Basics of Photography Composition

1. Photographic Composition – M.V.Ramachandran

3. Composition Composition is the selection and arrangement of objects in the picture area. A well composed photograph is more attractive and pleasing to the viewer. There are 6 guidelines to follow to get well-composed photographs.

4. Composition 1. Simplicity 2. Rule of Thirds 3. Lines 4. Balance 5. Framing 6. Mergers

6. Simplicity

7. Simplicity Compare the simple photo on the left... … with the busy photo on the right. Which one do you prefer?

8. Simplicity

9. Simplicity

10. Simplicity

12. Think through your Camera

16. Rule of Thirds

17. Rule of Thirds Subject Placed in Lower Right

18. Rule of Thirds Have a strong center of interest

19. Rule of Thirds

20. Rule of Thirds Horizons High or Low Subject in Lower Left

21. Rule of Thirds

22. Rule of Thirds

23. Rule of Thirds

24. Rule of Thirds The boat has room to move in this picture.

25. Rule of Thirds

26. Principle of Third

27. Principle of Third

28. Principle of Third

29. Principle of Third

30. Principle of Third

31. Dynamic symmetry

33. Balance

34. Balance Having good balance can help to prevent having a picture that looks lopsided. Provide objects and shapes on either side of the picture to compliment each other. Also provide visual support to objects that need it.

35. Balance The wheel has visual support on both sides of the picture.

36. Balance In this picture the wheel on the right is not in the picture and the Wheel lacks support.

38. Balance The Bison on the right balances the people on the left.

39. Balance The Bison on the right balances the people on the left.

41. Symmetrical Asymmetrical

44. Framing The trees in the foreground provide a frame for the mountain in the background. Also, the mountain has been placed in the upper left corner to meet the rule of thirds.

45. Framing This photograph does not have a lot of framing but it has an obvious foreground, middle ground and background.

46. Framing

47. Framing Overhanging branches and plants in the foreground provide a frame for the lake and trees. The person has been placed in the lower right.

48. Framing

49. Framing

50. Framing

51. Framing This photograph does not have a lot of framing but it has an obvious foreground, middle ground and background.

52. Fill the frame

53. Fill the frame

55. Mergers In the picture on the left the tree in the background appears to be coming out of the person’s head. This is a merger that can be avoided by simply moving your vantage point.

56. Mergers A common mistake when photographing large groups of people is to not fit everyone in the picture. This results in people being cut off. This is a Border Merger.

57. Mergers Balloon Head? Much Better!

60. Lines

61. Lines

62. Lines

63. Lines

64. Lines

65. Lines

66. Lines S-Curve

67. Lines S-Curve

68. Lines Leading Lines

69. Lines Leading Lines

70. Lines Leading Lines

71. Lines

72. Lines

73. Lines

74. Cropping

77. Composition Remember, these are guidelines, not Rules. You may only use 1 or 2 of these guidelines at a time. Try them and see if your photos improve.

78. Tone is probably the most intangible element of composition TONE Tone may consist of shadings from white-to-gray-to-black The use of dark areas against light areas is a common method of adding the feeling of a third dimension to a two-dimensional black-and-white picture. Tones are mostly light and airy, the picture portrays lightness, joy, or airiness .

79. EMPHASIS or Focal Point Emphasis in a composition refers to developing points of interest to pull the viewer's eye to important parts of the body of the work.

80. EMPHASIS EXAMPLES

81. Example of digital refocusing

82. Pattern

84. Pattern

86. Texture