Composition Introduction
What makes a photograph visually compelling?
How does one take a photograph with an interesting composition?
What is composition?
This lesson guides you through the basic elements of composition in photography focusing on the rule of thirds and the elements of visual art while focusing on four significant photography examples.
You are then asked to create four photographs: one portrait (or self-portrait), a landscape photograph, a still life photograph, and one photograph that depicts street photography, often called “candid” photography.
By creating photographs after learning these skills you are showing potential clients your skills and applying the skills learned to improve your photography. As always… you may create your own self-propelled project idea in order to integrate this learning into a product to share and demonstrate your skill.
You will use this Digital Composition Notebook to record your thoughts during this process.
Helpful Vocabulary
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Composition
How the elements of a photo are arranged
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Rule of Thirds
A basic compositional structure of a photograph. You can take any image and split it into 9 sections by using 2 vertical and 2 horizontal lines.
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Framing
The technique of drawing attention to the main focus in the photo by blocking or surrounding other parts of the image with something in the scene
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Positive Space
Any section of the photograph that stands out. This could be the main focal point, along with other noteworthy areas of detail in a photograph
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Negative Space
Parts of an image that don’t attract as much attention, surrounding the positive space and giving it a buffer
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Brainstorm
Technique for the initial production of ideas or ways of solving a problem by an individual or group in which ideas are spontaneously contributed without critical comment or judgment
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Digital Format
Anything in electronic form including photos, images, video, audio files, or artwork created or presented through electronic means; a gallery of artwork viewed electronically through any device
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Image
Visual representation of a person, animal, thing, idea, or concept
Printable vocab here: unshuttered_lesson1_composition_reference_sheet_2a8c183907