INTRODUCTION TOPHOTOGRAPHY

COMPOSITION

What is Composition?

It is a way to LAY OUT ELEMENTS in your photograph that will give itgreater aesthetic appeal.

It helps you & your photograph to “tell a story” to your viewers.

It conveys your intended meaning to your viewers.

A composition that conveys a photographer's intended meaning is an effective one. One that doesn't or that confuses the viewer is not.

What makes aGood Composition?

Has a Point of Interest

Observes the Rule of Thirds

Includes Visual Elements

Point of Interest

Always have a Point of Interest. The ONE key element you want your viewers to focus on.

No Point of Interest

Where do you look first? Lack of Point of Interest weakens your photograph

Rule of Thirds

Visualise dividing your picture a grid of 3 spaces across and 3 below. By placing yourPoint of Interest within the intersecting points or along the grid lines, you areobserving the rule of thirds.

Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds

Rule of Thirds

Visual Elements

Visual elements help make your composition stronger.

Visual elements include:

Lines Perspective

Texture Patterns

Colour

Tones Contrast

Reflections

Speed

Framing

Scale

Lines

Lines help lead your viewers eye through the photograph

Perspective

Play with perspective by either going lowerthan eye level or higher than head level tocreate interesting compositions

Texture

Textures such as rust, wood or concrete can help convey your message to theviewer.

Patterns

Repeating patterns can make for interesting composition.

Colour

Strong colours are a very useful composition tool.

Reflections

Highly reflective building facades or water puddles are great sources for reflections.

Tones

Tone can be used as a visual element in composition. Tone is when there is a goodrange of highlights and shadow.

Contrast

Contrast can be about highlights/shadows, bright/dark or even old/new shown withinan image, side by side

Speed

Suggest speed by using good support and a slow shutter speed. Or freeze your subject inmid motion through good timing & lots of practise!

Scale

Use objects such as buildings to lend a sense of scale and give viewers an idea of thesize.

Framing

By framing your Point of Interest, all the attention is concentrated on the main part ofthe picture.

Putting it Together

Note Perspective Lines that lead your eye to the framed Point of Interest ofEdinburgh Castle, placed along the top 1/3 of the frame

The End