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Photography Composition Rules: A Presentation

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Composition 1
In this presentation we will look
at some basic ‘rules’ of composition.
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Composition
The word composition means combining or putting
together parts to form a whole.
Composition can apply to many works of human
endeavor including music and writing – in fact
anything that is arranged or ‘put together’ using
conscious thought.
2
In this presentation we are going to look at some of the most
important ‘rules’ or conventions of composition:
Rule of Thirds
Rule of Even & Odd
Triangles
Space
Simplification
Symmetry
Pattern & Repetition
Learning ‘rules’ about art can seem stifling or constricting – if all
artists just follow a set of rules then their art would look very similar
and become very boring.
Many original artists manage to break or ‘bend’ these rules or
conventions, but to do so successfully they first had to fully
understand the rules and conventions.
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Rule of Thirds
Chris Monaghan
Divide the image into thirds as shown – If the main visual components
(things in the image) lie on or near the lines then the image often tends to
look ‘right’. In this image the horizon line is on one of the bisectors.
[Remember, rules are there to be broken - once you understand and can
follow them!]
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Chris Monaghan
Which image do you prefer?
Which image more closely follows the rule of thirds?
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Gary Winogrand
Sometimes an image does not follow the rule of thirds exactly,
but the main visual components (‘things’) in the image are
close to the 1/3rd bisectors.
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Fay Godwin
Landscape photography often uses the rule of thirds – how?
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Fay Godwin
Landscape photography often has the horizon line on or near
one of the two horizontal lines
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The Rule Of Even And Odd
An even number of ‘things’
in an image can sometimes
create a feeling of tension
or a slightly un-natural look.
Norman Parkinson
… while an odd number of ‘things’ can
often create a feeling of harmony or
balance
Dianne Arbus
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An odd number of subjects in an image often has a more ‘natural’,
symmetrical or balanced feel than an even number.
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Henri Cartier Bresson
In many artworks 3 subjects or ‘things’ in an image (an odd
number) can draw attention to the central subject.
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Rule of
Triangles
Triangles have 3 sides and
tend to form stable, solid
looking compositions.
Can you spot any
triangles?
Arnold Newman
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Rule of Triangles
Triangles have 3 sides
and tend to form stable,
solid looking compositions.
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Victorian Family Portraits
Can you spot any triangles?
Why were triangular compositions
often used for family portraits?
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Victorian Family Portraits
Think about what the triangle
connotes ….
…….stability & solidity
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Rule of space
Nadar
Which composition is more dynamic?
Which composition is more ‘restful’, allowing the subject to ‘look dreamily
into space’?
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Rule of space
Nadar
The empty space in the right-hand image creates a more contemplative or
thoughtful feel to it.
19
Space can also help create an impression of movement
In this image there is not much unfilled space
Swimmers diving into the water
(shot from beneath the water, looking upwards).
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The swimmers now appear to be moving into the empty
space ahead of them, helping to create an impression
or feeling of movement.
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Simplification
How does
Rembrandt draw our
attention into the
face?
Rembrandt, Self Portrait.
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Simplification
ANSWER:
1.
Lighting - the face
has more light on it
than other areas.
2.
The brush-strokes
are finer and more
detailed in the facial
area but become
broader and less
detailed for other
areas.
3.
Vignette – the
painting becomes
darker towards the
edges.
4.
Use of colour – dark
‘drab’ colours except
for the face.
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Chris Monaghan
What technique has the photographer used to simplify this image?
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Is this picture ‘simplified’ ? If not, why not … and so what might the
photographer Joel Meyerowitz be saying about life in the modern city?
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Symmetry
Chris Monaghan
In this photograph the building seems to be ‘balanced’ by
the white cloud. The line of symmetry runs from the
bottom left to top right corner.
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Symmetry & Repetition
Chris Monaghan
Line of symmetry
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Where is the line of
symmetry in this image?
Norman Parkinson
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Note: unlike in mathematics
where perfect symmetry can
be found, in art symmetry is
often an approximation.
Norman Parkinson
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Does this image exhibit
any symmetry?
When something has no
symmetry we say that it
is asymmetrical
Chris Monaghan
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David Seymour (Chim)
How does being asymmetrical (not symmetrical) help or add
to the viewing experience and meaning of this image?
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Answer: War is chaotic & random – death can come at any
moment and does not follow beautiful aesthetic rules of
composition. By being asymmetrical the image manages to
convey this.
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Repetition & Pattern
Jackson Pollock
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Paul Strand
When something is repeated, it
can create a visual pattern.
Edward Weston
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Andreas Gursky
Paul Strand
Pattern can be used to suggest texture, or can produce an abstract
visual experience.
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Summary
Rule of Thirds
Rule of Even & Odd
Triangles
Space
Simplification
Symmetry
Pattern & Repetition
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