Composition



						Composition is the start of the photographic process on the creative side. On the technical side we start with light which is the raw material for our image and work with the exposure controls. Composition is the placement of elements within the restriction of the frame of the photo. On a 35mm camera this is a rectangle. On a Twin Lens camera it is a square. In either case, the frame is going to see LESS than our eyes, so the trick is to decide what to point the camera at. A photo has two main parts. First is the subject which is what we take a photo of. Second is treatment which is how that subject is arranged within the frame.

		Perhaps the most important guide for composition is called the Rule of Thirds. When the frame is divided into three parts horizontally and vertically we get the arrangement shown here. The lines of intersection are ideal placement points for the dominant element in our photo....the part of the photo that attracts our attention. We call that the center of interest or subject. Each photo should have such a point....if there is nothing that attracts your attention then the photo does not communicate as well. Subject placement can also be placed along one of the thirds to be effective. The horizon line should be placed on the thirds line and never in the center if it is visible.


	This is a photo example of Thirds....notice that the dot represents the part of the photo our eye comes to rest on...this part of the photo is in contrast in color and shape to the rest of the photo and thus attracts more attention.

Pay attention to lines in your photo. Lines can be actual lines from a road or fence, or from an arrangement of objects such as these cars. Lines that are horizontal or flat tend to be peaceful and reduce the excitement of a photo. Diagonal lines make a photo have a feeling of action or excitement. Many times a movie producer will tilt the reality of the scene by tilting the camera to throw the ballance off and make a viewer feel the tension or action. Here we have the larger truck placed on the diagonal lines to attract attention. Notice how it was placed on the thirds.


	CURVED lines also are important. ANY line in the photo adds to the composition feel, here we see curved lines made by the arms of the swimmer add to the feeling of peacefulness. Notice how the face is placed in the thirds line.

Another example of LINES, in this case we call them leading lines. The lines made by the freeway overpass draw our eye INTO the photo and off toward the ending point where the white dot was placed.

You can see all of these examples on the Magazine cut out assignment. To really understand composition a new photographer must look at good photographs like those found in National Geographics magazine and examine and analyze how the composition was accomplished.


						The motion of our subject is where the composition meets the technical. Here we find the shutter controls motion on our photo. If the shutter is fast (like 500 or 1000) the motion is frozen and if it is long or slow like 60 or less the motion becomes a blur. Each has its effect on the final photo. The important part is that the photographer has decided in advance how the photo will look. Notice how the rule of thirds has been used on this photo also. When the shutter is set to a fast speed like 250 - 500 - 1000 the camera is not getting much light - the aperture will then need to be set to a wider setting letting in more light in order to get an exposure. The result....less depth of field and a background that becomes less clear.


		The final technical concern in composition is in the background. Is there an obect that is right behind our subject that might look like it is MERGING or growing out of our subject? Is the background needed or not. Here we see two ways to do it - include it or simplify it. The APERTURE controls the background, although most cameras will only show you the simplified view when you focus. NOW the aperture works with the shutter to control light and exposure. Background is simplified or made less sharp by a wide open aperture like f 2, f4 or f 5.6. Close pictures or a telephoto lens make the effect more dramatic. By setting our shutter to a high number the aperture is forced to a LOW number and depth is reduced. By putting our shutter to a LOW number the aperture is forced HIGH and depth is increased. The two controls work together.

Prize Winning Photography

Notes taken during class at Santa Cruz High as we heard about what makes a prize winning photograph from a judge.

Blur creates a feeling of speed - panning or moving the camera along so that it follows a moving object takes practice but makes a photo more interesting

Posterization is darkroom technique that converts the photo into simple tones of black and white or simple blocks of color

SIMPLICITY is the key to good pictures that win awards

Everybody looks but not everybody sees. Imaginative seeing the potential of a photo is the skill to develop - look for pictures in the things you see

Little extra touches in a photo such as a moon in the sky for comparison of shape or for a distant focal point is good. Take the time to examine the objects in your photo and look for the best viewpoint to show them

Lighting plays a part in a prize winner. A silhouette or sunset can do a lot to make a photo simple and interesting. To make the exposure aim the meter away from the sun to the bright part of the sky and adjust exposure then hold it and recompose the photo for a dark sky and a silhouette of your subject. A silhouette simplifies the photo

Time of day - the proper lens and vantage point as well as care in focus and exposure is what makes a prize winner.

The telephoto lens makes things look closer together - it can be used to select the portion of the photo you like best

Prize winners are EASY TO LOOK AT with the eye following the action - the subject is obvious and has impact - LESS IS MORE concept of getting in close and checking the frame for a photo that tells a story or sets a mood.

People pictures are popular subjects. Look at the camera angles or vantage point to find one that gives a simple background with colors and objects that do not compete with the subject. Good expression is key to people shots -- look for how the mood is expressed -- be alert and have camera