Photo-Composition (Part I) : Elements of Composition

(Base Knowledge V)

Photo composition is the foundation upon which we build our photo images by the correct selection, arranging, organizing and combining the visual elements within the picture area to produce a harmonious and pleasing photograph. These elements includes line, shape, form, colour, brightness and darkness, etc.

The most important thing from composition aspect is producing visual impact –an ability to describe your feeling in order to get an expression in your photo. Thereby, it’s necessary for you to configure it into such a manner –so that your all purpose can be reached. Even it’s for describing a static impression and quietness, or a surprise thing, difference, eccentric,etc.

A little advice for avoiding a dinamic picture, a rhythm need to be presented. This rhythm usually appears when it consist object (smaller size) that repeatedly duplicated. And it’s used for presenting a moving-expression in a picture / frame..

Here’s the basic elements of photo-composition :
(some of statement according to ref. “Photo Composition by Arnold John Kaplan”, see)

1. Mass

Equals objects, such as trees, houses, mountains, lakes or any other large or small object within the picture area. These are the objects the photographer is ‘stuck’ with and has to do the best with what is in front of the camera’s lens. mass comes in two sections: Formal Balance and Informal Balance.

a. Formal balance. Sometimes called equal balance or classical balance. It illicits feelings of dignity and repose but makes static, unimaginative photo images as the objects in the picture area are of equal size, one balancing the other equally like two children of equal size on a playground seesaw. The seesaw will not move up or down. It stays horizontal with each child balancing the other on the board.

This type of balance has been used in large public buildings where each side of the building matches each other with wings and the entrance is in the middle. It makes the building uninteresting and boring after the first look. A photograph with this type of balance will also be boring and very un-interesting so be sure to avoid it whenever possible, unless you have a definite reason to use it.

b. Informal balance. Gives UN-even or UN-equal Balance in the picture area. If you have a LARGE object in the picture it should be COUNTER-BALANCED with a smaller object or Objects to make a good Photo-Composition.

Pictures the seesaw again with a 5 year old boy on one side and his Father on the other side. The BALANCEwill be UN-even as the Father is larger and will make the seesaw heavier on his side. The boy will be high in the air and the Father will be at the ground level.

In a photographic scene, if you have a Large tree on the right side of the picture frame then you must try to balance it with a smaller object such as a house, a small tree or even the figure of a person on the other side of the picture frame.

The way you balance the objects in your picture frame will determine the success or failure of the image. Many times you will have to resort to the use of different types of lenses in order to create the balance you want.

A 24mm wide angle lens can create unbalanced composition very easily by taking the objects in front of the lens at close range. This will make the front objects appear very large in the picture frame while the rear or distant objects will appear smaller even though they are actually larger.
Another way to create unequal balance is to find a position that will cause one object to appear larger or smaller because of the angle you took the photograph. The next time you are out creating photographs be sure to keep these rules about Balance in mind and try to incorporate them in your work

2. Lines

The good photographer often uses line in their works to bring attention of the observer in principal subject. Lines are also evoke the depth of impression and show movement in picture. So, a picture has more interesting-value when it contain lines, no matter it’s a straight, circle or curved.

3. Shape

One of the simplest formula that can make a photo got interesting attention is giving it –with priority in a visual element. Shape is the one of them. Shape looks more prominent when it separeted from surrounding. Just create a contrast between shape and its environment, which this contrast can appeared in consequence of bright-to-dark differences or colour differences. In case, a shape can’t self-supporting (need another elements to join with). When we found a scenery that contain more typical shapes, we can use cropping technique in order to wipe off (one or more) undesirable shape, just to confirm picture quality of scenery.

4. Form

When shape-self can identify an object, still need a form to give solid impression and third-dimensions. This matter is the most important factor to create depth impression and reality. This quality is reached -created by form of the light and colour-tone, later produce more line that built an object. Primal factor which is determine how the form created –is direction and quality of the reflection-light from the object.

5. Texture

Texture can add depth and detail to the image. Texture is usually a direct by product of side lighting. As the light from the sun comes across your image, it sheds light on one side and shadow on the other, thus creating texture and more interest than a flatly lit subject.
Picturing texture can be assumed ‘success’ –when the photographer can communicate in such manner so that photo-observer likely feel a surface when nudge it. same Texture will be best displayed with a few variations and looks widen up –out of picture limit.

6. Pattern

Pattern is a reduplications of shape, line and colour. It’s evokes impression rhythmic and harmony in a picture. But, too much uniformity in one picture –will cause this picture looks boring. Pattern usually best unfolded in same level (flat). Although illumination and viewpoint of the camera makes a picture inclined depthless-impression and make its repetition more prominent.