Composition In Photography - NASA

Composition in PhotographyNancy RosenbaumPresident, Goddard Photo ClubFebruary 20122/21/2012Goddard Photo Club1

Composition Components of Composition–––––––Rule of ThirdsLeading the Eye; LinesFramingFocusDepth of FieldAngle of ViewDistractions Nature Photography Portrait Photography Gallery2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club2

The Rule of Thirds Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/20123

Find Lines Lines lead the eye from one point to anotherDiagonals can convey motion and energyHorizontals can convey stability, calmVerticals can convey strength, solidity, and powerArcs and semi-circles can isolate, emphasize, and frame an areaPatterns create rhythm and movement Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club Nancy Rosenbaum4

Lines, Continued Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club Nancy Rosenbaum5

Lead the Eye into the Picture2/21/2012 Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy RosenbaumGoddard Photo Club6

Framing Filling the frame– How near or far will be the subject appear to the viewer?– Do you want the subject to fill the frame?– What other objects are in the frame (e.g., foreground and backgroundobjects)?– Do they support the visual story you are telling?– How do they contribute to or detract from the composition? Arrangement of objects in the frame– Point of view – left, right, down, up– Zoom in or out– Move closer or farther away Natural frames - use to your advantage2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club7

Filling the Frame Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club Nancy Rosenbaum8

Natural Frames Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club9

Horizontal or Vertical? Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club10

Focus Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club Nancy Rosenbaum11

Depth of Field Depth of Field – the range appearing in focus– Small f/ number large aperture shallow depthof field– Large f/ number small aperture long depth offield– Longer focus distance longer depth of field– Longer focal length lens (e.g., telephoto shorterdepth of field)2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club12

Depth of Field Nancy RosenbaumFocal length:135 mmAperture:f/5.0Subj. distance: 6.9 ft2/21/2012 Nancy RosenbaumFocal length:18 mmAperture:f/3.5Subj. distance: infinityGoddard Photo Club13

Depth of Field Nancy RosenbaumFocal length:82 mmAperture:f/8.0Subj. distance: 4.6 ft2/21/2012 Nancy RosenbaumFocal length:200 mmAperture:f/5.6Subj. distance: 41 ftGoddard Photo Club14

Angle of View Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club15

Angle of View, cont’d. Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club Nancy Rosenbaum16

Angle of View, cont’d. Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club Nancy Rosenbaum17

Focal Length “Normal”–––– Wide angle–––– Field of view reproduces what the human eye would seeRelationships between distances appears “normal” to usFocal length diagonal size of the film or sensorFL 50 mm in a 35 mm camera; 28 mm in DX sensor camera; 22 mm in a fourthirds sensor camera)Field of view is wider than the eye would normally seeObjects appear farther awayRelationships between distances appear greaterFL numbers are less than the normal FLTelephoto––––2/21/2012Field of view is narrower than the eye would normally seeObjects appear closerRelationships between distances appear smallerFL numbers are greater than the normal FLGoddard Photo Club18

Focal Length Nancy RosenbaumFocal length: 55 mm2/21/2012 Nancy RosenbaumFocal length: 98 mmGoddard Photo Club19

Focal Length, cont’d. Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club20

DistractionsTrain yourself to look at every element andobject in the frame: Are there unwanted objects in the foregroundor background? Are there places where colors or values(light/dark) are so similar that the subjectseems to disappear into the background? Is there an extremely bright or dark spot thatdraws the eye away from the subject?2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club21

IntrusionsUnwanted objects that detract from the composition Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012 Nancy RosenbaumGoddard Photo Club22

Intrusions, cont’d. Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club Nancy Rosenbaum23

Intrusions, cont’d. Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012 Nancy RosenbaumGoddard Photo Club24

MergersTwo or more overlapping objects that appear to be joined Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club25

Mergers, cont’d. Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club26

Mergers, cont’d.Border merger: object(s) cut off in an awkward place Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club Nancy Rosenbaum27

Bright Spots or “Black Holes” The brightest values pull our attention Large areas of low value can also be a distraction Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012 Nancy RosenbaumGoddard Photo Club28

Seven Principles of NaturePhotography Composition Clarify your messageKeep it simpleBe patientFill the frameConsider verticalsFind linesPlace subjects off-centerfrom the Beginner's Guide To Nature Photography by Cub Kahn2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club29

Pay Attention to the Light Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club30

Portrait Composition Fill the frame with your subject Keep eyes in the upper third Use framing to concentrate all attention onyour subject Create texture Use lines Change your angles6 Tips for Perfect Composition in Portrait Photography by Christina N DicksonRead more: z1mB7Y82zC2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club31

Nancy Rosenbaum Nancy Rosenbaum2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club32

GALLERYCourtesy Library of Congress2/21/2012Goddard Photo Club33

Dorothea LangeMigrant Mother, 19362/21/2012Goddard Photo Club34

Walker EvansLaura Minnie Lee Tengle , 19352/21/2012Goddard Photo Club35

Thomas AskewWeeding sugar beets for 2.00 an hour, 19722/21/2012Goddard Photo Club36

Photographer UnknownVietnam A Marine walking pointfor his unit during Operation Macon,a marine moves slowly, cautiousof enemy pitfalls 19662/21/2012Goddard Photo Club37

Thomas AskewAtlanta University, Georgia, 18992/21/2012Goddard Photo Club38

American Colony (Jerusalem), Photo Dept.Egyptian camel transport passing over Olivet, 19182/21/2012Goddard Photo Club39

Alice S. KandellMount Kānchenjunga, Third Highest Mountain in the World, btw. 1965-19792/21/2012Goddard Photo Club40

Alice S. KandellSikkim, Oversized Melonsand Fruit Grow, 19692/21/2012Goddard Photo Club41

Abdullah FréresTuberculosis Ward of the Hasköy Hospital for Women, btw. 1880 - 18932/21/2012Goddard Photo Club42

Photography Composition Clarify your message Keep it simple Be patient Fill the frame Consider verticals Find lines Place subjects off-center from the Beginner's Guide To Nature Photography by Cub Kahn 2/21/2012 Goddard Photo Club 29