Activity
4
Photographic composition
During this activity, you will learn about some of the rules of photographic composition. You will
then have the opportunity, during the upcoming activities, to put what you have learned into
practice.
Photographic composition refers to the selection and arrangement of elements within a picture. As
Alain Briot, a successful landscape photographer, has pointed out, “composing a good photograph
is not easy. Teaching others how to create interesting compositions is even harder. In fact,
composition is one the most difficult areas of photography or of any visual art for that matter.”1
According to Briot, there are three fundamental aspects of composition to keep in mind when
taking a photo:
1) “Composing a photograph does not necessarily mean placing the most important subject in
the centre of the image.”
2) “De-centering the subject can result in more interesting compositions.”
3) “Both the edges and the corners of the image can and should be used. They are not just ‘there’
because there is no way to do away with them. They are there because they are important and
can be used both effectively and creatively.”2
On the following pages are a few of the most important rules of photographic composition that
expand on Briot’s points.
1.
Alain Briot, “How to Compose a Photograph,” The Luminous Landscape (www.luminous-landscape.com : accessed March 3,
2008).
2.
Ibid.
The rule of thirds
The rule of thirds entails dividing your image into three equal parts both horizontally and vertically
(see Figure 4.1). Specific points of interest in the photograph should fall on or near one of these
lines.
© 2008
Figure 4.1
Natural eye movement
The most important area of an image is located on the right-hand side of the image. Figure 4.2, a
photo taken in Melbourne, Australia, follows this rule. The palm tree—the most important element
in the foreground—is situated on the right-hand side of the image.
Why the right-hand side? Because we read images the same way we read text: from left to right.
Since we finish reading on the right-hand side of a page, this is the area to which we pay attention
for the longest time; we stop or pause there before turning the page or moving on to the next
photograph. By placing an important element on the right-hand side, the photographer takes
advantage of the viewer’s natural eye movement.
© 2008
Figure 4.2
Leading lines
Lines within a photograph lead the eye and draw the viewer into the image. They are another
classical way to compose a photograph and are referred to as leading lines. The typical example is
a road or railway track that leads the eye towards the horizon.
© 2008
© 2008
Figure 4.3
Figure 4.4
In Figures 4.3 and 4.4 above, the sinuous road leads the viewer’s eyes into the image, as does the
curve of the beach. Landscape photos don’t necessarily include man-made elements such as roads
or railway tracks, but fortunately many natural elements can be used instead such as rivers,
coastlines or mountain ranges.
Perspective
Perspective is another strong compositional tool. Perspective causes objects to decrease in size
proportionally as they recede. This is one of the most effective ways to add depth to your
photographs (see Figures 4.5 and 4.6).
© 2008
Figure 4.5
© 2008
Figure 4.6
Framing
Framing means using an object in the foreground to frame the main subject in the background. In
Figures 4.7 and 4.8 below, the photographs would have been much less interesting or dramatic
without the elements in the foreground.
© 2008
Figure 4.7
© 2008
Figure 4.8
Not all photographers agree about the importance of these rules: American photographer Ansel
Adams famously said, “The so-called rules of photographic composition are, in my opinion,
invalid, irrelevant and immaterial.” In other words, keep the rules in mind when you are taking
photographs, but remember to play: photography is a creative process!
More information to help you become a good photographer
If you are interested in learning more about composing an image, visit http://asp.photo.free.fr and
click on “Composition” or visit www.secondpicture.com and click on “Photographic
Composition.”
For photography tips and techniques, visit www.kodak.com and click on “Consumer Products”
and then on “Tips & Projects Center.”
In addition to these three sites, the following sites will expose you to photos taken by professionals
and award-winning photographers. The purpose of this section is to feed your imagination before
you go out and take your own photos.
As you browse these sites and the photographs they display, take note as to whether the
photographer has followed any of the composition rules you have just learned about.
