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The Basics of Composition

This document discusses seven techniques for improving photographic composition beyond the rule of thirds: 1) Leading lines guide the eye through an image along paths like roads or rivers. 2) Framing isolates the subject within frames to draw attention. 3) Filling the frame prevents subjects from getting lost in busy scenes. 4) Patterns and repetition, like repeating colors, add visual interest. 5) Symmetry creates balance. 6) Perspective impacts the look and story by shooting from different angles. 7) Proper use of space gives subjects room to breathe without clutter.

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Samrah Atif
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166 views43 pages

The Basics of Composition

This document discusses seven techniques for improving photographic composition beyond the rule of thirds: 1) Leading lines guide the eye through an image along paths like roads or rivers. 2) Framing isolates the subject within frames to draw attention. 3) Filling the frame prevents subjects from getting lost in busy scenes. 4) Patterns and repetition, like repeating colors, add visual interest. 5) Symmetry creates balance. 6) Perspective impacts the look and story by shooting from different angles. 7) Proper use of space gives subjects room to breathe without clutter.

Uploaded by

Samrah Atif
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Basics of

Photographic Composition
Lesson #2: Seven More Ways to Improve Composition

Comm Tech TGJ2OI


Grey Highlands Secondary School
We started with the most
important technique
Rule of Thirds
Now let’s look at seven other techniques to improve
your composition: 1) Leading Lines
2) Framing
3) Fill the Frame
4) Patterns and Repetition
5) Symmetry
6) Perspective (Point of View)
7) Space
Leading Lines
We look at an image in the same way that we read a page of
words. Our eyes are naturally drawn into the image by lines. If
you have a road or a river winding through your image, the
viewers eye will automatically run along those lines. If your
centre of interest is at the end of that river or road, that is a
good way to compose the image.
Leading lines pull us into, and through the scene. The
lines can be: straight, diagonal, curving, zigzag, S Shape
and many other types. The important thing is to create
as dynamic an entry point to an image if possible.
Framing
A great technique for better photos is to frame your subject within
your photo. Framing up your subject is a great technique to add
depth and visual impact to your photography. Isolating your subject
with framing draws the viewer’s attention directly to the subject of
your photograph.
Be careful when utilizing framing techniques that you don’t
clutter the photo or obscure the subject. If there is too much
going on around the subject of your photograph it is easy to lose
the meaning of what your image is trying to convey. Remember
though that busy photographs can easily be improved by
carefully choosing a shallow depth of field and blurring out
things that could otherwise be distracting.
Fill the Frame
While it can be appropriate to take shots
that put a person with the environment
that they are in, if they get lost in the
picture you might as well just take a shot
of the scene and leave them out of it.
You’re much more likely to get a ‘wow’ from those
looking at your photos if your shots are filled with
interest.
Patterns and Repetition
Life is filled with patterns – many of which we
simply overlook. However, once you get an
eye for spotting them (and it takes some
practice) you’ll be amazed by what you see.
The other common use of repetition in photography is to
capture the interruption of the flow of a pattern. For
example you might photograph hundreds of red M&Ms with
one blue one.

Broken repetition might include adding a contrasting object


(color, shape, texture) or removing one of the repeating
objects.
Symmetry
Symmetry brings pleasing balance and proportion
into photography. When used correctly, it can
create striking images.
Perspective (Point of View)
Shooting from up high and looking down on
a subject or shooting from below looking up
on the same subject drastically impact not
only the ‘look’ of the image, emphasizing
different points of interest, angles, textures,
shapes, etc., it also impacts the ‘story’ of an
image.
Space
There can be a fine line between filling your
frame with your subject (and creating a
nice sense of intimacy and connection) and
also giving your subject space to breath.

Sometimes it is what you leave out of an


image that makes it special

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