Photo Composition Basics

1
Photo Composition Basics
Slide 1

• Welcome to Photo Composition Basics!
• In this tutorial, youll learn a few simple
  guidelines that can help casual photographers
  improve their eye for composition.
• Well be seeing examples from some well-known
  photographers to illustrate these concepts.

Christopher Burkett, Aspen Grove, Colorado, 1993
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Notes Get Started gt Slide 2.
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Composition Defined
Slide 2
Composition Defined Rule of Thirds
Simplicity/Cropping Framing Viewpoint Lines
Balance

• What makes some pictures "better" than others?
  Technical issues certainly play a key role, but
  typically, the thing that really separates a good
  photo from an average one is strong composition.
• Simply put, composition is the aesthetically
  pleasing selection and arrangement of elements
  within a picture. When it comes to composition,
  keep in mind these two quotes from the great
  American photographer, Ansel Adams
• You don't take a photograph, you make it.
• There are no rules for good photographs, there
  are only good photographs.

Ansel Adams, Moon and Half Dome, Yosemite Valley,
1960
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Rule of Thirds
Slide 3
Composition Defined Rule of Thirds
Simplicity/Cropping Framing Viewpoint Lines
Balance

• Placing your subject right in the center of the
  frame often results in a picture that looks a
  little static. Instead, apply the rule of thirds.
  
• Imagine that your frame is divided into thirds,
  both vertically and horizontally, in a grid
  pattern (see the red lines in the photo). Framing
  your subject at the intersections of the grid
  lines will result in a more visually interesting
  picture.
• Landscape photographers often use the rule of
  thirds for horizon shots. In this photo, famed
  LIFE photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt has framed
  his horizon in the lower third of the picture to
  emphasize the sky at dusk. He could also have
  placed the horizon in the top third to emphasize
  the boats in the foreground.

Alfred Eisenstaedt, Dusk in Menemsha, 1962
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Simplicity and Cropping
Slide 4
Composition Defined Rule of Thirds
Simplicity/Cropping Framing Viewpoint Lines
Balance

• In photography, what you leave out is just as
  important as what you put in. It is vital to have
  a point of interest. Ask yourself what message
  you want to convey and compose accordingly.
• Strive for simplicity. You want your point of
  interest to get the most visual attention, so
  minimize distractions by choosing a simple
  background and cropping out unrelated elements.
  To do this, you might choose a close up or to
  frame your photo vertically instead of
  horizontally.
• This Annie Leibovitz photo shows a close up of a
  banjo and its owner, Pete Seeger, allowing the
  viewer to read the words inscribed. The point of
  interest is clear and there are no distractions.

Annie Leibovitz, Pete Seeger, Clearwater Revival,
Croton-on-Hudson, NY, 2001
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Framing
Slide 5
Composition Defined Rule of Thirds
Simplicity/Cropping Framing Viewpoint Lines
Balance

• Framing your subject with objects in the
  foreground can add a feeling of depth to your
  photo and make it more visually interesting.
• What works as a framing device? Structures such
  as walls, windows, and doorways are obvious
  choices. In this Galen Rowell photo, a Tibetan
  monastery acts as a frame for Mount Everest. You
  can also use other many other elements for
  framing, such as branches or rocks.
• Whether you choose to use framing will depend on
  your point of interest. Always make sure that the
  frame does not overwhelm your subject, or the
  viewer will have a hard time telling whats
  important in the photo.

Galen Rowell, Mt Everest and Rongbuk Monastery,
Tibet
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Viewpoint
Slide 6
Composition Defined Rule of Thirds
Simplicity/Cropping Framing Viewpoint Lines
Balance

• When was the last time you kneeled down or
  climbed a ladder to take a photograph? Changing
  the viewpoint, the angle from which you
  photograph the subject, can make a big difference
  to your photograph.
• If your subject is stationary, adjusting the
  viewpoint lets you change the background or get
  the best lighting. Your subjects appearance can
  also vary greatly depending on the viewpoint.
• In Elliot Erwitts photo, the Chihuahua and its
  owner are taken from a very low angle, almost
  ground level. This gives a unique perspective you
  wouldnt get if you took the photo standing up.

Elliott Erwitt, New York City, 1946
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Lines
Slide 7
Composition Defined Rule of Thirds
Simplicity/Cropping Framing Viewpoint Lines
Balance

• Lines are another important aspect of
  composition. Diagonal lines can make a picture
  more dynamic. Try to arrange your subjects along
  an imaginary diagonal line.
• A diagonal can also act as a leading line that
  takes the eye through the picture. The road in
  Elliot Erwitts photo is an example of this.
• Leading lines do not need be straight. A common
  one is called the S curve. Youll often find it
  in landscapes shots with a graceful winding river
  or path.

Elliott Erwitt, Oreleans, France, 1952
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Balance
Slide 7
Composition Defined Rule of Thirds
Simplicity/Cropping Framing Viewpoint Lines
Balance

• A picture is said to have good balance when the
  shapes, colors, or areas of light and dark
  combine to complement one another. Its about
  using the elements of composition, such as
  framing, lines, and viewpoint, to focus attention
  on your subject.
• But balance doesnt always mean symmetry. In
  fact, nonsymmetrical balance, in which one object
  appears larger than the other, can often be more
  visually interesting. That is the case with the
  two elephants in this Frans Lanting photograph.

Frans Lanting, Elephants in Mist, 2006 
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Quiz
Slide 9

• 8 multiple choice/true-false questions on the
  topics with a tally at the end.

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