2. What is Composition?
• The word composition means combining or
putting together parts to form a whole.
• Composition can apply to many works of
human endeavor including music and writing
– in fact anything that is arranged or ‘put
together’ using conscious thought.
3. Aims & Objectives for the Class
Aim:
To develop an understanding & Document Composition and the elements of
composition to aid your own visual studies.
To look at the work of artists who demonstrate the elements of composition
within their work.
Objectives:
All learners will:
Investigate/research elements of composition.
Most Learners will:
Will find examples of elements of composition in their own work, print these
images out and place in their sketchbook and write about this commenting
on the elements used.
Some Learner will:
Manipulate their own images to make them stronger compositions and print
the before and after images in their sketchbook commenting on tools used
and why they changed their image
4. In this presentation we are going to look at some of the most
important ‘rules’ or conventions of composition:
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Rule of Thirds
Pattern
Texture
Colour
Shape
Pattern & Repetition
Crop
Framing
Space
Tone
Line
Shadow
Symmetry
Scale
Angle
Subject
5. Learning ‘rules’ about art can seem stifling or
constricting – if all artists just follow a set of
rules then their art would look very similar
and become very boring.
Many original artists manage to break or ‘bend’
these rules or conventions, but to do so
successfully they first had to fully understand
the rules and conventions
6. “Rule of Thirds”
• Divide the image into thirds as shown – If the main visual components
(things in the image) lie on or near the lines then the image often tends to
look ‘right’. In this image the horizon line is on one of the bisectors.
• [Remember, rules are there to be broken - once you understand and can
follow them!]
11. Crop & Framing
Cropping – Cropping can be used to
mainly be selective of what you want to
show but photographers also use
cropping within the frame for humour
and in the case above linked with scale
to add humour.
Framing is a great
compositional tool to use
to draw the viewers eye to
the subject matter or can
become part of the subject
matter itself.
12.
13.
14. Symmetry
Symmetry can be used in
photography to draw in
the views eye to create
pattern and to also
create a contemporary
approach to your work.
17. Depth of Field
Depth of field is a
photographic term used to
describe the focal area of
an image.
An image with a shallow or
short depth of field has a
short/ small focal range
therefore you can achieve
a portrait which is in focus
with a blurred
background.
A large or greater depth of
field with have a wider
focal range and sharper
throughout the whole
image creating a flatter
image overall.
This effect works well to
seclude/enhance the
subject/focal point.
18. Task:
Working in groups of two use the your own images to
find three examples of the compositional elements.
discussing what you like visually about the images and
ideas you can use for future pictures.
Manipulate at least one of your images in Photoshop
to make it a better composition possibly cropping the
image or changing the contrast.
Please print out at least 4 images that illustrate
compositional elements.
Please place these in your sketchbook and write about
what compositional elements these images use and
why you think its a good image. Use vocabulary
words.
19. Photographers Who emphasis the use of
Compositional Elements Within Their work
Key photographer to explore include:
Bill Brandt, Henri Cartier Bresson, Elliott
Erwitt, Paul Strand plus many other which you
can find for yourself throughout a
combination of books, magazines, the
internet, galleries and blogs.
20. Homework for next Photography Class
• Complete at least 3 pages(depending on
sketchbook size?) within your sketchbook
exploring at least 5 compositional element
including your own images that illustrate this
and written comments about the
compositional elements used and why you like
it. Please use vocabulary words.
Notes de l'éditeur
Patterns, both natural and man-made, bring a sense of visual rhythm and harmony to photographsPatterns appear whenever strong graphic elements—lines, colours, shapes, or forms—repeat themselves.Once you do become aware of the power of patterns, you will discover them almost everywhere: in a field of Maine lupines, in crowds of faces in a stadium, even in the zigs and zags of modern architecture. The secret to finding patterns is to explore potential subjects from a variety of angles.
Textures add interest, visual impact and realism to an image.They draw in the viewers eye.Textures help the photographer to represent a sense of realism within their work.Textures can also be seen through patterns and shapes.
Colour within photography is very important, especially within advertising / commercial imagery.It can be used for artistic impression or to use selective colour for impact.Some images work better in colour than black and white and vice versa.
Shape is used within an image to draw the viewers eye and to lead it to the main subject or often the subject can be the shape/object itself. Shape within photography can be a common shape or figurative.
Shadow within photography can be used to create mystery and intrigue and can also be quite flattering for portraits “ this is known as low key”.Shadow can also be used to explore shape and pattern within an image.
Line in a photograph can be used to draw the viewer ‘s eye to a particular subject, horizon or even create pattern within an image. This is a very effective way to create visual interest within a subject.
Scale is a very creative way of creating interest within a photograph, this can be done with trickery of the eye, props and the magic of photo shop!
Angle of view can create visual interest but can also make things appear bigger than they seem, they can enhance and create intrigue.Angle can be used creatively and can create impact within your image.Think about crouching down low, lying on the floor, shooting from the hip and birds eye view when photographing.