 ActionReporter.com:
www.actionreporter.com
 The Ansel Adams Gallery:
www.anseladams.com
 Canadian Geographic Photo Club:
http://photoclub.canadiangeographic.ca
 Corbis:
http://pro.corbis.com
 National Geographic:
http://photography.nationalgeographic.com
 Travel Photographers Network:
www.travelphotographers.net
Playing with lighting
Activity
5
Now that you know a bit more about your camera and the rules of photographic composition, the
upcoming exercise will give you the opportunity to play with lighting and observe the effects of
various lighting techniques on your photos.
What you will need to complete this activity:

Digital camera
 Clamp-base lamp with 100 W bulb
 Three reflectors:
 White foam board
 Black foam board
 Sheet of aluminum foil
Exercise 1: Practice photos
Using the materials mentioned above, take seven photographs in accordance with the instructions
on the following pages. Ask a classmate to be your model or create a still life using articles from
your home or classroom. The subject should be about 1.5 m from you. For the last three photos,
you must find the best place to position the reflector to redirect the available light onto your subject.
Step 1
Set up your subject, lighting and reflector (if applicable) in accordance with the instructions and
sketch the layout in the left-hand column of the table on pages 23 to 25.
Step 2
Once you are ready, take a photo of your subject. Repeat for all seven photos.
Step 3
Download all the pictures to your computer to view them and note your observations in the righthand column of the table. Save your photos or print them out if you wish.
Front lit (example)
Position your subject and then place the light in front but slightly to the left.
Subject and lighting layout
Observations
- Very well lit: can see subject, details and colours
well
- Does not cast a large shadow
Photo 1: Front lit
Position your subject and then place the light in front but slightly to the left.
Subject and lighting layout
Observations
Photo 2: Bottom lit
Position the light below your subject, shining up.
Subject and lighting layout
Observations
Photo 3: Side lit
Position the light to the left or right of your subject.
Subject and lighting layout
Observations
Photo 4: Top lit
Position the light above your subject, shining down.
Subject and lighting layout
Observations
Photo 5: Side lit with white reflector
Position the light to the left or right of your subject and set up your white reflector to
redirect the available light onto the subject.
Subject and lighting layout
Observations
Photo 6: Side lit with black reflector
Position the light to the left or right of your subject and set up your black reflector to
redirect the available light onto the subject.
Subject and lighting layout
Observations
Photo 7: Side lit with aluminum reflector
Position the light to the left or right of your subject and set up your aluminum reflector to
redirect the available light onto the subject.
Subject and lighting layout
Observations
As you may have noticed in this exercise, lighting plays an important role in the outcome of your
photos. Not only is the placement of the light important but the type of lighting used will have a
significant effect as well.
Exercise 2: Types of lighting
Associate each of the following types of lighting with the appropriate statement (feel free to use
the Internet to research these terms, if need be):
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)
F)
G)
Daylight
Flash
Fluorescent bulb
Halogen bulb
Incandescent bulb
Infrared
Laser
1) I produce a mainly white light, have a relatively long life and provide more light per watt than
standard light bulbs. ____
2) I am the light produced by the sun. ____
3) I am a relatively cheap and energy-efficient whitish light produced by the electrical stimulation
of a gas or vapour. ____
4) I am electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light. ____
5) I produce a bright yellow light diffused by a tungsten filament. Only about 5% of my energy
output is light; the other 95% is heat. ____
6) I produce an intense light very briefly. ____
7) I produce light in an intense narrow beam. ____
Professional photo shoot
Activity
6
Photography, like advertising and fashion, is time sensitive. The final result must always be
impeccable, surprising and often produced at the last minute. During this exercise, you will get a
taste of what it would be like to be a professional photographer.
What you will need to complete this activity:



Digital camera
Any or all of the items in your tool kit
Anything else you may wish to use to be creative
Exercise
Read through the following four scenarios and then complete one or more of them. Save your
photos or print them out if you wish.
Product 1:
New product
Client:
Pixel Incorporated
Pixel Incorporated has asked you to take photographs of a new product. The product
could be, for example, your computer mouse, a classmate’s jacket, your knapsack or
whatever else in the classroom you feel like using. Using the materials you have in the
classroom, place the object you have chosen in an appropriate setting and take five
different shots that make it look as attractive as possible. Don’t forget that the idea is to
sell the product.
