Some Principles of Composition

[Mark2112]

COMPOSITION

The art of arranging visual elements harmoniously to the eye.


For those new to photography, here are some basic principles of graphic composition that may apply equally to both Painting & Photography, and by no means should they ever be taken as hard and fast. There are many so called "Rules of Composition", too numerous to site them all here, but the following are a few based upon my own experience over the past 65 years as a graphic designer and pro photographer that I have sometimes found useful when considering how to compose my picture.

1. The Rule of Thirds, places the Subject or Point of Interest (POI) on a line at one third the distance from either left or right, or from the top or bottom of the frame.



2. Lead-in Lines, are elements that lead the eye in to the subject or POI, such as a road, pathway, train line, a cloud formation, or even a shadow.



3. The Rule of Odds, states that an odd number of elements creates a more dynamic image than an even number. The 3 windows photo below is such an example.



4. Symmetry or Pattern creates viewer interest. Be aware that the frame itself is the first element of composition.



5. Texture adds a tactile dimension to photography.



6. Lighting is key in Landscape Photography where long shadows create contrast and are part of the composition.



7. Repetition & Circles can be utilised to form interesting compositions.



These are just some of the many principles and theories that abound on this topic, but it is well to remember that the only real rule of graphic composition is that there is perhaps none better than the harmonious eye.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

That is a very good primer for photography and a reminder to many of us!

I frequently visit art galleries and look at the way artists use lighting to enhance their paintings. That is rarely available to photographers but can be “enhanced” with post processing.

[Mark2112]

As I am not authorised to edit this page, I would appreciate it if you could close the gap between the last image and the last paragraph, leaving one line space betweeen them.

Ooops ... I have just fixed it myself. Apparently I can edit now that it has been approved. Thanks Graham

[Ian]

You should have had edit permission Mark - another glitch, sorry.

[Mark2112]

The apparent reason was that the post had not been "approved". I presume that Graham approved it, after which I corrected some minor formatting irritants.

[Mark2112]

Graham_of_Rainham I sometimes wish I could edit a painting as easily as a photo. However, the artist does have the advantage of licence to place compositional elements wherever he/she pleases, or not include them at all. and if the critics don't like it, then the classic comeback is, 'well that's the way I see it' ...

[Ian]

OK, Mark - I have edited the layout - is that OK?

[Harold Gough]

For a panorama it can be good to have a point of interest at one third in from both sides.

Placing the main line of interest across the diagonal of the frame can be very strong.

A subject looking/moving into the frame rather than out of it.

The wider the angle of the lens (non fisheye) the more careful you have to be about keeping the camera level.

Harold

[Gerry]

Wow, grey text on black background when using the "Dark style" as I always do is really pushing the limits of my somewhat ageing eyes 🧐🤓. See screen shot below.

[Ian]

Should be fixed now

[Pannas]

Thanks for this useful post. The 'rule of odds' was new to me!

[Gerry]

Just noticed this version after posting in the other thread. Much better to read in "Dark style" 😎

https://www.e-group.uk.net/forum/forum/site-news-and-information/tutorials-informative-classic-threads/974473-some-principles-of-composition

[Ian]

I'm sorry if the original post looked odd for a while - I have re-edited the layout, hopefull to Mark's preference, and it now has white text in the dark display mode. There was also a duplicate of this thread that I have now removed.

Ian

[Mark2112]

How do I navigate to dark mode?

[Bikie John]

Down at the bottom left (on my screen on Windows/Chrome browser) there is is pulldown which probably says "Light style". Click the arrow and you have the option to select "Dark style". I very much prefer using dark style on a decent-sized monitor, I feel it shows the photos better and all that white is a bit overwhelming. But if I am away for a few days and using a phone of tablet I usually switch it back to light style because I find it easier to read on a small screen.

[Mark2112]

Bikie John Thanks John, but I am using Google Chrome, but I see no pull down in bottom left corner as you indicate.

[Bikie John]

Thanks for the original post Mark2112. It is always good to be reminded of the basics, and sometimes if I am struggling to make a picture I will run through a sort-of checklist. When I remember, which is not often enough!

After a while a lot of this becomes second nature - which I guess is what you mean by your earlier comment that the compositions find you.

John

[Mark2112]

Bikie John Yes John, "second nature" is what I meant by compositions find me.

[wornish]

Thanks for the post Mark2112 . It is a good reminder of what works best in composition.

