Composition is KeyWhat makes a GREAT photograph?

Composition• placement or arrangement of visual elements in art• organization of the elements of art according to the

principles of design• means 'putting together' and can apply to any work • helps achieve a sense of

unity within an artwork• work of art is said to be

aesthetically pleasing if the elements within the work are arranged in a balanced compositional way

In every photograph you take…

• you decide where the boundaries of that photo will be (cropping)

• you choose the viewpoint or perspective

• you move or rearrange people or objects

• you move yourself and decide where to place point of interest

Good vs. Bad?

• biggest difference between a good photograph and a mediocre one is the composition

• what one person finds pleasing, someone else will not – composition is largely a matter of personal taste, so technically there is no right or wrong composition…

•a photograph that communicates its message (says what you want it to say, says it clearly, and interests its viewer) – is an effective composition

• how you arrange a scene in your camera will determine the effectiveness of your picture and contribute to how well the message is conveyed

• there is more to good composition than the placement of elements, but that is where we start

Good vs. Bad?

Rule of Thirds

aligning a subject with these points

creates more tension, energy and interest in the composition than simply centering the

subject would

Compositional rule in the visual arts

image should be imagined as divided into nine equal parts

by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced

vertical lines

important compositional

elements should be placed along these

lines or their intersections

Rule of Thirds Examples

Rule of Thirds Examples

Rule of Thirds Examples

Consider…

Where am I intentionally placing

my points of interest?

What are the points of interest in this shot?

Breaking the rule can result in some striking shots… once you’ve

learned it, experiment with purposely

breaking it to see what you discover.

Keep the rule of thirds in mind as you edit

your photos later on… cropping and

reframing images so that they fit within the

rules.

Practice3. With a ruler,

measure the sides and divide by 3,

drawing lines with a Sharpie to create a

9 square grid.

1. Choose a magazine to find photographs you

might like.

2. Cut out 3 pictures that the composition

uses the Rule of Thirds successfully.

5. Glue your images into your sketchbook.

Sketchbook DUE: Finish your Rule of Thirds Sketchbook assignment by the

end of class! ** Worth 10 points **

4. Repeat this for all 3 images.

Brainstorming

3. For EACH, draw two different

thumbnails showing where you will place

your focal point.

1. List 5 different things you can

photograph for the Rule of Thirds

assignment, and include what the focal

point is.

2. For EACH, list two different backgrounds that could be part of your photographs.

Brainstorming DUE:

Finish your Rule of Thirds Brainstorming

assignment by Monday, 9/8!

** Worth 50 points **

PracticeHomework:

Take 40 pictures experimenting with Rule of Thirds. Take pictures of anything you’d like… go for a

walk around the house or go outside

Tips: Try taking pictures of the same subject and

compose using the Rule of Thirds and going against it.

40 pictures (on Camera or Memory

Card) DUE: Monday,

September 8th

Do & Don’t

DO make sure the background or “negative space” is visually

interesting.

DON’T have a boring or unattractive background –

“dead space”.

Do & Don’t

DO leave some space around your focal point – watch your

framing.

DON’T overcompensate by putting your point of interest too close to the

edge of the frame.