Photographic Photographic Composition DesignComposition Design

If the original viewpoint concept is If the original viewpoint concept is not right all technical procedures not right all technical procedures have small meaning-Ansel Adamshave small meaning-Ansel Adams

You don't take a photograph, you make You don't take a photograph, you make it. it.

There is nothing worse than a There is nothing worse than a brilliant image of a fuzzy brilliant image of a fuzzy concept. concept.

A good photograph is knowing where A good photograph is knowing where to stand. to stand.

-Ansel Adams-Ansel Adams

COMPOSITIONCOMPOSITION Composition is simply the art of Composition is simply the art of

arranging the elements of the arranging the elements of the subject in a pleasing and orderly subject in a pleasing and orderly way.way.

We use the elements and principle We use the elements and principle of art to do this.of art to do this.

The following slides are some rules The following slides are some rules of composition you will use to of composition you will use to complete a powerpoint complete a powerpoint presentation.presentation.

VERTICAL COMPOSITIONVERTICAL COMPOSITION Emphasis on the Emphasis on the

height, the vertical height, the vertical elements, cropping elements, cropping can emphasize this can emphasize this type of compositiontype of composition

HORIZONTALHORIZONTAL Emphasis on the Emphasis on the

width, the width, the Horizontal Horizontal elements, cropping elements, cropping can emphasize this can emphasize this type of compositiontype of composition

TRIANGULARTRIANGULAR Good for isolating areas, it concentrates the eye’s Good for isolating areas, it concentrates the eye’s

focus. You tend to create an area within an area. A focus. You tend to create an area within an area. A Painter’s composition from the Renaissance.Painter’s composition from the Renaissance.

RULE OF THIRDSRULE OF THIRDS By dividing the viewfinder By dividing the viewfinder

into a grid of horizontal and into a grid of horizontal and vertical thirds. Place the vertical thirds. Place the main subject matter of the main subject matter of the image along these lineimage along these line

At least since the Renaissance, many artists and architects have proportioned their works to approximate the golden ratio—especially in the form of the golden rectangle, in which the ratio of the longer side to the shorter is the golden ratio—believing this proportion to be aesthetically pleasing. Mathematicians have studied the golden ratio because of its unique and interesting properties.

L - SHAPEL - SHAPE Usually a vertical Usually a vertical

foreground against foreground against a horizontal a horizontal background. Based background. Based on rule of thirds. on rule of thirds.

RADIALRADIAL Everything leads to Everything leads to

a central point of a central point of interest. The eye of interest. The eye of the viewer is lead the viewer is lead along the lines of along the lines of the subject. The the subject. The photographer is photographer is using the using the perspective lines.perspective lines.

OBLIQUEOBLIQUE Subset of radial composition Subset of radial composition

where the focus point is off the where the focus point is off the pagepage

SUBORDINATIONSUBORDINATION An immediate foreground image which tends to dominate. The background often is relevant to An immediate foreground image which tends to dominate. The background often is relevant to

the meaning of the imagethe meaning of the image