesorattheirintersections.

SomeRulesofComposition

Thegoalofyourcompositionshouldbetocreatemovementthatleadstheviewer’seyearoundtheframe/fieldofview,andtocreateaharmonious,unifiedimage.Therearemanythingsthatartistsconsiderwhenarrangingacomposition:Emphasis:Everycompositionshouldhaveanarea(orareas)ofemphasisthattheartistwishestodrawthemostattentionto.Thiscanbeestablishedthroughseveralmethods(allofwhichconcerntherelationofelementstooneanother):

Scale:Objectsshouldvaryinsizeandheightinrelationtooneanother(usually,thelargertheobject,themoreattentionitdraws)Value/Colour:Theemphasizedelement(s)shouldbecontrastedwithother,lessimportantelements(eg.focalareaisdarkwhiletherestofthecompositionislight).ColoursthathavemoreintensityorthatarecomplementaryalsoattracttheeyeComplexity/Detail:Generally,theareawithmoredetaildrawsmoreattention

Space:Anareathatismoretightlypackedusuallyattractstheeye(particularlyiftherestofthecompositionislessfilled)

Lookoutforelementsthatarecompetingforattention.Aclutteredcompositiondisruptsmovement(wedon’twanttoconfusetheeyewithtoomanypointsofemphasis!)

CreatingMovement:Theplacementofotherelementsshouldbeworkingtodrawattentiontothecentralemphasisofyourcomposition.Directionalobjectspointinginwardcomplementthedesiredmovement.Otherelementsshouldfunctiontobalancethecomposition.