| project_handout_-_composition.docx |
What is due?
3 Photos of each rule. Each photo needs to be renamed based on the Composition Rule used.
Objective
Using various composition techniques, students will create a photograph that both works well within the framework of the viewfinder, and holds the viewer’s interest. Final photos should be in focus, have an appropriate exposure, and follows one of the COMPOSITION guidelines as described below.
3 Photos of each rule. Each photo needs to be renamed based on the Composition Rule used.
Objective
Using various composition techniques, students will create a photograph that both works well within the framework of the viewfinder, and holds the viewer’s interest. Final photos should be in focus, have an appropriate exposure, and follows one of the COMPOSITION guidelines as described below.
Rule Of Thirds
The basic principle behind the rule of thirds is to imagine breaking an image
down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As
follows.
As you’re taking an image you would have done this in your mind through your
viewfinder or in the LCD display that you use to frame your shot.
With this grid in mind the ‘rule of thirds’ now identifies four important parts of the image that you should consider placing points of interest in as you frame your image.
Not only this – but it also gives you four ‘lines’ that are also useful positions for elements in your photo.
The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally.
down into thirds (both horizontally and vertically) so that you have 9 parts. As
follows.
As you’re taking an image you would have done this in your mind through your
viewfinder or in the LCD display that you use to frame your shot.
With this grid in mind the ‘rule of thirds’ now identifies four important parts of the image that you should consider placing points of interest in as you frame your image.
Not only this – but it also gives you four ‘lines’ that are also useful positions for elements in your photo.
The theory is that if you place points of interest in the intersections or along the lines that your photo becomes more balanced and will enable a viewer of the image to interact with it more naturally.
Leading Lines
Leading lines are used to draw the viewer’s eye through a photograph.
When we look at a photo our eye is naturally drawn along lines. By thinking about how you place lines in your composition, you can affect the way we view the image, pulling us into the picture, towards the subject, or on a journey "through" the scene. There are many different types of line - straight, diagonal, curvy, zigzag, radial etc - and each can be used to enhance our photo's composition.
Unique Views
A bird's-eye view is an view of an object from above, with a perspective as though the observer were a bird.
Stand on a chair or ladder, get above your subject!
A worm's-eye view is a view of an object from below, as though the observer were a worm.
Get down on the ground!
Framing
Most of us use ‘frames’ to display our images when we hang them on walls for viewing - however ‘framing’ can be used within the composition of a shot to help you highlight your main point of interest in the image and and/or to put it in context to give the image ‘depth’.
Framing can draw the eye of the viewer of an interest to a particular part of the scene.
Close Up
Fill the frame with what you want to focus on
So how do you fill your frame?
Use your Zoom - your point and shoot has one try it out.
Use your legs - just because you have that zoom doesn't mean you have to use it for everything. Take a few steps closer to your subject to get the photo you want.
Pattern
Filling your frame with a repetitive pattern can give the impression of size and large numbers.
The key to this is to attempt to zoom in close enough to the pattern that it fills the frame and makes the repetition seem as though it’s bursting out (even if the repetition stops just outside of your framing).