How to Introduce Composition in Photography
Beginners and new photographers know that there are rules and techniques to learn about photography. One of the things to learn and master is composition techniques. Few techniques are as important and as powerful as composition. Composition has the power to convey what you wish to say in a photograph and guide the viewer to the exact thing they should see. It has often been called the strongest way of seeing.
Composition in its simplest terms is the way you arrange and display objects in a photograph. This is a conscious and personal choice that depends on photographers. It is the beauty of photography that different photographers can take a picture of the same subject and it will look completely different. There are no hard and fast rules and many photographers make their own rules as they go by. But it’s always good to know the basics and some starter techniques for photographers.
Rule of Thirds- Usually the first rule that a photographer will come across, the Rule of Thirds is popular for the simple reason that it works effectively. The idea or rule is that you divide your frame into horizontal or vertical thirds. Plant key objects along one of these lines to make your photograph visually pleasing and aesthetic. Some photographers wish to take it a step further and divide the frame both horizontally and vertically. This leaves them with nine equal rectangles and four points of intersection. These points are where they place the main subject. It can differ according to the types of photography one does. In a landscape, you can place the horizon on a horizontal line. For a portrait, placing the main subject on points of intersection works wonderfully.
Balance- Balance in a photo affects the way audiences view it. An unbalanced picture can look odd or incomplete. There are many ways to create balance in a photograph. The easiest method is to create symmetry. You can balance your composition by playing with objects of various sizes. Sometimes photographers create off-balance just to grab attention. As with other composition techniques, there are no hard and fast rules. You can unbalance a scene to direct the viewer towards a particular object or subject. It depends on the photographer and his creativity which decides the balance.
Eye lines-An eye line is the implied line that follows a person’s sight. Eye lines have a strong impact on the way we view photos. They can create a linear motion between two subjects looking at each other. Portraits, where the subject is looking at the camera, produce an intense and deep effect on viewers. Audiences will study the eyes and where the subjects are looking at to understand the photo and composition. Eye lines can also act as a tool to make viewers notice something in the frame that could go unnoticed.
Visual Weight- Visual weight refers to the visual space and importance an element has in the picture. With clever composition, photographers can increase the visual weight of seemingly small or irrelevant objects and change the picture. Some elements have a stronger visual presence than others. Photographers arrange them accordingly so the visual weight doesn’t overpower the image or photograph. For example, placing the main subject in the center of the frame puts the weight in the middle and balances the image. By pushing that subject to the side, you create an interesting image and shift the weight to a particular side. Visual weight comprises of texture, color, tone, depth of field, and light.
Triangles- Many photographers recommend using triangles as a compositional tool. They are easy to create and manipulate according to your style. We don’t mean literal three lines or a triangle here. Triangles in photography are implied. Use the existing visual elements in the picture to create a triangle. With triangles, you can create points of interest. This helps to draw your eyes where you want them to go. Photographers will create unstable, lopsided, or out of frame triangles to attract attention. When photographers shoot buildings or monuments, they might converge at the top, out of the frame.
Composition has many other techniques and rules you need to be familiar with. To start your photography, just know what your subject or points of interest are in the picture. Figure where you want your viewer’s eye to be drawn to. You can use these techniques to frame your elements and keep learning as you go.
