Thoughts on Composition

Reflections on learning photograph composition on Youtube

Peter Cameron

7/31/20232 min read

What have I learned by watching YouTube videos about photographers and composition? Given I had prior knowledge, most was revision. If I didn't know it as expressed by the video, I knew it under a different name. I hope there was a deepening in understanding.

Below is a brain dump of what I understand now. It is a relatively long list because it compiles different views. Not all items are the same type, so I've grouped them into categories.

Elements in Composition

  • Line: Vertical denotes power. Horizontal calm. Diagonal energy.

  • Shape: The silhouette, Geometric, organic, hard edge, soft edge.

  • Form: Gives the feeling of depth. Use perspective, overlapping, sizes etc

  • Pattern: Rhythm (The pattern), tempo (The speed)

  • Texture: Adds feel and touch sense. (Accentuate with oblique light)

  • Colour: Adds emotion and mood. Dimensions: value, chroma, saturation

  • Contrast: E.g. value, size, metaphor

  • Symetary: Also asymmetry. Bings calm staid feeling.

  • Layers: Helps with depth. Foreground, midground, background, sky

  • Subject/field: (Figure/ground) Subject should be clear. Field plays a supporting role.

AIDS to Better Composition

  • Rule of 3ds: Golden ratio

  • Negative space: Helps define the subject

  • Rule of odds: Prefer amount of objects like 1,3,5,7

  • Leading line: Leads eye to the subject

Camera Controls as Creative Controls

  • Focus: The focal point, usually subject

  • Shutter: Controls blur

  • Aperture: Controls the depth of field

  • ASA: Controls grain

  • Coverage: Describes what is included in the frame. Controlled by the camera.

Gestalt Principles

  • Figure-ground: Viewers tend to want to separate images into figure and ground. We can help with DOF, contrasts., and simple backgrounds.

  • Similarity: Are seen as being part of the same group. (family). Can create a pattern over the frame. Can create harmony.

  • Proximity: Objects that are close together are seen as a unit. (Family). Promotes unity and connection. Stronger than similarity.

  • Closure: The viewer's mind tends to complete a shape or pattern. Closure means that hidden elements can be implied. Sometimes this is more interesting.

  • Continuation: A series of similar objects will be seen as a line. The line will extend beyond the object. Can be used as leading lines.

  • Symmetry and balance: Symmetry = stability, order. Asymmetry = dynamic, engaging.

  • Isolation: An item that is isolated stands out

  • Common Fate: Elements that move in the same direction are perceived as related.

  • Law of emergence: The whole image is identified before the parts of the image.