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Mastering Composition: Visual Elements Guide

Learn the art of seeing and arranging visual elements in images to create compelling compositions. Explore lines, shapes, contrast, focal points, depth, and the rule of thirds to enhance your photography skills.

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Mastering Composition: Visual Elements Guide

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  1. CompositionThe Art of Seeing Images • Arrangement of elements • Relationship of elements

  2. Part TwoVisual Elements

  3. Visual Elements • Typical Visual Elements include: • Lines • Shapes • The Spot

  4. Visual Elements • Line: denote movement in one direction • Horizontals • Verticals • Parallel Verticals/Horizontals • Curved or S-shaped lines • Diagonals • Irregulars

  5. Linear elements • Diagonal lines are dynamic; curved lines are flowing and graceful • such as roads, waterways, a fence and shadows • You can often find the right line by moving around and choosing an appropriate angle • natural lines of the scene lead the viewers' eyes into the picture and toward your main center of interest

  6. Function of Lines • Lines help the viewer to read the image • Help viewer to locate key contrasts • Add visual interest • Guide the viewer in a certain direction

  7. HORIZONTALS • Add stability to photo, imply COOL or RESTFUL

  8. Parallel Vert. / Horz. Lines • Suggest: Symmetry, Order, or Direction

  9. Parallel Vert. / Horz. Lines

  10. Verticals • Can suggest WARMTH or AGGRESSIVENESS • Intersection of vertical and horizontal lines create FOCAL POINTS

  11. Verticals

  12. Curved or S-Shaped Lines • Most Natural appearing, evoke natural rhythms, and feelings of slow, easy movement

  13. Curved or S-Shaped Lines

  14. Diagonals • Neither warm or cool • Most naturally occur from Lower Left to Upper Right • Falling Diagonals move Down and Off picture

  15. Diagonals

  16. Irregular Lines • Varying size, thickness, shape, & texture • Provides visual interest

  17. Irregular Lines

  18. SHAPES • Five basic forms or SHAPES in photography • Squares • Triangles • Circles • Oblongs • Irregular

  19. Squares & Triangles

  20. Squares

  21. Circles & Oblongs

  22. Circles & Oblongs

  23. Circles & Oblongs

  24. Contrast • more impact • light subject placed against a dark background and vice versa • Contrasting colors

  25. Contrast & The Spot • One “spot” that commands the viewer’s attention • Focal point of contrasting masses

  26. The Spot

  27. Other Compositional Tools • Lines of Direction • Actual & Psychological • Directs movement of eye through image • Shape & Form • Shape is flat, two-dimensional • Repeated shapes can form a shape • Form refers to volume, its 3-D • Depth—Lines of Perspective • Parallel lines converge in distance • Gives sense of depth to photo

  28. Direction of movement • leave space in front of the subject • it appears to be moving into, rather than out of, the image

  29. Lines of Direction

  30. Shape & Form

  31. Repeated Shape

  32. Repeated Shape

  33. Form, Shadow, & Light • Shadows coming towards the viewer implies the “third” dimension

  34. Depth: Lines of Perspective

  35. Depth: Lines of Perspective

  36. Rule of Thirds • One of the most popular 'rules' in photography and art • principle taught in fine art, graphic design and photography • based on the theory that the eye goes naturally to a point about two-thirds up the page • achieve the informal or asymmetric balance mentioned above

  37. Rule of Thirds • Imaginary lines are drawn dividing the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically • important elements placed where these lines intersect • also arrange areas into bands occupying a third or place things along the imaginary lines • simple to implement

  38. Rule of Thirds • The Greeks developed the concept of the “Golden Mean” • Divide the image into grid of 1/3s • Place subject at one of intersecting lines

  39. Rule of Thirds or Golden Mean

  40. Some Examples

  41. Some Examples

  42. Some Examples

  43. Rule of Thirds • Common example is the placement of the horizon line in landscape photography

  44. If the area of interest is land or water • Horizon line will usually be two-thirds up from the bottom • To suggest closeness, position the horizon high in your picture

  45. If the sky is the area of emphasis • Horizon line may be one-third up from the bottom, leaving the sky to occupy the top two-thirds • To accent spaciousness, keep the horizon low in the picture

  46. Breaking the Rule of Thirds • Once you have got the hang of the Rule of Thirds • you will very quickly want to break it • This is fine • 'rules' are best used as guidelines • if you can create a better image by bending or ignoring rules then fire away

  47. Breaking the Rule of Thirds

  48. Framing - Foreground objects • Add a sense of depth to the picture • helps establish scale • use the foreground elements to "frame" your subject • Overhanging tree branches, a doorway, or an arch can give a picture the depth • something in the foreground that leads you into the picture or gives you a sense of where the viewer is

  49. Framing - Foreground objects

  50. Framing - Foreground objects

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