Composition - Exploring it further

[Mad Aussie]

I thought I might drag this subject back up seeing as I'm seeing a few comments on the Rule of Thirds here and there in the forums again. This got me thinking about rules of photography.

However, I want to explore different techniques and rules this time rather than debate their usefulness.
For that you can visit these 2 threads...
Composition (http://www.photography.ca/Forums/showthread.php?t=164&highlight=composition)
Rule of Thirds (http://www.photography.ca/Forums/showthread.php?t=1227&highlight=rule+thirds)


Obviously, the most common is the Rule of Thirds.

My opinion on this 'Rule' is firstly I really hate referring to it as a 'Rule' at all.

I much prefer 'Guideline' now. The 'Guideline of Thirds' :) And judging by most of the more experienced members comments they seem to agree with this.
I don't like to think we give newer members the impression that they must use rules like the 'Rule of Thirds' or their photo will be lesser quality in some way. There are no definitive rules in photography but there are ways to find your own way of getting better results and rules/guides can be helpful with that.

I do think the 'Thirds' (I'm going to refer to it as 'Thirds' from now on ;) ) is a great technique overall to learn and, in most cases, is a better composition than the 'Bullseye' (putting your subject dead centre) approach.

What I've found though is that once I learned about the 'Thirds' I made great effort to apply it to most of my photography in some way. After a while however, I found myself applying it without giving it much thought at all. It had become almost habit or instinctual.
Now, I find myself not thinking about any particular rule quite often. I simply frame the photo how I think it looks best in my viewfinder. Quite often it still qualifies as a 'Thirds' composition anyhow.
I guess a few years of shooting several thousand photos finally does that. Or at least it did to me.


Other Rules and Techniques?
But what of other rules and guidelines? A quick search around brings up a few such as Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Balance, Radial Balance as other options. I’m yet to understand what these are exactly myself really.

Does anyone use these?

In terms of techniques to improve your compositions I can think of a few things off the top of my little head.

Leading Lines & Patterns – Lines and/or patterns formed by elements within your photo that lead the viewers eye back to your subject(s)

Depth of Field (DOF) – the area within your photo that’s in focus. If narrow it can be used to isolate your subject from a busy background by creating ‘bokeh.’ Bokeh is the out of focus areas in a photo. If the DOF is wide then it is used to show a larger amount of detail or encourage the viewer’s eye to ‘wander’ around the photo.

Camera Angle – using different angles from which to shoot from
Orientation - Choosing the best orientation (portrait, landscape or diagonal) for the subject

Framing - Using elements in a scene to create a frame for the subject

Foreground Interest – having something in the foreground that adds interest to the shot but doesn’t distract from the main subject.

Lighting – used to enhance colour, texture (if not on camera, usually a side light source), silhouette, or perhaps backlighting to create highlights.

Active/ Negative Space (also called 'Lead Room' I think) – using areas of primarily blank (maybe dark or blurred or simply void of detail) to isolate the subject or even create a sense of where the subject is looking or going to or has come from.

Does anyone here give these sorts of things much thought in their compositions?

Can you add anything to these or offer other techniques/rules/guides?

[edbayani11]

i agree with you completely. these are all guidelines for anyone to follow or not. it is not a law. but most beginning artists try to follow any or all guidelines when they produce their works and after years of following it, it is absorbed and becomes intuitive. they do not think about it anymore when they make their photosgraphic images, canvas, or any form of visual art.

[tirediron]

Does it please my eye? Yes = good composition. No = bad composition!

[Marko]

This is a good list MA:highfive:
I guess I'd just like to add that in general it's nice to have a clear focal point(s) and this can often be aided through selective dodging (lightening) and burning (darkening).

[Alex Wilson]

One of the important concepts of composition is "visual weight" -- how much your eye is drawn to something in an image. There are a number of factors in this: Colour, brightness, size, contrast, inherent interest (something like a face or hands, has a lot more weight than, say, a shin), etc.

