This document discusses different techniques photographers use for photographic composition, including the rule of thirds, use of foreground and background, lines and shapes, light and shade, cropping and skewing images. It provides examples of each technique and encourages analyzing how they create mood, tone and emphasize meaning. The learning objectives are to develop skills in image analysis and apply them to analyzing photos and texts.
1. Photographic Composition
Looking at how different techniques can be used
by photographers to create mood, tone, feeling
and how meaning can be created and emphasised.
3. To develop basic skills of
image analysis
Learning Objectives
To apply image analysis
skills to analysis of texts
4. Photo Composition:
Rule of thirds
This rule states that the
main points of interest
in a photograph will
occur ON or NEAR an
intersection of the
image if it were divided
into thirds.
This example has
points of interest at the
intersections and has
distinct changes at
each third of the photo.
5. Photo Composition:
Foreground/Background
Some photographs will have a point of interest in the
foreground and one in the background which add to the visual
depth of the image.
In the photograph above our eyes move between the couple in
the foreground and the unusual building in the backgound.
6. Photo Composition:
Lines & Shapes
Photojournalists pay a
great deal of attention to
the shapes of objects in
their photographs.
Including the way lines
of objects work together.
Notice how that these
photos not only make
us look along the lines
of the bridge and road,
but also use the Rule of
Thirds.
7. Photo Composition:
Light and Shade
Using light and shadow can have a good
effect in a photograph. The shadows can
create mood and tone to a subject. Light and
shade can also emphasise or distort shapes
of objects
8. Photo Composition:
Cropped and Skewed images
An image is said to be
cropped if the object
photographed does not
entirely fit into the
frame. This can be
used to great effect, as
seen here.
A skewed image is one
that has been taken at
an unusual angle. It can
emphasise a feeling of
disorientation.
9. Analyse the following images
paying particular attention to the
techniques we have looked at
today…
