Name__________________ Per.____ #____

Photographic Composition

So we’ve talked a little in class about taking good pictures - how closing in and shifting angles can dramatically change what your picture is about. I’ve probably even commented at some point in homework feedback about how to make something look better, or how to emphasize the subject of your pictures. The rules in this packet will go a long way toward helping you become a better photographer. Some of this stuff is obvious, some I stuck in here, and a lot is from http://photoinf.com Here is an overview:

• Simplicity & Emphasis: Making sure your picture is truly about what you want it to be and without distractions

• The Rule of Thirds: Stop sticking stuff right in the center! It’s boring and ineffective!

• Movement & Lines: How to lead the viewer’s eye around the picture.

• Balance & Unity: Ensuring that in one way or another, your composition locks together.

• Depth, Layers, & Framing: Not only being aware of foreground, middle ground, and background, but utilizing them.

• Things to Avoid: Don’t ever do these things! • When to Break the Above Rules: It happens! In class, you will familiarize yourself with the above concepts, and take some pictures to illustrate your newfound understanding, what are you waiting for??? GO!

Simplicity & Emphasis

Sure you want people to spend time with your photography, but you want them to understand it at least well enough to make them think about themselves, or the world, or something - not about “what in the world was that photographer trying to show?”

The photographer must work to simplify the photo. One way of doing this is by cropping, or cutting out the part you don’t want or need. For example, the subject seems to be the house, but the cars become distracting instead of leading the viewer’s eye.

Wouldn’t this image be more interesting if the photographer closed in on the subjects (like the box does)? If your camera doesn’t do a decent job of allowing you to crop in create a box with your hands to create a viewfinder.

Another way to simplify your composition is to change your angle. Notice the difference between these two birds? The one on the left gets lost in the trees while the other has a beautiful sky background.

Simplicity & Emphasis

This picture of a little boy takes what could be a really boring snapshot and makes it a much more interesting photo.

In class: Create five photos which illustrate the concept of simplicity & emphasis. Be sure to crop & change angles when necessary.

The Rule Of Thirds

Placing subjects in the center of a rectangular frame is static and boring!! The rule of thirds suggests dividing the composition into thirds both ways resulting in 4 HOT SPOTS (the circles) that the eye gravitates towards.

Is this photo about the boat, the water, or the sky? It’s so BORING!!! Shifting the boat and horizon line to a hot spot will make it 1000 times more interesting!

Positioning: Now that you know the rule of thirds, you need to know how to implement it. Which HOT SPOT will best suit your subject? How will it relate to its background? Here the photographer chose the upper right hot spot to include the shadow and the little birdie footprints.

The Rule Of Thirds

Here the photographer followed the rule, but it looks like the runner is going to fly right off the edge!! Give her some room!!! The positioning of the subject isn’t relating well to the environment or the composition.

Isn’t this much better?? She has some room to run and we are using the rule of thirds!

In class: Create five photos that implement the rule of thirds. • One should be a subject against a vast

background (landscape or large room interior)

• One should include a moving subject.

Movement & Lines

Lines also play an important role in composition. This sculpture has some beautiful lines, but they're obscured by the busy background. Let's simplify this picture by moving our camera viewpoint in close to the base of the sculpture.

Diagonal Lines are a bold example of movement. They help create a dynamic composition.

You can use diagonals as leading lines to provide a way into the picture. It's a simple and easy path for the eye to follow to the main subject. You can also use repetitive lines to draw viewers' attention to your center of interest.

In class: Create three photos which show movement through lines. • One should utilize diagonals. • One should utilize an S-Curve.

Movement & Lines

Another effective example of lines creating movement is the S-Curve. The S-Curve forces the eye to spend more time looking at the image and it therefore becomes more interesting.

Notice how much time you spend looking at the bird on the left. Now notice how much more time you spend looking at the bird on the right. See a difference?

Balance & Unity

The term balance refers to the distribution of visual weight in a composition. Balance can be manipulated in a variety of ways to achieve unity. A unified composition looks “together” and “feels right”. In the image on the left we have symmetrical balance—an even distribution of weight. In this case, effective, though a tad boring.