The visual weight of the elements of an image then ties into the organisation (layout or composition) -- this is where all parts of the image affect the whole:

This is a good starting list of factors:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_(visual_arts)#Principles_of_organizati on

Shape and proportion
Balance among the elements
Harmony, or consistency among the elements
The orientation of elements
The area within the field of view used for the picture ("cropping")
The path or direction followed by the viewer's eye when they observe the image.
Negative space
Color
Contrast: the value, or degree of lightness and darkness, used within the picture.
Geometry: for example, use of the golden mean
Rhythm
Illumination or lighting
Repetition (Sometimes building into pattern; rhythm also comes into play, as does geometry)
Perspective
Breaking the rules can create tension or unease

(though some fall a bit more on technique than design element)

I try to keep these in mind for every image -- each of those points has a number of factors tied to it, and you have to keep them all in mind. While it is fine to say if it is pleasing to your eye it is good composition, you'll take more better pictures if you can go through these items in a feedback loop as you adjust your composition. Consistent good composition is not an accident.

As for a list of composition rules, it can be a bit confusing if you list both the guidelines for artistic composition along with photographic techniques like DOF and camera angle. The photographic techniques are just a means to an end, though it certainly can be useful to out them on a "things to try to change your composition" list. But if you just want to talk composition, you can take photography out of the discussion until you've got the basics covered.

The "rule of thirds" is good starter for many photographers because it is very simple and easy to follow. For people used to shooting subject-dead-centre, just following the rule of thirds will pretty consistently improve their composition because often forces the subject into an area with more visual weight and commonly adds other elements such as negative space and asymmetry... As you better grok composition, you'll start to understand *why* it make images better, and then why you can get away with breaking the "rule" when you should.

The elements of design are not a rigid list of rules or a checklist, but a web of factors that the parts of an image pull in all different ways. When you understand how and why they pull, you can better engineer the image you want.

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks for adding those thoughts guys. Very interesting. Keep em coming if you have em! :)

[casil403]

I guess for me, being a chef, composition is always very important when presenting food so I apply the same rules in photography....it's not really very different. The plate is the canvas and when presenting, everything must always appeal to the eye first and foremost because generally people eat with their eyes first.
The rule of 3rds applies, as does negative space, contrast of colour, shape, and texture.
I've used all those rules in my photography that were drilled into my head in culinary school and it seems to work for me.... :)

[Marko]

That's so interesting Casil - I'm going to pay more attention to how my food LOOKS from now on. I do notice it when the food/plate looks particularly good but it's rare that I pay that much attention to it on a regular basis.

[casil403]

Notice also the relation to how it looks/presentation compared to how it tastes and I'll bet you 10 to 1 that if it looks good it most likely tastes good as well!

[russpears]

I would think that there are photography principals as much as there are design principals. However, what happens to pass for design principals and what are taught in schools are best used when they are broken seems too contradictory. If you can break a principal, for me it’s not one at all. For me a photography principal should not be breakable as well.

So I started to look for ideas that are universal and unbreakable. I have collected up to 6,000 images on my USB drive from the web and studied them from an aesthetic/design perspective (yea I have serious O.C.D. issues). But, I asked my self what works and draw my interests in each image. Later I just kept reflecting and arranging my own take on the work I have seen.

I believe for design there are just a few real design principals every good example of design has that I have seen. And if anyone finds examples to the contrary, let me know but I do not think there are contrary works. For me the only design principals I believe cannot be broken are:

1. Simplicity/Economy (no more visual elements than what is needed)
2. Clarity/Order ( Making the message or story more understandable or relatable removing the ambiguous or vague connotations)
3. Unity/Harmony (all visual elements are telling the same story)
4. Impact. (this one is more vague or subjective but it is essentially making the work stand out, memorable, engaging)

Without each one of these you have a weakened design.

Everything else I consider compositional strategies that you can use when appropriate to clarify, simplify, unite or add impact. like: Balance, Contrast, etc. I have found a long list of these and many are thought to be design principals.

I am sure there are photographic principals that can apply too. The biggest difference between photography and design, however is that design is less about artistic expression and more about visual communication of a design message and design strategy.

[russpears]

Here are the compositional stratigies I have Identified:

Alignment (creates unity and order, but if broken it can create functional differences that can help clarify the hierarchy and make contrast).
(1) Impact/Rich experiences (Broadside text that requires the reader to turn)
(2) Simplicity/Economy (All similar information is aligned to one position)


Asymmetrical Balance (balance between objects of differing shape, size)

Background/Foreground Distinction (Could engage the viewer to interpret as in a gestalt or add dimension to a flat design)
(3) Impact/Rich experiences (Faces or a Vase)


Balance (Prevents new meanings from developing based on the visual weight of some elements)


Bridging (Unites different parts of a design creates new meanings based on touch.)


