All About Composition
Golden Mean / Rule of Thirds
These are two of the most important rules of composition. They create balance in photos. The Golden Mean is when two things are proportinante to each other in a ceratin ratio (1:1.618). Using this in photographs can help lead your eye to the important part of the photo, and create better balance. The rule of thirds is simplified version of the Golden Mean. This is when the image is split up into 9 equal parts, and you use the lines as guides to pace objects in your image. It gives the same effect as the Golden Mean, by creating balance and an interesting photo.
https://support.corel.com/hc/en-us/articles/217377197-The-Golden-Mean-And-The-Rule-Of-Thirds
Balancing Elements
This is when an image’s areas look balanced throughout the composition. It is balanced when the image attracts the viewer’s attention equally. This balance can be created by the image’s objects, tones, or colors of the same visual weight. There is symmetrical balance, asymmetrical balance, color balance, tonal balance, and conceptual balance.
Leading Lines
Leading lines are organic lines in a photograph used to guide the viewers eye throughout the photograph to a specific point. There are horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines, and converging lines.
Symmetry and Patterns
Our brains are always looking for symmetry and patterns, so when a photograph has them, it makes it much more interesting and exciting to look at. This can be naturally created symmetry and patterns in the world, or planned for the photograph. It can also be mirrored images to create symmetry, such as the reflection in a lake. It creates a sense of balance and calmness.
https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/stories/beginner-month-1-composition-3-symmetry-and-patterns/
Viewpoint
The viewpoint your photography has is your perspective of the world around you and what you are photographing. It depends on the story you want to tell. There is the worm’s eye viewpoint, the child’s eye viewpoint, the selfie viewpoint, and birds eye viewpoint. Its on more thing to make your photography more interesting and thought-provoking.
https://thelenslounge.com/4-photography-viewpoint-composition/
Background
The background of a photograph is the scene behind the main subject. It is important that is isn’t cluttered or a distraction from the subject. The layers created provide a feeling of depth.
https://www.photokonnexion.com/3249-2/
Depth
The depth of an image is the distance shown in it. This can give create perspective and is much more interesting and engaging to the viewer.
https://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/creating-a-sense-of-depth-in-your-photos
Framing
Framing is when some parts of an image are blocked out of the scene to draw more focus to the subject in the photo. This can help provide context to the photo and makes great composition.
https://www.widewalls.ch/magazine/framing-in-photography
Cropping
Cropping is when you remove certain areas from an image that will benefit it overall. It can remove an unwanted subject, changing the the composition overall, or just the size, or aspect ratio, of the photo.
https://photographyicon.com/crop/
Summary of Composition
Composition applies to pretty much all types of art, from dancing to photography. Composition is the most important part of photography. It is how the objects in the image are placed. It can help create a sense of balance in the image and make the overall photo feel more professional. This is what makes photos interesting to look at. It can help guide our eyes through the photograph, and really take the photo up a notch. It is also a great way to create more of a story or message about the photograph.
