Rules of Composition

The Goals of Photography To document a moment. To create an image that reaches into another’s eye, brain, and heart is another. Images can stun, inform, amuse, or even anger a viewer.

To document a moment.

To create an image that reaches into another’s eye, brain, and heart is another. Images can stun, inform, amuse, or even anger a viewer.

Composition is the act of composing the image in the viewfinder. It is a visual process of organizing the elements and individual details of a scene into a balanced and pleasing arrangement.

When you take a photo, you make choices, either accidentally or deliberately. Have one main point of interest. Composition

When you take a photo, you make choices, either accidentally or deliberately.

Have one main point of interest.

Have the subject off center. A centered image is always less interesting. The Rule of Thirds

Have the subject off center.

A centered image is always less interesting.

The Rule of Thirds is also called the Golden mean. A ratio of 5:8 is used in positioning the subject of the photograph. The Rule of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds is also called the Golden mean.

A ratio of 5:8 is used in positioning the subject of the photograph.

Place objects where shown by the arrows & your composition will generally be pleasing. They are considered to be the four ideal positions for placing centers of interest.

Place objects where shown by the arrows & your composition will generally be pleasing. They are considered to be the four ideal positions for placing centers of interest.

The center of interest in this composition (the bird) was placed in accordance with the Rule of Thirds. The young man's face is placed in counterpoint at an opposing intersection, providing a visually-pleasing balance to the image.

Placing the horizon a third of the way down (or up) generally looks better than across the middle of the frame. San Francisco Bay

Montreal Skyline

The Rule of Thirds correctly placed the center of interest for this subject.

Which picture follows the rule of thirds?

Notice the placement of the lighthouse and the ocean’s horizon. It represents where the 5 to 8 ratio would intersect.

Notice the placement of the lighthouse and the ocean’s horizon.

It represents where the 5 to 8 ratio would intersect.

Which picture follows the rule of thirds?

Keep the items in your view well distributed. Balance

Keep the items in your view well distributed.

Ansel Adams “ Lake MacDonald”

Try capturing emotion in your picture. Avoid the telltale notions of emotion like holding hands, googly eyes. Try to find an emotion in action and capture it. Emotion

Try capturing emotion in your picture.

Avoid the telltale notions of emotion like holding hands, googly eyes.

Try to find an emotion in action and capture it.

Amanda

Montreal, Quebec

Simplify Move in close. Have a strong center of interest, colorful subject. Choose a simple background.

Move in close.

Have a strong center of interest, colorful subject.

Choose a simple background.

Brutus

A Fly

A Spider

Charlie

San Diego Zoo

Angles Try unusual camera angles. Walk around to get the best angle.

Try unusual camera angles.

Walk around to get the best angle.

Angles The unusual shooting angle is a big part of what makes this picture work

Angles Choose a shooting angle that will add interest to a basically dull and ordinary scene. Select a unique viewpoint Change camera angle to eliminate distracting background elements. A new camera angle will often emphasize a subject's form or shape.

Choose a shooting angle that will add interest to a basically dull and ordinary scene.

Select a unique viewpoint

Change camera angle to eliminate distracting background elements. A new camera angle will often emphasize a subject's form or shape.

Angles Shooting from Lower than their shoulders Makes someone look more impressive Shooting from Above Makes someone look less impressive Shooting from a very low angle Makes someone’s legs look longer

Shooting from Lower than their shoulders

Makes someone look more impressive

Shooting from Above

Makes someone look less impressive

Shooting from a very low angle

Makes someone’s legs look longer

The Arche de Triomphe

Angles to Try Extreme angles Looking down Looking through things Reflective surfaces Bird ’ s -eye view Worm ’ s -eye view Looking in

Extreme angles

Looking down

Looking through things

Reflective surfaces

Bird ’ s -eye view

Worm ’ s -eye view

Looking in

Remember It ’ s not enough to just make random pictures at weird angles. Choose subjects that are interesting and dramatic. The key is to make pictures that are expressive and well composed.

