Composition
The origin of the word ‘composition’ is from late middle English – via Latin – derived from ‘componere’ meaning to ‘put together’.
composition |ˌkämpəˈzi sh ən|
noun
1 the nature of something’s ingredients or constituents; the way in which a whole or mixture is made up
A long time ago artists who were viewed by the public as having an innate sense of design, who created works that were viewed as masterpieces and as having good composition were studied. Some interesting findings came out of the analysis of such art work. It showed patterns and trends in the organization and inter-relationships of lines, shapes, forms and colours. When the same techniques were then used by others it was found that they drastically improved their work. When these patterns were defined they became known as the ‘rules of composition’.
Rule of Thirds
By far the best known composition rule. This is where the frame is divided into thirds, and the focus of the image is placed where one of the lines cross. The rule of thirds can apply to any type of image from portraiture to landscape. In fact in landscape photography, depending on where the focus is intended, the horizon should fall on either the top third ‘line’ (when the land is the main focus) or the bottom third ‘line’ (when the sky is the main focus)
Monotonous Repetition.
This is where the frame is filled with the same object over and over again. This is a very effective form of composition. It can be used in conjunction with depth of field (see example) or just using any object straight on – why not try it with a whole lot of coloured pencils? or balls? bricks, stone work, grasses, flowers, clouds, shells, sand … anything can work.
Direction of Movement.
When placing a moving object in your frame, make sure the object has ‘room’ to move across the frame. Also with lines of sight … if your subject is looking to either the left or the right (rather than straight at the camera) ensure that the line of sight runs across the frame, rather than straight off to one side.
Negative Space.
The use of negative space can be a very powerful tool, and even more so when the negative space is all one colour or texture. Use it to weight out the image and add interest to the composition. In the example we used solid negative space to highlight the connection between father and baby, and to emphasize the fragility and tenderness of a newborn.
Using Diagonals.
You can use diagonals either by placing yourself so that solid lines create a diagonal across the frame (see example) or by tilting your frame to manufacture the diagonal. This can often create interesting portraiture, and is used often in landscape photography.
The human eye tends to prefer ‘S’ shapes to create a more peaceful scene, so a ‘S’ shaped path, road or stream, composed to create a diagonal across the frame would be a powerful composition.
Depth of Field to lead the eye.
Our example is a contemporary take on the traditional family portrait. Using depth of field to lead the eye through the image, while maintaining the focus on the subjects in the foreground. The example image also uses the rule of thirds.
top tip – slow down, take your time to think about the photo before you take it, consider where each element is placed in the viewfinder, consider what it is you want to create. You will find that the number of ‘throw away’ shots on your camera reduces by just taking a little extra time.
Generally if the composition feels ‘comfortable’, if it makes you feel the way you wanted it to make you feel, encapsulates its message and expresses it clearly – that is a photo with effective composition.
Kate & Merryn
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“Good composition is like a suspension bridge; each line adds strength and takes none away… Making lines run into each other is not composition. There must be motive for the connection. Get the art of controlling the observer – that is composition.”
— Robert Henri
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