COMPOSITION:
There is a natural symmetry to things that can make us feel visually comfortable. The Chinese have carried this a step further in their life symmetry called "Feng Shui". The term literally translates as "wind-water". Note: Not to be "Confusioned" with the other Chinese proverb that says "drinking the wrong water can create an ill wind".
From Wikipedia, we learn historically, feng shui was widely used to orient buildings – often spiritually significant structures such as tombs, but also dwellings and other structures – in an auspicious manner. Depending on the particular style of feng shui being used, an auspicious site could be determined by reference to local features such as bodies of water, stars, or a compass.
Feng shui was suppressed in China along with thinking, intelligence, freedom and expression during the cultural revolution in the 1960s, but has since seen an increase in popularity, particularly in the United States. If It comes from China it has to be good. So far no lead has been found in feng shui. And we love and embrace culture so it's a natural here like TV religion.
Like good composition, the balance, the harmony of things makes the good positive life. Good composition is the beginning of a good picture. The reason we start our journey with composition is because every artist has to place objects and create a total image somewhere. This placement is called composition.
Whether a fine art painter pre-sketches with pencil the approximate grouping, or a tile artist drafts a rough plan on the floor, we have this placement thing to work with. At our local park the bricklayers at the fountain being restored are laying out the symmetries of the bricks to make the project pleasing. It will not however please some of the skateboarders who destroyed the previous fountain area.
There are a couple of simple rules to guide the placement with. When it is not in array we call it bad composition. Think of it this way. The word "composition" minus a few letters, spells "compost".
COMPOSITION QUESTIONS / ANSWERS:
Things to think about before you snap the
shutter.
• What does your subject look like in relation to the background?
• Is the background flattering or distracting to the subject?
• What direction is the subject looking at and does it lead us to what they see. If the subjects attention is not evident because we cannot see what he/she is looking at, it makes us uncomfortable. Our eyes wander off the page and don't return. We understand better when we see their surroundings. We
want to know what they were interested in.
• "Periscoping". This only produces good results if you are a U Boat Captain. We can improve the
picture by moving the subject off center, or framing the scene and using some
of the natural props and surroundings to eliminate dull areas.
• "S" Curves. Therefore, we add a feeling of depth to the picture. Moving two feet to the left or two feet to the right and using "s" curves would really make any shot for the better.
• When you see someone going through your prints like a deck of cards, thats a clue they were not interested in what your pictures had to say.
• Something I see a lot of is what I term "a 95% shot. If we spend the time to shoot 95% of the subject "why do we cut her feet off"? Another 5% would not hurt things. Five years ago feet were not allowed in pictures nor elbows, nor large amounts of avoirdupois tissue. But these taboos change with the style today, bare feet and nothing shoes are the tops sellers in summer wear. Pedicures became hot stuff. Sandals, casual cool looks and hot summers. Ankles are still forbidden to be seen in some eastern countries. In certain Muslim countries it could get you killed.
• Get closer. One of the most common mistakes in
pictures taken by newbies is not making the subject the most important part of
the picture. The rule is "FILL THE FRAME". By selective
cropping or getting closer we are setting the emphasis on the most important
part of the picture. That’s why a high percentage of Glamour and Fashion
photography is done on white or plain background giving emphasis to the subject
or product only.
THE RULE OF THIRDS:
"THE RULE OF THIRDS" Is based on a compositional formula dating back to the Greeks.
Now I'm sure the Greeks were very smart with mathematics and formulas. And that is apparent in their architecture, arts and science.
They didn't have Harley's or Nikons but they sure had Chariots and Harley may have copped a few ideas off them. The three wheel Harley is a pleasure to drive and a lot more comfortable for the co-pilot. They are commonly called Chariots.
Thirds rules are important, as the third point sets the stage for the composition. It starts the 'S" path for our eyes to follow and agin our Greek friends had two wheel Chariots with the horse being the third apex. Chop one wheel off and you have an accident. Because the rule of Two's sticks your subject dead center. Greeks who paid no attention to the Rule of Thirds are dead too.
In Las Vegas, on the strip, the Harley Davidson Nightclub has this huge Harley suspended over the sign.
See, the "Rule of Thirds" works at night.
The Rule of thirds is an easy rule to remember. Simply place visually a tic-tac-toe grid in your viewfinder and place the most important part of the picture in the intersections.
Here we centered the action to the lower left grid as you see the wheel first. Then we are naturally drawn and follow the image to the Harley Davidson sign.
Now you can see the relation ship of three things in this shot. The primary subject leads you to the secondary subject keeping you interested in the picture. It also is dead on the thirds rule and utilizes the "s "curve.
• ¥ou use the props to add action to the scene and to uphold the story line. Good pictures tell stories without the use of words. The prop imparts action and motion to pictures. Someone once said "A good picture is worth a thousand words"! Some pictures I have seen took a thousand words to explain. And even then I gave the student a C- for wasting words. Watch the backgrounds, they can work for and against you.