Color Echo (the copy colors from element to others to reinforce harmony)


Competing/Rival elements (counterproductive arrangements or elements)


Contradiction (using elements that produce cognitive dissonance)


Contrast (Functional differences that can direct flow, establish hierarchy and add to the impact and affect of the piece. Used to create unity or make relative differences more functional.)


Discord (Use conflicting visual elements for abstract means)


Disorder (Can convey only when appropriate)


Dynamic Spacing (placement that reinforces the concept or message)


Flow (Movement of the viewers’ eye across a design.)


Focal Points (areas that attract the viewers eyes)
(4) Impact/Rich experiences (Key hole die cut on article on voyeurism)
(5) Simplicity/Economy (“Get the point text” replaced with a big red dot)


Focus (Can focus the eyes movement, Create clarity in the message)


Framing (Used to confine flow around a focal point.)


Gestalt (engages the audience with emergent elements derived from the whole that can create more subtle relationships).
Continuation (used to simplify and engage the audience over what is not shown)
Closure (The mind’s tendency to fill in the gaps and simplifies and engages the audience to interpret missing parts)
Proximity/Distance (helps create a relationships from relative distances)
Similarity: (The mind wants to search for patterns based on common attributes)
Simplicity: (The mind wants to reduce everything to more basic shapes)


Grouping (Creates relationships between visual elements)


Hierarchy (Creating and order of importance for visual elements through use of any design element or compositional strategy)


Kissing edges (Should be avoid unless they can be made useful.)
(6) Impact/Rich experiences (Gate fold showing door just touching image )
(7) Simplicity/Economy (Replace two lovers kissing with two gender symbols touching)
(8) Unity/Harmony(Article on the art of kissing has two lines touching each other)
(9) Clarity/Order (All headings are touching a rule)


Leading Lines/edges. (Lines or pointing elements that can lead the eye and direct flow).


Legibility (The extent to which the elements can be read as intended)
(10) Impact/Rich experiences (3D text with cut out paper glasses)
(11) Simplicity/Economy (Article on drinking has blurred heading text)
(12) Unity/Harmony (article on how the mind reads words Ail Txet Is Csrsoed Oat)
(13) Clarity/Order (Article on poor vision is intentionally bold)


Mosaic Balance (an overall balance of many elements)


Multiple Reads (lead the eyes through more than one point within the design)


Visual Anchors/Natural attractors places where the eye tend to stay (elements like people, animals primary colors that are innate and primal)


Odd Rule (odd numbers seem natural and random)


Even numbers (Even seem man made, contrived and static)


Passive Space (Space that should be used and seems excessive or empty. gives the eyes resting places in busy layouts and provides a context or contrast for positive/active space)


Placement (Show examples where position can help unite, simplify, or clarify the design message)


Positive Space: (Is space that is occupied by a main subject or element)


Negative Space (Is required for meaningful special relations between elements, without negative space all spatial relationships become meaningless )


Repetition (Repeating elements or modifications that simplify a design).


Rhythm (Changing pattern of elements or modifications)


Static/Active Placement ()


Strong Visual Angles (add tension, visual movement and excitement)


Stylistic agreement (Complement or likeness of a particular style)


Symmetrical Balance ()


Symmetry (The human mind is attracted to patterns and symmetry is the most fundamental symmetry within object properties)


Tangents (Generally something to avoid, these are Lines or edges that can cause visual ambiguity and confusion of shapes.)


Thematic Agreement (Using an element in a way that reinforces the concept)


Trapped/Confined Space (space that causes discomfort or blocks movement of elements within a design can be useful to clarify the message).


Unequal Placement (Resists static placement and adds to tension)


Variation (used to avoid lackluster design an improve on the design’s impact)


Visual Ambiguity (Elements that engage the viewer to interpret in one or more ways)


Visual Movement (movement derived from an objects design.)


Visual Weight (the weight we associate with an element can affect contrast or direct flow)


White Space (Helps provide better context for a design and gives room for things to be noticed at all. The amount should be proportional to the theme)

[Mad Aussie]

Holy smokes Russ! That's a huge effort. I'll have to read that several times to get a handle on it all. Thanks for sharing!

[russpears]

I took some of this from my own personal design notes: Observations, Readings, etc.

Again the trick is to see how this might relate to Photography.