How To Use Composition In Photography – Techniques
Composition is a tricky thing to master. Unlike the technical aspects of picture-taking, composition cannot be measured like exposure, white balance or focus. It?s a subjective thing that requires personal taste and an appreciation for a range of aspects such as line, shape, perspective and value ? to name a few.
Without a sold set of rules, composing photographs well can feel a little overwhelming. In this article you will discover some of the aspects that contribute a well-composed shot. Its up to you to figure out the best combination for you shot, put them into practice and asses how you can use them o emphasise your scene. Its about self expression and evoking mood and atmosphere, rather than replicating the scene as your camera sees it. The world composition is defined as a mixture of ingredients ? here we?ll provide the ingredients but then its your job to make the cake.
One of the first things you need to establishes in your scene is what to keep and what to discard. You need to actively edit your scene to get the best from it.
This could mean waiting for a person to get out of the shot, hardening a few distracting blades of grass from the flower or simply deciding to only photograph part of the scene rather than all of it.
If you learn on thing about composition, the key is to simplify your scene as much as you can. Photographing the bare essentials will provide a far more striking image than a muddle of conflicting elements screaming at the viewer from every direction. A simple crop, moving in closer or removing the unnecessary extras can all work wonders to help you achieve top shots.
Once you?ve decided what to retain and what to discard, the next job is to consider your viewpoint. You can easily transform the scene by looking at it from above or below. Assess the available vantage points of the scene and decide if it looks better from a different angle or height other than the eye level. This approach can turn bland objects into something exciting and original. A spiral staircase can benefit from being shot from above, in order to emphasize the height and curve of the structure.
Likewise, a monument or large imposing structure can be made to look even more dramatic by shooting from below and looking upwards
Here are 5 important rules of composition:
- Symmetry For a decent symmetrical image to work, there needs to be a sense of tension, which can be created by elements of suspense or surprise.
-Depth of Field When organizing space, depth of field can play a big role in how the image will look. Think about what you want to see sharp and then adjust your depth of field accordingly.
-Moments In time If your scene is a source of action, pre-focus in order to capture the moment in time. Anticipation is key, so be prepared and choose your moment carefully. Alternatively, use continuous shooting mode to capture a sequence in time
-Texture To really appeal to the viewer?s sense, incorporate texture into your shot. The appearance of texture can be heightened with the aid of good lighting. A light source raking across the textured surface will exaggerate it beautifully.?
-Tone Tone related to the full range of grays present in the scale from the blackest black to the purest white. For a tranquil appeal, its best to aim for low-contrast. To emphasis extremes, opt for a high contrast effect.
- Color Composition and color combine to create a dramatic impact. Assess your subject and see if it will benefit from color treatment. A bleak scene can be made more dramatic by selectively coloring a single element.
Composition is something that is always done, whether you?re a good photography or a bad one. What distinguishes you from the bad photographers is the ability to know how to compose your shot well. I hope you found this useful.
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