Hello dears!
What is the most important thing in photography? What do you think? The quality of the camera, the beauty of the object, color, shape? I think the most important component of the photo is the composition of the frame as a whole. Since ancient times, great artists have worked hard to create a composition that will attract and excite the viewer. So it is arranged by the person that he intuitively delays a look at those visual objects which composition is built successfully. All this is implicated in our psyche and the structure of our brain.
There is no ideal way to build a composition. There is no magic rule that will always work smoothly. For each specific shooting needs its own perfect composition. This is my opinion, and it seems to me that it is true. The composition of the frame is the most difficult and the most important place in the photo, which can not just be remembered and used blindly always. There is no limit to perfection and study.
The ability to see frames, to find the perfect composition for a particular shooting comes with experience. Some people are lucky to be born with this skill, and others need years of practice to master this art. Nevertheless, there are several basic types of composition that can help beginners to develop this "vision of the frame". If you are like me, an aspiring photographer, then use these rules.
1. Rule of thirds.
The rule of thirds is the most simplified composition of the frame. Many novice photographers work on this composition. But to be honest, I don't like this kind of composition. I think it's too simple and boring. The rule of thirds that all the most important objects of photography should be at the intersection of lines, or (ideally) at the main points of intersection of these lines.
This kind of composition works well in close-up portraits. What is the main thing in the portrait? Of course, this is a look. Using the rule of thirds, we can place the model's eyes at these top points.
Also this rule works well when shooting landscapes. According to the law of this composition, the horizon line should not pass through the middle of the frame. The photographer should make a choice on what he wants to focus: on the top or bottom of the frame. Based on this, the horizon line should pass either on the upper horizontal band of the grid, or on the bottom.
2. Lines.
The rule of linear composition is based on the fact that in the frame there are guide lines that lead our view to the semantic center of the frame. If you are shooting in a horizontal frame position, use the horizontal guides. If your frame is vertically oriented, the vertical and diagonal lines work well.
When shooting a person such guide lines can be the hands of the model, the position of her legs, clothing items or scenery.
A good example of the use of linear composition - is shooting on the road.
3. Diagonal rule.
This is a pretty easy way to build a perfect frame composition. The object must be located on the diagonal of the frame. Thus, the viewer's attention passes through the whole photo.
4. Golden section.
In fact, all the rules of composition lead their way from the main law of all artists and the ideal arrangement of the beauty of the universe. Namely, the rule of the Golden section.
The Golden section is the location of objects in the space that best perceives the human eye. These are the perfect proportions of something. The Golden section is the ideal composition.
The simplest description of the Golden section is the fact that the best point for the location of the subject is about 1/3 of the horizontal or vertical border of the frame. And this is very similar to the rule of thirds.
A complex form of application of the Golden section rule is the construction of a frame based on the Golden spiral. To be honest, I have not yet understood this method of composition. However, I am close to applying this method often quite unconsciously.
In addition to these basic rules of composition, I want to tell you some more techniques that will help you make an attractive frame.
- Each photo contains a positive and negative space. The subject is a positive space. The background is a negative space. If you are photographing a person, then his eyes should be directed to where most of the free negative space. If you are photographing a movement, the object should move towards a larger free space. This technique adds volume and dynamics to the frame, and meaning.
An example of improper construction of the frame. The child's gaze is cut off by the end of the frame.
- The photo should have a contrast between negative and positive space. That is, light objects look good on a dark background, and dark objects on a light background.
- Objects in the photo should be placed so that they can form a simple geometric figure. There is no chaos.
- Objects on the edges of the frame must be in some balance. That is, they should fit each other in size, tone and volume.