What is composition?
In photography composition is the placement or arrangement of visual elements or ingredients in a work of art. It can
also be thought of as the organization of the elements of art according to the principles of art. A lot of principals go into composing a ‘pleasant’ photograph. Remember, if the photo conveys the feeling and message you, as the artist, was intending, it is a success. These rules of composition are more of guidelines than rules. They were
developed through centuries of study and practice starting with the masters of the Renaissance. Work with them.
Practice them independently or together. The more you use these techniques intentionally, the more they will become
second nature.
Elements of design
The various visual elements, known as elements of design, formal elements, or elements of art, are the vocabulary with
which the visual artist composes. These elements in the overall design usually relate to each other and to the whole art
work
The elements of design are:
•Line – the visual path that enables the eye to move within the piece
• Shape – areas defined by edges within the piece, whether geometric or organic
• Color – hues with their various values and intensities
• Texture – surface qualities which translate into tactile illusions
• Direction – visual routes which take vertical, horizontal or diagonal paths
• Size – the relative dimensions and proportions of images or shapes to one another
• Perspective – expression of depth: foreground, middle ground, background
• Space – the space taken up by (positive) or in between (negative) objects
Line and shape
Literal lines do not exist in nature, but are the optical phenomena created when surfaces curve away from the viewer.
Nonetheless, line-like shapes are for all intents considered line elements by the artist; for example, telephone and power cables or rigging on boats. Any such elements can be of dramatic use in the composition of the image. Additionally, less obvious lines can be created, intentionally or not, which influence the direction of the viewer’s gaze. These could be the borders of areas of differing color or contrast, or sequences of discrete elements, or the artist may exaggerate or create lines perhaps as part of his style, for this purpose. Many lines without a clear subject point suggest chaos in the image and may conflict with the mood the artist is trying to evoke. Movement is also a source of line, and blur can also create a reaction. Subject lines by means of illusion contribute to both mood and linear perspective, giving the illusion of depth. Oblique lines convey a sense of movement and angular lines generally convey a sense of dynamism and possibly tension. Lines can also direct attention towards the main subject of picture, or contribute to organization by dividing it into compartments.
The brain often unconsciously reads near continuous lines between different elements and subjects at varying distances.
Straight lines
Horizontal, vertical, and angled lines all contribute to creating different moods of a picture. The angle and the relationship to the size of the frame both work to determine the influence the line has on the image. They are also strongly influenced by tone, color, and repetition in relation to the rest of the photograph. Horizontal lines, commonly found in landscape photography, gives the impression of calm, tranquility, and space. An image filled with strong vertical lines tends to have the impression of height, and grandeur. Tightly angled convergent lines give a dynamic, lively, and active effect to the image. Viewpoint is very important when dealing with lines particularly in photography, because every different erspective elicits a different response to the photograph.
Curved line
Curved lines are generally used to create a sense of flow within an image. They are also generally more aesthetically
pleasing, as we associate them with soft things. Compared to straight lines, curves provide a greater dynamic influence
in a picture. In photography, curved lines can give gradated shadows when paired with soft-directional lighting, which usually results
in a very harmonious line structure within the image. Color Color is characterized by attributes such as hue, value, and saturation. Colors have been associated with different moods, dependent on the society of the time. For example, white has long been viewed as purity, whereas it can also take slightly different meanings such as peace and innocence.
These are some additional guidelines to keep in mind while composing your image:
•There should be a center of interest or focus in the work, to prevent it becoming a pattern in itself;
• When shooting more than one person, each person’s eyes should be at a different level;
• The direction followed by the viewer’s eye should lead the viewer’s gaze around all elements in the work before
• leading out of the picture;
• The subject should not be facing out of the image;
• A moving subject should have space in front;
• Exact bisections of the picture space should be avoided;
• Small, high contrast, elements have as much impact as larger, duller elements;
• The prominent subject should be off-centre, unless a symmetrical or formal composition is desired, and can be
• balanced by smaller satellite elements;
The horizon line should not divide the art work in two equal parts but be positioned to emphasize either the sky
• or ground; showing more sky if image is of clouds, sun rise/set, and more ground if a landscape;
Breaking the rules can create tension or unease.
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