Transcript Composition

Composition
(The elements)
What is Composition
• Composition is the arrangement of shapes
(forms) in an image – their position,
relationship to one another and to the image
as a whole.
• Photographers, like other artists, compose
their images to create certain effects and to
affect the viewer.
How you arrange a scene's elements in your
camera's viewfinder will not only determine
the effectiveness of your picture, but will also
contribute to how well its message is
conveyed. There is more to good composition,
than the placement of elements.
Lighting, shutter speed, and depth of field and
aperture contribute to a picture's mood and
clarity of what the picture is saying, and
therefore the effectiveness of its composition.
Elements of Design
•
Space - Space is defined and determined by shapes and forms. Positive space is where shapes
and forms exist; negative space is the empty space around shapes and forms. For images to have a
sense of balance positive and negative space can be used to counter balance each other.
•
Line - A line represents a "path" between two points. A line can be straight, curved, vertical,
horizontal, diagonal, or zigzag.
•
Shape - Shapes are the result of closed lines. However shapes can be visible without lines when an
artist establishes a color area or an arrangement of objects within the camera's viewfinder.
•
•
Color - Color occurs when light in different wavelengths strikes our eyes.
Texture - Texture refers to the surface quality or "feel" of an object - smooth, rough, soft, etc.
Textures may be actual (felt with touch - tactile) or implied (suggested by the way an artist has
created the work of art -visual). Texture is often emphasized in oblique lighting as it strikes the
objects from one side.
•
Form - Form refers to the three-dimensional quality of an object, which is due in part to light, and
dark areas. Light and dark areas within an image provide contrast that can suggest volume
•
Value - Value helps with Form. It gives objects depth and perception. Value is also referred to as
tone.
More about Space
Positive and Negative Space:
Positive space is where shapes and forms
exist.
Negative space is the empty space around
shapes and forms.
The next few slides will help to see the positive and negative space in photographs
Positive Space
The
positive
space
masked
in black
Negative Space
The negative
space masked in
black—notice
how the
negative space
defines and
implies the
shape of a plane
Negative space helps define a subject, so negative space works when there’s a balance
between the positive and negative spaces. Negative space also works when it draws the
viewer’s eye into the subject.
Negative Space
Negative space can
actually be used as the
main subject in a
composition itself,
sometimes to the
extent where it takes
on an identifiable
shape defined by its
surrounding positive
space.
Photography by Numlok
Balancing Negative and Positive Space
In this photo the
black area is
negative space and
it serves to balance
the area in which
the marmot and
rock occupy. Areas
of a picture that
contain "nothing"
are important
visual elements
that provide
balance in an
image.
Examples
Photography by Faquino101
Photography by Stephen M. Gray
Line
Diagonal,
Horizontal,
Vertical and
Converging,
Leading lines all
impact images
differently when
photographing
use the lines to
strengthen the
images.
Photography by Stevacek
Lines have the power to lead the viewers eye to certain
points in the image.
Diagonal Lines
Diagonal lines
generally work well
to draw the eye of
an image’s viewer
through the
photograph. They
create points of
interest as they
intersect with other
lines and often give
images depth by
suggesting
perspective.
Horizontal Lines
Photography by Tal Bright
There’s
something
about a
horizontal line
in an image
that conveys a
message of
’stability’ or
even ‘rest’.
Vertical Lines
Vertical lines
have the ability
to convey a
variety of
different moods
in a photograph
ranging from
power and
strength (think
of skyscrapers)
to growth (think
of trees).
Converging Lines
A picture with converging
lines contains a set of
lines which seem to come
together in the distance.
Photography by Kenny Maths
*Experiment with
Positioning
*Positioning the
‘convergence’
*Adding Interest at the
Point of Convergence
Photography by MarvinOS
Leading Lines
Leading lines are
used to draw the
viewer's eye
through the
photograph. This is
an especially
powerful
technique to draw
the viewer's
attention to one or
more intended
subjects or a single
focal point.
Shape
Photography by Wong Chek
In photographs,
shape can be the
objects in the
image, but they
can also be the
way subjects
connect to each
other in a photo
to form shapes
that draw the eye
from subject to
subject.
Texture
Photography by Grant McDonald
Texture helps to
emphasize the
features and details
in a photograph. By
capturing "texture"
of objects, you can
create form.
Texture particularly
comes into play
when light hits
objects at interesting
angles.
Photography by Scose
More Texture
Color
The 12 part color wheel below is based on the three primary colors ( Red, Yellow and Blue )
The secondary colors (Green, Orange and Violet) are mixtures of the
two primaries they sit between.
The tertiary colors fall between each primary and secondary.
Color wheel with
primary
and secondary
colors
Color wheel with
primary, secondary
and intermediate (or
tertiary) colors
Another color wheel with
primary,
secondary and intermediate
(or tertiary) colors
More about Color
Color Terms –
Hue: refers to the names of the primary colors, red, green and blue.
Value: lightness and darkness of the color - the amount of white or
black added.
Intensity: the purity or saturation of the color
Monochromatic color: use of one color where only the value of the
color changes
Analogous colors: colors that are adjacent to each other on the
color wheel, e.g. yellow and green
Analogous Color
Analogous colors
next to each
other on the
color wheel "get
along" and are
referred to as
being
harmonious.
Analogous colors
are often used in
visual design and
have a soothing
affect.
Monochromatic Colors
Monochromatic
colors are all
the hues (tints
and shades) of
a single color.
As a result, the
energy is more
subtle and
peaceful due
to a lack of
color contrast.
Complementary Colors
Complementary colors:
colors opposite to each
other on the color
wheel, e.g. Blue-violet
and yellow, represent
colors positioned across
from each other on the
color wheel.
Complimentary colors
exhibit more contrast
when positioned
adjacent to each other for example yellow
appears more intense
when positioned on or
beside blue or violet
Warm Colors
Warm colors
include:
yellows, red
and orange
we associate
these with
blood, sun
and fire.
Warm colors
make you
feel
energized.
Cool Colors
Cool colors
include: violet,
blue and green
because of our
association
with snow and
ice. Cool colors
invoke
sadness.
This image is monochromatic.
• http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/study/g_cool_colors.html
• http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/study/g_warm.html
• http://www.tutorial9.net/resources/enhancing-your-art-with-negativespace/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Design_elements_and_principles
• http://photoinf.com/General/Robert_Berdan/Composition_and_the_Elem
ents_of_Visual_Design.htm
• http://www.flickr.com/photos/blind_eye_frank/351442724/
• http://www.layersmagazine.com/negative-space.html
• http://www.digitalphotoguides.com/composition2.html
• http://digital-photography-school.com/converging-lines
• http://www.photographyicon.com/line/index.html
• http://www.catfolks.net/sean/photos/OakGlenTrip052707/
• http://www.photips.com/photography-tips/leading-lines.html