Photographic composition - Padmanabh Munje

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSITIONTips and tools on how to see things creatively!

By Padmanabh Munje

BASIC TENETS OF ART

• Subject

• Medium

• Perspective

• Composition

Applies to all works of art… Music, Writing, Painting and Photography!

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER…

• Composition is the placement or arrangement of artistic elements or ingredients in a work of art

• Arrangement is always according to the principles of art form

• Distinct from the subject of the work of art, but includes the subject of the work of art

AGENDA

• Lines & shapes• The rule of thirds• Focal point• Fill the frame• Perspective change• Cut the clutter• Create depth• Repetition & rhythm• Active space

• Some Tips

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.”

Ansel Adams

LINES AND SHAPESthe building blocks of a photograph…

• Look for lines and shapes within a scene

• Lines & shapes are used to enhance and emphasize the subject

• Lines represent restfulness, dynamism, create a sense of depth, and movement

LINES AND SHAPES

• “Relaxing” lines, bring “peace”

• Used to emphasize the more impressive element within the scene

• Layers of horizontal lines provide rhythm

LINES AND SHAPESHorizontal Lines

• Strong, dynamic lines, emphasize height and power

• In vertical format strength is represented by the longest sides of the frame

• Vertical lines seem bursting out of the picture if you opt for landscape format

LINES AND SHAPESVertical Lines

• The most interesting and visually exciting lines

• Lead to the centre of interest by the most dynamic of route

• Viewers to takes notice of subjects cutting through our vision

LINES AND SHAPESDiagonal Lines

• Circles mirror emptiness and wholeness both

LINES AND SHAPESShapes - Circle

• Triangles eye-catching as they cut through vertical or horizontal lines

LINES AND SHAPESShapes - Triangles

• Four-sided shapes mirror the four sides of the frame

• Make for interesting viewing if used diagonally

LINES AND SHAPESShapes - Quadrangulars

• Curves represent beauty, seamlessness, grace

• Combining circles or curved lines with straight ones produces great tension

LINES AND SHAPESCurves

THE RULE OF THIRDSBalanced and powerful compositions…

• By placing the subject off-centre in your view– In a 3x3 grid – Where the lines cross

• The point of power

• The most common compositional tool– Developed by painters

centuries ago– Painters use “the

golden mean” or “the divine proportion”

THE RULE OF THIRDS

• The rule can be applied to any subject

• Not limited to… but best suited for landscapes and other wide-angle works

THE RULE OF THIRDS

Can be applied to any format - square, rectangular or panoramic

THE RULE OF THIRDS

FOCAL POINTDefine your image’s point of interest

• Define your point of interest

• Supress the elements which detract from the power of the main subject

FOCAL POINT

FILL THE FRAMEIf you can’t make something good, make it big…

• There’s no doubt about the centre of interest

• Good compositional techniques, such as placing a key feature on a point of power, still apply

• Get in close – then get in closer still…

FILL THE FRAME

• If you can’t get in close, expand the presence of your subject in the frame

FILL THE FRAME

CHANGE PERSPECTIVEChange the way you see the world…

• Classic way to shoot a citiscape is in landscape format• Portraits emphasize the height hence appear vibrant

CHANGE PERSPECTIVE

CUT THE CLUTTERLeave out the distractions…

•Very important to leave out elements that take the focus away from the subject

CUT THE CLUTTER

PLAY WITH SENSE OF DEPTHShallow or deep…

• Shallow depth of field creates

emphasis

• A central subject given real visual power by the use of leading lines

• Diagonal line cuts across and provides a sense of depth

CREATE DEAPTH

REPETITION & RHYTHMOrder in chaos…

REPETITION & RHYTHM

ACTIVE SPACEWhere’s the subject looking?

• Open spaces represent subject’s point of interest

ACTIVE SPACE

SOME TIPS…

• Keep it simple– Think in lines and

shapes• Think backgrounds• Think in odds

– Odd Numbers• “3” is a magic number

– Odd Shapes– Odd Angles

• Watch cropping• Avoid clichés• Shoot plenty of pictures• Visit www.flickr.com daily

• Break the established rules!

• And… always carry a camera ;-)

www.padmanabhmunje.com

THANK YOU!