The picture to the right shows asymmetrical balance, often more interesting. Balance & Unity are achieved not just through the arrangement of shapes, but also colors and areas of light and dark value.

Be aware of how symmetry (or lack thereof) is being utilized in the top photo, the four subjects are interacting which is why it works. The image to the left has symmetry but it is distracting because it feels like 2 images side by side.

Balance & Unity

Another effective way of achieving unity is by looking for geometric shapes and patterns, especially triangles… we tend to like groups of three.

Here is another, more complex example. Our brain looks for pattern, shapes, and order even if it isn’t actually there. The brain implies it.

In class: Create five photos which illustrate balance & unity through each of the following: -symmetry -light vs. dark value -asymmetry -geometric shapes/patterns -color (1 photo for each, not 5)

Depth, Layers, & Framing

Depth in photography can be utilized in a variety of ways through careful consideration of foreground, middle ground, and background. These layers together create space and atmosphere, and they can also be used to help frame your subject, further emphasizing it.

In class: • Create three

different photos illustrating concepts of depth, layers, & framing.

The Washington Monument on the left is composed in the center without a frame. The picture on the right has a stronger feeling of depth and tells a more complete story because the photographer chose an appropriate foreground to complement the Washington Monument.

Things To Avoid

Adjacency: This is when your subject is too close to or touching something in focus, resulting in confusion. Tension: Things that are adjacent in a side by side was create tension. The eye is directed to them unintentionally. Claustrophobia: Too often, an amateur photographer will zoom in WAY too close, eliminating important info and forcing the viewer to try and look for more.

When To Break The Rules

Whenever the situation demands it! This photo completely ignores the rule of thirds, yet it is still striking and effective. Sometimes, the photo just takes itself. Sometimes if you don’t take the photo right now, it’s gone forever. Sometimes the concept for your photo calls for a wacky balance, or claustrophobic zooming, and tension adds to the uncomfortable feeling you are after. An experienced photographer knows the rules, so that when he/she chooses to break them it feels sophisticated and purposeful, not amateurish.

In class: Create three photos that effectively break 3 different rules in this packet.

Name__________________ Per.____ #____

Photographic Composition

“I can do it myself” checklist

Set one: simplicity & emphasis Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5

Set two: The rule of thirds Subject against a vast background Moving subject Photo 3 Photo 4 Photo 5

Set three: movement & lines Diagonals S-curve Photo 3

Set four: balance & unity Symmetry Asymmetry Color Light vs. dark value Geometric shapes/patterns

Set five: depth, layers, & framing Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3

Set six: breaking the rules Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3

Set seven: the final battle of good vs. evil In this set, you must implement your newfound knowledge to create 3 perfect photos, one of which you must print off and use in a critique Photo 1 Photo 2 Photo 3 Printing of 1 photo

Name__________________ Per.____ #____

Photographic Composition

Grading Rubric

Set one: simplicity & emphasis (5pts Each) ___ Photo 1 ___ Photo 2 ___ Photo 3 ___ Photo 4 ___ Photo 5 Set two: The rule of thirds (5pts Each) ___ Subject against a vast background ___ Moving subject ___ Photo 3 ___ Photo 4 ___ Photo 5 Set three: movement & lines (5pts Each) ___ Diagonals ___ S-curve ___ Photo 3 Set four: balance & unity (5pts Each) ___ Symmetry ___ Asymmetry ___ Color ___ Light vs. dark value ___ Geometric shapes/patterns Set five: depth, layers, & framing (5pts Each) ___ Photo 1 ___ Photo 2 ___ Photo 3 Set six: breaking the rules (5pts Each) ___ Photo 1 ___ Photo 2 ___ Photo 3 Set seven: the final battle of good vs. evil (5pts Each) In this set, you must implement your newfound knowledge to create 3 perfect photos, one of which you must print off and use in a critique ___ Photo 1 ___ Photo 2 ___ Photo 3 ___ Printing of 1 photo (10pts) ___ Photo Critique (5pts) ___ Late ___ Background not black, white, or grey ___ Slides not Titled ___ More Than One Image Per Slide _____TOTAL (150 possible Points)