It ’ s not enough to just make random pictures at weird angles. Choose subjects that are interesting and dramatic.

The key is to make pictures that are expressive and well composed.

Leading Lines Leading Lines should lead into, not out of, the picture. A leading line can be almost anything, such as a road or a shadow. It is a matter of choosing the right angle to make it lead into the picture.

Leading Lines should lead into, not out of, the picture.

A leading line can be almost anything, such as a road or a shadow. It is a matter of choosing the right angle to make it lead into the picture.

Leading Lines Lines of Direction Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal Use lines to lead viewer to subject. Lead the viewer’s eyes.

Lines of Direction

Vertical, Horizontal, Diagonal

Use lines to lead viewer to subject.

Lead the viewer’s eyes.

Lines can draw the eye deep into a picture. And, if they gently curve, they can provide a sense of peace and gracefulness.

Old Montreal

Lines Straight lines A sense of rigidity and tension. Horizontal lines Signify rest. Vertical lines Balance and stability.

Straight lines

A sense of rigidity and tension.

Horizontal lines

Signify rest.

Vertical lines

Balance and stability.

Lines Diagonal Lines Create a dynamic feeling. Curved Lines Lines curved in one direction only (C-shaped lines) give the impression of force in the direction of the ben

Diagonal Lines

Create a dynamic feeling.

Curved Lines

Lines curved in one direction only (C-shaped lines) give the impression of force in the direction of the ben

Westmount Square

This picture is about lines and mood. The bright lines of the railings lead the viewer's eye to an inconclusive, vanishing dark point, creating a sense of mystery and interest.

Diagonal Line: Bernice Abbott “ Broadway and Exchange Place” 1935-1939

Compositional Lines: Margaret Bourke-White “ Gorky Street Moscow” 1941

Here's a case where you have excellent subject control. You can have the model pose anywhere along the walkway. The rule of thirds indicates this placement which also gives the model a definite path to follow within the picture area.

You can also use repetitive lines to draw viewers' attention to your center of interest.

Framing Use foreground to frame subject and add depth. How does your subject relate to its surroundings? Vertical or Horizontal?

Use foreground to frame subject and add depth.

How does your subject relate to its surroundings?

Vertical or Horizontal?

Rome, Italy

Stratford

Filing the Frame Move close to the subject. Do not include unnecessary background. Use the background when it contributes something.

Move close to the subject.

Do not include unnecessary background.

Use the background when it contributes something.

Filing the Frame “ If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough” Robert Capa

“ If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough”

Robert Capa

Montreal, Quebec

My Backyard

The Moon

What does good composition achieve? In a word, control. The word "control" is appropriate, because without control, there is no order - only randomness and disorganization. If the photographer does not exercise control through composition, the image will appear muddled, the photographer's message will be obscured, and the photograph will have little meaning.

In a word, control.

The word "control" is appropriate, because without control, there is no order - only randomness and disorganization.

If the photographer does not exercise control through composition, the image will appear muddled, the photographer's message will be obscured, and the photograph will have little meaning.

An accomplished photographer can lead the viewer’s eye through his or her work by the careful placement of shapes, color and lines right to where he or she wants the viewer’s attention to be centered. What Kind Of Control Does Effective Composition Provide?

An accomplished photographer can lead the viewer’s eye through his or her work by the careful placement of shapes, color and lines right to where he or she wants the viewer’s attention to be centered.

To use this control, the photographer must understand how different shapes, lines, colors and their inter-action will affect the viewer, and then he or she will be able to incorporate them into images that meaningfully convey what he or she wants the image to state. Master The Rules Of Composition

To use this control, the photographer must understand how different shapes, lines, colors and their inter-action will affect the viewer, and then he or she will be able to incorporate them into images that meaningfully convey what he or she wants the image to state.