principles of design as they relate to composition

1. Composition

2. In every photograph you take…
• you decide where the boundaries of
that art 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
In every piece of artwork you make…

3. COMPOSITION: The art of arranging
objects/subject in a piece of art

4. Composition strategies…

5. Leading Lines
Leading lines are lines
within an image that lead
the eye to another point
in the image, or
occasionally, out of the
image.

6. Leading Lines help guide
the viewers’ eyes around the
artwork to make it more
interesting. It also helps give
the art a clear focal point and
purpose.
Gordon Parks
Henri Cartier-Bresson

7. Framing

8. A frame is an object that acts as a border or frame
for your subject. The frame directs the viewer’s
attention to a particular subject or point of
interest.

10. Rule of Thirds

22. Questions to ask yourself as
you create your composition:

23. BALANCE: Does the piece feel heavier on one side than the
other? Is it top heavy or bottom heavy? Is there too much
or too little of a particular color or texture?

24. FOCUS: What is
the area of
emphasis in the
piece? How does
the artist bring
attention to it?

25. MOVEMENT: Does the general flow of lines within
the piece encourage your eye to move around?

26. CONTRAST: Is there
dramatic or subtle
interplay of visual
differences within the
piece?

27. PATTERN: Is there repetition of shape
or texture throughout the piece, giving
it visual rhythm?

28. PROPORTION: Does the size of the objects
comfortably and realistically relate to one another?

29. UNITY: Do all of these principles work
together to create a harmonious feel?