“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.”
Dorothea Lange
As you are learning to take better photographs, you should strive to compose images that get attention and deliver your message. In general, good photos result from careful attention to some basic elements of composition, together with appropriate lighting and an interesting subject.
There is, however, no “right” way to take a picture. Three photographers recording the same scene may create equally appealing photographs with entirely different compositions. By understanding the basic rules of composition, you can incorporate them into the way you ‘see’ with your camera.
COMPOSITION in photography is simply the arrangement of elements and their relationship to the background of an image.
There are are number of established composition guidelines which can be applied in
almost any situation, to enhance the impact of a scene. These guidelines will help you take more compelling photographs, lending them a natural balance, drawing attention to the important parts of the scene, or leading the viewer’s eye through the image.
Once you are familiar with these composition tips, you’ll be surprised at just how universal most of them are. You’ll spot them everywhere, and you’ll find it easy to "see" why some photos work while others feel like simple snapshots.
1) Rule of Thirds
Imagine that your image is divided into nine equal segments by two vertical and two horizontal lines. The rule of thirds says that you should position the most important elements in your scene along these lines, or at the points where they intersect. Doing so will add balance and interest to your photo. Some cameras even offer an option to superimpose a rule of thirds grid over the screen, making it
even easier to use. Explore the options for implementing a rule of thirds overlay on your phone's camera.
 |
| Moving the rock formation down and to the left to align with rule of thirds. |
2) Balancing Elements
Placing your main subject off-center, as with the rule of thirds, creates a more interesting photo, but it can leave a void in the scene which can make it feel empty. You should balance the “weight” of your subject by including another object of lesser importance to balance the space.
 |
| Visual "weight" of the road sign is balanced by the building on the left. |
3) Leading Lines
When we look at a photo our eye is naturally drawn along lines. By thinking about how you place lines in your composition, you can affect the way we view the image, pulling us into the picture, towards the subject, or on a journey “through” the scene. There are many different types of line - straight, diagonal, curvy, zigzag, radial etc - and each can be used to enhance a photo composition.
 |
| Linear repetition of the mailboxes leads viewers eye to the focal point of the photo - the girl. |
We are surrounded by symmetry and patterns, both natural and man-made. They can make for very eye-catching compositions, particularly in situations where they are not expected. Another great way to use them is to break the symmetry or pattern in some way, introducing tension and a focal point to the scene.
 |
5) Viewpoint
Before photographing your subject, take time to think about where you will shoot it from. Our viewpoint has a massive impact on the composition of the photo, and as a result it can greatly affect the message that the shot conveys. Rather than just shooting from eye level, consider photographing from high above (bird's eye view), down at ground level (ant's eye view), from the side, from the back, from a long way away, from very close up (remember NOT to use your camera's zoom feature, instead, move closer), and so on.
 |
| A surprising view of a child at a playground. |
Create a Project 1 blog post that contains three photographs utilizing some or all of the five compositional guidelines listed above. ALL PHOTOS MUST feature Upward Bound students/staff/activities/views/etc. Some possibilities for subject matter include paintball, Ricky Randle Student Leadership Lecture, and Student Leadership Conference weekend activities. Provide a brief explanation of how each photo utilizes the compositional guidelines.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Exhibit a basic understanding of how to "see" the world from a photographer's perspective
- Use close observation skills to explore the world around you and capture it in unique photographs
- Demonstrate an exploration of various photographic tools and techniques
DUE DATE
Your blog post (titled: First name Project 2) with three photos and compositional explanation is due by end of class (2:55 pm) on Monday, June 22
No comments:
Post a Comment