The basic composition rules include rule of thirds, golden intersection, triangle composition, etc. But in addition to these rules, in fact, you can also use contrast to create. The contrast can be to compete or echo each other. The sense of stability created by geometric shapes and the beauty of the perfect combination of lines and graphics are also the subject of photography that artists and architects like. The extension has a sense of perspective, which can extend the imaginary space infinitely through the extension movement of the lines. Vignetting is the favorite of the LOMO family. Although the picture is a flaw on the lens, proper placement of the subject will naturally create a framed effect.
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Comparison
Making good use of contrast to create the dynamic and atmosphere of the image is the foundation of the composition that has remained unchanged throughout the ages. No matter what kind of art, contrast is a very important basis for composition. As long as two things can be distinguished in appearance, color, volume, texture, and even meaning, they can be used for comparison.
The arc-shaped white and sharp red look quite dynamic under the blue sky
Contrast can be against each other, it can also be echoed with each other, and it can be compared and presented at the same time. In terms of appearance lines, we can use circles and squares or corners to make a comparison. In terms of color, we can use contrasting colors such as red and green, yellow and purple to create a sense of conflict. In terms of volume, maximum and minimum, or equal proportions, are all methods that can be used. In terms of texture, rough and smooth, dry and slippery, etc., are also common comparisons. If you mix and match, we can also use some basic color principles, such as light color forward, dark color backward, white enlargement, black reduction, etc., to assist in making the contrast more interesting.
The two brightly colored kimonos each have complementary and contrasting colors that are worthy of fun, which complement each other.
Geometric Shape
The stability and balance constituted by geometric figures is a good subject that never fades in photography. The beauty of balance and rationality presented by the proper combination of perfect lines and geometric figures is originally one of the favorite themes of artists and architects. For example, Islamic art exerts this rational spirit to its extreme. They abandon any tangible decorations such as figures and animals, and only use the shapes of flowers and plants and pure triangles, squares, circles, etc. to repeatedly mix and collage, and they can build amazing mosques. People can’t help but express their sincere admiration when they walk in.
Using a camera to capture the beauty of human construction craftsmanship, you can take pictures that are completely different from natural scenery.
It may not be easy to find pure and simple geometric figures in nature, but they are everywhere in cities. From high-rise buildings to interior decoration, parallel lines, various grids, triangles, circles, spirals… flood our lives. As long as you look for it with your heart, there are plenty of subjects worthy of shooting.
Use Perspective to Create a Sense of Extension
The edge of the image is the boundary. We can use perspective to extend the progression of lines, allowing our imagination to advance infinitely. Perspective is the basis of composition that is highly valued in Western classical painting. Regardless of the theme, the location of the vanishing point must be considered before layout, and then the lines and colors can be arranged to create a lifelike, fake and real three-dimensional sense of space on a two-dimensional plane. In photography, you don’t have to be so troublesome. As long as you find the vanishing point and press the shutter, the perspective will be formed naturally, giving the image a feeling of natural extension.
The wooden plank road extends towards the depths of the forest, creating a deep sense of space
Of course, this means that the sense of extension needs to be based on a longer spatial distance. It is best to add some line assistance to successfully express the effect of extension. It is not difficult to find suitable subjects in buildings, but there are also good subjects in nature. For example, meandering streams, silently moving gravel roads between mountains… are all topics that can be used wisely. Of course, remember not to open the aperture too much, so as not to damage the perspective of forward movement by the bokeh.
Ask the model to stand in front of the yellow door, and the white wall next to it will naturally form a frame of focus
Frame Composition
The image can also be regarded as a stage, and the focus can be enhanced by using the composition to frame the focus. Although the edge of the image is a helpless boundary, it also outlines a stage where you can play to your heart’s content. If we can make good use of compositional elements other than the subject and frame the subject, we will be able to emphasize the key points in the image. Large-scale color blocks, lines, contours, and even just looking for a door or window to ask the model to come to the back to probe it out are all methods that can be considered, and they can also add interest to the image creation.
Maintain the Integrity of the Picture
Many photographers who stick to tradition believe that you must never get stuck or cut your hands when taking photos of people. It must be all included in the image frame. This shooting method can fully present the appearance and details of the subject, which is very important for commercial photography. After all, whether the photos are beautiful or not, what customers want to see is what the entire product looks like. Isn’t it annoying if you only see the corner of the phone when you take a picture of your phone, or if someone has no hands or shoulders when you take a family portrait?
When shooting a portrait, if the photographer can take the model into the lens, he can fully show the beauty of the model.
Vignette
Affected by the LOMO style, vignetting has become a unique style pursued by many photographers, and even complained about the trouble of not being able to shoot vignetting. In fact, this is because the obvious vignetting was originally a flaw that the lens designer tried to avoid. When designing a wide-angle lens, in addition to maintaining the surrounding area of the image taken without distortion, another difficulty is that it does not produce vignetting.
Although designers did overcome the problem of vignetting in various ways from the structural design, number of lenses and coating, but limited by the design and cost of each lens, it may still affect the edges of the photo and cause loss of light. If this problem cannot be overcome, the lens designer will try to keep the lens at a certain aperture size without vignetting that can be discerned by the human eye. However, because everyone’s shooting habits and the aperture used are different, usually in the case of a large aperture, some lenses will appear vignetting.
Although vignetting is an imaging flaw, it can also assist in the composition and frame the subject, so that the focus can be more focused on the subject.
The Meaning of Vignetting to Composition
Although vignetting is actually a symbol of lens flaws and poor image quality, with the popularity of the LOMO style, vignetting has become a popular photography style. But in fact, from the point of view of composition, the image as a whole loses the possibility of many details due to the appearance of vignetting. However, if we try to avoid placing the subject in the four corners when composing the image, and instead frame the subject in the center of the image with the surrounding dark corners, it will naturally form a framing effect, which can actually help the image appear richer.