Photo Composition

Alexandra Oliver

Period: 1st 

January 6, 2012

Snapshot or Photograph?

• Snapshot: An informal photograph taken quickly, typically with a small hand-held camera.
• Photograph: A picture made using a camera, in which an image is focused onto film or other light-sensitive material and then made visible and permanent by chemical treatment, or stored digitally.  An image taken with care and thought.  

Rule of Thirds: imaginary lines drawn, dividing the frame of your camera into thirds, both horizontally and vertically. NOTE: avoid the center frame

• Place important subject or important elements of your composition where these lines intersect
• Place the horizon lone at the top or bottom horizontal divider
• Or fill up the entire frame with the subject for a close-up image

Leading Lines: use the lines created within the foreground or background of the composition to lead the viewer's eye through the photo.

• Lines can draw attention to one or more intended subjects or a single focal point

Point of View: change the way your subject is perceived by changing the camera position. NOTE: don't make everything eye level get into your subjects point of view! 

• If you are photographing a subject that you want to seem very tall, compose the shot so that the camera is looking upwards... And vice versa.

Simplicity: keep your background simple and clear of clutter!

• The mood and effectiveness of a photo can be altered by what is in the background.
• A chaotic composition will cause the viewer to look away