Product 2:
School website
Client:
POP High School
POP High School wants to completely redo its website, as it has really needed to be
updated for a few years now. Since you are a former student and an excellent
photographer, the school board has asked you to take photos of several school activities
for the website such as sporting events, plays, concerts, outings, etc. Provide them with
five photos that show the school at its best.
Product 3:
Shoe flyer
Client:
If the Shoe Fits
Spring is here, the time of year when local shoe stores want to showcase their spring
collections. If the Shoe Fits, a shoe store that has only been in business for a few weeks,
wants to show that it has the latest fashions. Since you have just graduated, you are really
looking forward to showing off what you can do. You suggest they do a flyer with the
new shoe models. Take a series of five photos of shoes with no people in them,
highlighting the best features of the shoes. You will want to get as close to your subjects
as possible! Play with colours and styles to create a dynamic and fun shoe montage.
Product 4:
Set photos
Client:
Northlight Theatre Company
The Northlight Theatre Company has hired you as a photographer. The company model
maker has provided you with miniature furniture and two figurines. For the décor and
lighting, the company tells you to do whatever you want; however, they want you to
produce two daytime photos and two night photos.
If you are familiar with Adobe Photoshop Elements, feel free to use this software to retouch the
colours, contrast, texture, etc. of your photos, as you see fit. You will be completing a tutorial on
this software in Activity 7, so if you are interested, you can always come back to work on these
photos later.
Doing Drella digitally!
Activity
7
For your final activity you will complete a photo project using techniques pioneered by Andy
Warhol, an artist and illustrator who developed his own distinctive and remarkable style.
A number of image editing software programs are available nowadays that allow digital
photographers to manipulate their photos in a variety of unique and interesting ways. For example,
Apple computers come with a very simple photo-editing program called iPhoto. Similarly, PC
users can download a variety of freeware programs such as GIMP, PhotoFiltre and Picasa. In
contrast to the somewhat limited capabilities of these programs, Adobe Photoshop is a high-end
sophisticated program with many features for manipulating images. For the purpose of this project
you will use Adobe Photoshop Elements. A tutorial is available to help you learn how to use the
program.
Considering that you will be doing your editing in a Warhol style, you may want to know a little
more about this famous photographer before you begin your project. The following is a summary
of his life and artistic career:
Andrew Warhola (his birth name) was an American painter and cinematographer whose parents
came from Czechoslovakia. He was born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, in 1928, and died in New
York at age 59. Though he died relatively young, Warhol, who was known to his friends as Drella,
had several careers before dedicating himself exclusively to his art. Early on, he had considerable
success as an illustrator and graphic artist for New York magazines and newspapers. He was
fascinated by Hollywood and American mythmaking as is evident in his work, which often
featured American icons such as Elvis Presley, Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe. The
technique he used for a lot of his work is a process he pioneered that is very representative of Pop
Art, of which he is one of the best-known exponents. He used repetition of the same photographybased image and alternating colours in large blocks to make his work stand out and surprise the
public. His subjects were usually either well-known people or everyday objects (such as his famous
Campbell soup cans). In the 1960s, his work was often considered to be cold, partly because he
rejected many of the traditional notions of fine art by mechanically repeating the same image,
thereby imitating the manufacturing process (his workshop was even called “The Factory”) and
parodying mass production.
See Appendix A for a piece done in one of Warhol’s signature styles.
What you will need to complete this activity:


Digital camera
Adobe Photoshop Elements software
Exercise
This exercise is an opportunity to try your hand at making your own Warhol-influenced picture
using Adobe Photoshop Elements. Feel free to also rework the photos you took in Activity 6, if
you want.
Step 1
Take a picture of your face with a digital camera and download it to your computer or use a digital
picture you already have.
Step 2
Visit http://liensppo.qc.ca and click on “Adobe Photoshop Elements tutorial” in the “Photography”
section. Follow the steps to modify the photo of your face in Warhol’s style.
Remember to save your file or, if you wish, print it out once finished.
Step 3 (optional)
Rework the modified photo in at least four versions (e.g., a pink face on a blue background, a red
face on a green background, etc.).
Appendix A
Example of Warhol’s style