So much is said about composition in photography and visual arts in general. Most people would say composition is the arrangement of visual elements in the frame. Some people think it is a bit more complicated than that.
What are the rules of composition?
The most common rules of composition are related to the arrangement of elements in the frame. We observed visual arts for centuries and came up with grids to describe the visual flow. I am sure you have heard about the rule of thirds, the golden ratio and dynamic symmetry. I think grids can be useful but in my opinion the way we use the formal elements of the picture can be more important.
Those formal elements of the picture – colour, contrast, tonality, perspective and light.
Colour
Nadav Kander
Regardless of how we arrange the different elements in the frame, their colour relations will effect the composition significantly more. If we combine colours with high contrast we will have a completely different composition than if we combine colours with low contrast. In the following example you can see white objects arranged against a pale pink background. Objects and background are similar in colour. The arrangement of the objects has a smaller impact. Now imagine that the objects are red and the background is green. Imagine how much more important the arrangement of the objects becomes.
Tone
Marcin Ryczek
The same principle applies to tone. The relation between the tone of the elements in the frames can create high or low contrast areas, which will effect composition. It is more obvious when we look at high contrast BnW photography but it applies to all.
Perspective
When you look at the image above, it looks like the two sides of the table that we can see do not meet in a corner. If you draw the lines, you will find out that the corner is hidden right behind the edge of the book. That combined with the glass framed in the center of the frame create a visual illusion.
Csilla Klenyanszki
The same principle applies to tone. The relation between the tone of the elements in the frames can create high or low contrast areas, which will effect composition. It is more obvious when we look at high contrast BnW photography but it applies to all.
Outlines
Csilla Klenyanszki
The same principle applies to tone. The relation between the tone of the elements in the frames can create high or low contrast areas, which will effect composition. It is more obvious when we look at high contrast BnW photography but it applies to all.
Light
Marcus Schaefer
Light and shadow can become an additional subject which can effect composition more than the arrangement of the objects.
Suggestions
- Start from the frame - Observe the lines of your subject and how they relate with the lines of the frame - Notice how the lines and forms of your subject interfere with each other - Consider all formal elements of the picture – colour, contrast, tonality, perspective, light – as individual subjects - Explore
