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COMP

OSI

TI

ON

COMPOSITION:

the arrangement of objects or elements

within the frame of a photograph.

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I. Intro to Composition

II. Snapshots vs. Photographs

III. Some simple ways to use your camera to

improve composition

IV. Elements of photography

III. Compositional Principles

A. Emphasis

B. Balance

C. Variety

D. Unity

E. Repetition

F. Visual Movement

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COMPOSITION:

the arrangement of

objects or elements

within the frame of a

photograph.

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SNAPSHOTS PHOTOGRAPHS

- conserve memories - Artistic interpretation of

an object, event, person

- Show what the subject - Show what the photo-

looks like grapher thinks/feels

- Point and shoot - Made with thought, care,

attention to detail

- Often clichéd - Original; looks

at subject in fresh way

- Subject is the most - Composition more

important thing important than subject

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The subject of a photograph

is often less important than

its composition.

Some simple ways to use

your camera to improve

composition:

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Think about

your edges.

Crop with

your camera,

and don’t let

distracting

shapes or lines

interfere with

your

composition

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Sometimes

isolating

details

improves

composition –

so move in

close!

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10Think about whether the camera should be horizontal or vertical

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Can a photograph be abstract?

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Abstract photograph:

An image that is conceived apart

from concrete reality, generally

emphasizing lines, colors, and

forms, and their relationship to one

another.

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Elements of Photography:

Line

Texture

Shape

Light

Color

Point of View

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COMPOSITIONAL

GUIDELINES:

1. Emphasis

2. Balance

3. Variety

4. Unity

5. Repetition

6. Visual Movement

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1. EMPHASIS:

using position, value,

shape, size, or color to

add importance to an

object or subject in an

image.

Color can create emphasis

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18Shape can create emphasis

19Placement and size can create emphasis

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The nine-grid zone

To use this compositional guideline,

divide the frame into thirds both

horizontally and vertically, and place the

focal point either on one line or on the

intersection of two lines.

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2. BALANCE:

how elements are

arranged to achieve

stability. May be

symmetrical,

asymmetrical, or radial.

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Symmetrical balance

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Asymmetrical

balance

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Katsushika Hokusai, The Great Wave at Kanagawa,1923-29

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Radial balance

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3. VARIETY:

difference, or contrast

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Different colors, shapes,

lines, and textures can

provide interesting

contrasts in a

photograph.

40variety/contrast of color

41variety/contrast of shapes

42Variety/contrast of lines

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Variety/contrast of textures

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Variety and unity

should be

balanced.

Too much

variety

= chaos.

Too much unity

= boring.

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5. UNITY:

all individual parts of a

picture come together to

create a cohesive

composition.

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Unity is often achieved

through simplicity and/or

repetition.

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Too much unity can be boring.

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…in photography, and also in life .

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5. REPETITION:

repeating visual art

elements like color,

value, shape, and line.

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Repetition creates

rhythm and movement!

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Repetition can be regular or irregular

54http://blogs.egusd.net/mpease/2013/05/13/principles-

of-design/

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6. VISUAL MOVEMENT:

used to guide the viewer’s

eye throughout the

photograph.

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