Composition is one of the most important things in photography, without knowledge of it you cannot really ‘make’ an image. Composition is generally about putting objects together to empathise that parts that you wish to stand out more than others. It is about light and what frames the picture.
The rule of thirds is a part of composition. You take an image and divide it into three equal parts, vertically and horizontally. By placing anything on these vertical lines can really emphasise them, whilst placing anything on the intersections can be really powerful. Bearing these “thirds” in mind when composing your photograph could make all the difference.
Composition
- Watch your edges
- Join key elements – make photos interesting.
- Geometry
- Frames within the frame
Composition can change meaning
- Mirroring
- Juxtaposition – contrast
- Negative space
- Leading lines
Five kinds of photographs:
- Establishing/landscape/wide
- Portrait/close-up
- Human relationship/interaction
- Detail
- Action
I find that Eugene Smith’s use of composition in his Country Doctor series empathises his photographs greatly.
Jade Isted / reflective journal 