[Mark2112]

You are most welcome, wornish. I would also like to add that in my opinion and practice, composition is the first consideration before taking a picture, or putting a brush to canvas.

[Sela69]

Very good remainder, sometimes i remind to myself that rules are also meant to be broken !

[Mark2112]

Sela69, So true, but you've got to be a genius to get away with it!

[MikeOxon]

These are all good messages to be aware of but I think you have to decide whether you can 'feel' when a composition is right. For myself, I find that I can do that more easily when I have the image on a screen, rather than with the confusing 3-dimensional scene in front of me!

It is interesting to note that, long before photography was invented, artists were using devices such as the 'camera obscura' to help them in creating their compositions.

I crop most of my images to some degree, often moving crop lines around for some time until I 'feel' it looks 'right'. It's hard to explain how that works but afterwards I often find, on analysing the result, that it does include some of those principles that Mark2112 set out. If you think about the principles consciously to start with and put in a lot of practice, I hope you will find that they eventually become 'second nature'.

Mike

[Mark2112]

You have summed it up pretty well, Mike. As you say, by moving crop lines around it is easier to feel when an image looks right.

As for myself, being of chinese/european heritage, I seem to have inherited the chinese trait of seeing the scene in front of me in a two dimensional perspective. This mode of seeing, first became apparent at art school when a teacher noticed the way I composed landscapes by arranging the elements broadly as shapes, semi abstract in design with little attention to detail. This can be seen in traditonal chinese painting. When taking photos, I do not think consciously about composition, the process is intuitive. A step or two sideways, backwards, one way or the other, changes the relationship between elements until it all clicks into harmony.

[drmarkf]

It’s helpful to know these ‘rules’ for several reasons: certainly when entering images in club competitions, when some judges apply them rigidly (although the best ones see beyond their limitations).

Also, when deliberately trying to create tension or disharmony in the mind of the viewer: there are some images that can have a huge impact like that, and I’d say there’s lots of artistic value often in aiming for DISharmony! A relentless stream of harmonious pap is surely boring?

Some wonderful artists break the ‘rules’ and create glorious images - look at the ballet dancer compositions of Edgar Degas. Just one sample of many dozens - what would your average photo club judge make of this:

https://uploads3.wikiart.org/images/edgar-degas/the-pink-dancers-before-the-ballet-1884.jpg

[Mark2112]

drmarkf You raise some very good points. With regard to club competitions, the outcome can only be based upon the subjective opinion of the judge/s. One could not doubt that were the judge/s to be changed, then so would the outcome. A few years back I was asked to judge a local art show; it was the first time I had ever undertaken that onerous role, and I later regretted ever having accepted it. After a full day, having finally selected the winners from hundreds of entries in three separate categories (prior to the show being officially opened to the public), I realised then how subjective my selections were after a self designed process of evaluation, and I suspect that after announcing 'the winners' on the opening night, I had made at least three fans, and probably many antagonists. To paraphrase G&S, a judge's lot is not an 'appy one, (slight misquote!)

I must agree; as a composition, Degas' Pink Dancers is a doozie, cleverly balanced by a single blue dancer that adds dimension, and closes the composition. Although, as I commented to Sela69, you've got to be a genius to get away with it!

I'm not sure that I can agree that a continuous stream of harmonious pap would be boring, or that DISharmony in any sphere has any enduring value, except perhaps in the uniqueness of American politics, yet to be played out!

[MikeOxon]

• Mark2112 commented "I composed landscapes by arranging the elements broadly as shapes, semi abstract in design with little attention to detail."

I think that raises another aspect of photographic composition - the use of 'depth of field' to concentrate attention on the main subject. It is a concept that has subsequently influenced other visual artists.

Sometimes, I think a photograph can contain too much detail - it seems that many people appreciate images that are more suggestive than realistic, which I suppose is the idea behind 'Impressionism'

Although I've never had much success with a brush, I sometimes enjoy using the Mediachance Dynamic Autopainter software to create a 'painterly' version of my photographs. I show a couple of examples of DAP images, created from my own photographs, below:


Mike

[Phill D]

Only just caught up with this thread. Really well put together Mark and some excellent discussion guys. It would be great to share this with the camera club I go to but I'm not sure how I could do that.

[Mark2112]

Phill D Thanks Phill. By right clicking #1, and selecting "copy thread" in the opening post, you could then paste it into M/S Office, or Libre Office, and print it. Personally I have no objections, but I'm unsure as to whether this breaches forum regs. Ask Ian.